How to edit an aircraft file
This is a guide on how you can tailorize an existing aircraft file. (Hereafter called ac6 file or acX (PPS X)).
The ac6 file can be downloaded from our Help Center (Using your CrewBriefing credentials) or typically made
from a copy of one of your existing ac6 files. Performance data is already created and locked.
What we are going to focus on is the ATC equipment used for flightplan filing. If you are new to the Aircraft
Editor in PPS, you will need to familiarize yourself with the setup and do not do anything you are not sure of,
as this can destabilize the aircraft file or make it unavailable for flight planning.
If you need further information about the Aircraft Editor, please refer to the PP8 User Manual available. Here you will find more in-depth explanations and illustrations.
In any case of doubt please contact support at support@airsupport.dk or call us directly during office
hours and we will help you make the required changes. (This will come with our standard prices).
How to start?
Go to top ribbon Data in PPS, then below to Edit Aircraft Configurations. This will show the ac6/acx files you have in your PPS8 shared folder.
In this guide we will use a gear down version of a C510 Mustang with the file name OE-GD
This is the main menu of the Aircraft Editor. The submenus are divided into numbers ranging from 1 to 28.
To tailorize an aircraft file it is mostly 1, 2 and 4 we need to edit
Change General info (item1)
Simply hit “1” on your keyboard and then the Enter key. Then it will look like this:
Use the Enter key to move from one section to another. The section marked with red is the one being editable.
All information regarding ETOPS Range, distance, Glide Ratio, DPP DEST/ALT does not need to be changed.
Whenever you have made the change, you need to press “End” on your keyboard or press Enter until you are at the bottom of the menu. Then you will see the below message:
Press the key “Y” on your keyboard to save the changes. If you do not want to save the changes press “N”. It
is important to make sure the change(s) you make are saved. Double check before moving on to the next
section.
Below is a checklist to follow:
Aircraft
Does not need to be changed as it is only the filename you will see in PPS. Otherwise, you can write the registration here.
Aircraft data
Is to indicate what the performance data is based on. As this data has already been created you do not need to change anything here.
Hold Jet-VFR J/V/N
J – Final reserve time jet, 30 minutes. No alternates, 45 minutes. 1500ft AAL.
N – Final reserve time jet, 45 minutes, No alternates. 60 minutes. 1500ft AAL.
S – Final reserve time, 30 minutes. No alternates, 30 minutes. 1500ft AAL.
Z – Final reserve time, 0 minutes. No alternates, 0 minutes.
F – Final reserve time 45 minutes. No alternates, 45 minutes at cruising level AAL.(FAA)
V – This will enable VFR flight levels in PPS, thereby adding 500ft (eg. FL100 – FL105).
Final reserve time 45 minutes. No alternates, 45 minutes. 1500ft AAL.
Fuel Jet or Avg. J/A
J – Jet fuel
A – Avgas 100LL
Cost price/Hr
Cost price per hour for the aircraft to be used for FLOM (Flight Level Optimisation Module)
calculations. Fuel costs are added before FLOM calculations unless N is selected in Fuel
Type. Does not need to be amended.
Unit Lbs/Kg L/K
Is the units the aircraft file is based on. You can change from Lbs to Kg by putting an “K” here instead of “L”.
All figures will automatically be changed throughout the file.
Pct fuel dev” and “Pct speed dev
Fuel deviation used to adjust fuel consumption for the aircraft. If the aircraft manual states 500 lbs an hour and the aircraft is known to use 550 lbs then 10 should be inserted to add a 10% increase in fuel consumption. This percentage applies to climb, cruise and descent.
Speed deviation used to adjust speed for the aircraft. If the aircraft manual states 400 kts and the aircraft is known to do only 360 kts then -10 should be inserted to give a 10% reduction in calculated speeds. This percentage applies to climb, cruise and descent.
Log Land/Pot L/P
Does not usually need to be amended but will change between Land or Portrait mode for the flight log.
– The mode needs to match the flight log layout.
L – Landscape.
P – Portrait.
Normal top – nav – end text
Is the flight log files names. They do usually not need to be amended. Otherwise, you will enter the name of the top file, nav file and end file which is found in your “Configuration” folder is your PPS data.
GSM Mobile number
Does not need to be amended or filled out.
Flight plan ver.(4-2)
These available codes can be found in our manual and inserted here depending on your operation and needs. Any code inserted here will overrule any code inserted under SETUP FLIGHT PLAN in the MISC menu of PPS. It could be the code to use windshear NSH or to remove all lines in the flightlog NLI that could be inserted here.
Adequate SE NM and Adequate SE Minutes
This is how far your aircraft will fly Single Engine for 1 hour/60 minutes according to EASA OPS and do not need to be amended. If this field is left empty, then a warning shall appear when creating a new flight plan. The user should enter a value into this field to avoid getting the warning.
Alternate RWYL ft
Defines the minimum required length of runway required for this aircraft. This will limit the
number of Airports shown when selecting DEP, DEST, ALTN and won’t display any airports
that is below this value. Not necessary to be filled out.
Route type
Does not need to be amended or filled out and please see our Manual for further information
Route Reserve:
In this field the percentage of contingency fuel to be used should be entered (normally 5 %).
Options (note that the number indicated the chosen percentage):
5R – Destination only, time included.
5T – Destination only, time not included.
5A – Destination and Alternate, time not included.
5AT – Destination and Alternate, time not included.
So 5R would be 5RM200. This would then make sure that the program will use 5 % of the
trip fuel, but if that is less than 200, then 200 will be used instead.
See our manual for further information
CB Username
If you have multiple PPS accounts you can upload to another PPS account by typing in the other PPS name. Does not need to be amended or filled out.
Engine Types
Does not need to be amended and is referring to the specific engine versions mounted on this specific aircraft
Sub directory
Allows this aircraft to look for a flightlog and Crew file in a subfolder that must be placed in
Change ATC Data (item 2)
Below is a checklist to follow for number ATC data
Aircraft
Name of the Aircraft file. Is repeated from the input in number 1.
Ident
Is either the ICAO identifier for the operator (e.i KLM, SK, NYX) or the registration. E.i., “OYPPS”.
Can be amended to suit the aircraft file. Maximum 7 characters no special signs accepted.
Etc. OY-MAN would be written OYMAN.
Rules
Standard flight rules to be used.
I – Instrument flight rules (IFR)
V – Visual flight rules (VFR).
Y – IFR transitioning to VFR.
Z – VFR transitioning to IFR.
Type of flight
Is the default type of flight but can be changed later in PPS.
S – Scheduled flight.
N – Non-scheduled flight.
G – General aviation.
M – Military.
X – Any other than above.
Type of aircraft
3 or 4 letter ICAO code for the aircraft – does not need to be amended.
Wake turbulence cat
J – Super, aircraft types specified as such in ICAO Doc 8643.
H – Heavy, 136 000kg (300 000lbs) or more.
M – Medium, less than 136 000kg (300 000lbs) and more than 7000kg (15 500lbs)
L – Light, 7000kg (15 500lbs) or less.
Equipment (Item 10a) and SSR (item 10b)
Here you need to be aware of the specific aircraft you are tailorizing. You need to enter exactly the equipment for the aircraft, as it is important for CFMU route generation in conjunction with the information in Item 18.
Please also check the equipment on Euro Control’s Flight Plan Guide (opens in new window)
Emergency radio
U – UHF
V – VHF
E – ELT
Survival
P – Polar
D – Desert
M – Maritime
J – Jungle
Jackets
L – Light
F – Floures
U – UHF
V – VHF
Number of dinghies
Specify how many dinghies (flotation rafts) that are in the aircraft
Capacity
The number is the total capacity of the dinghy(s).
Cover
Change to suit the equipment if needed.
Blank entry – The dinghies are not covered.
C – The dinghies are covered.
Dinghy colour
Colour of the dinghies
Aircraft colour and mk.
Change to the actual paint scheme of the aircraft.
Other info (Item 18):
4 lines for standard text in RMK18. Only special character permitted is the + (plus) in these
4 lines. Other special characters will be ignored or a produce a warning during creating a
flight plan.
Note! When typing in multiple PBN numbers, only the lowest value is needed to be written.
e.g. PBN/B2B3B4D1D2D3 could be written as PBN/B2D1.
Remarks (item 10)
Special info about equipment in the aircraft, like ejection seat, etc.
In the same way as for section number 1, now you need to press “End” on your keyboard or press Enter until
you are at the bottom of the page. Press “Y” to save the changes and double check if the changes have been
applied by going into the section again and seeing the changes.
Mass & Balance and DOM (item 4 & 5)
Structual Limits:
If we have locked the aircraft file, the limit weights of the aircraft e.g., MTOM is not possible to change. You will need to reach out to us as the performance data does not change automatically when/if changing limit weights.
DOM / DOW
The Dry Operating Mass (DOM) or DOW can and should be changed by the customer in item 4.
DOM is a weight unique to each tail and a change is necessary when you receive a new weighing report from the workshop or whenever a new ac6 file is downloaded from our Help Center.
Duplicate, delete or rename an aircraft file
If you need to duplicate / copy and aircraft file you can do this inside PPS in Data >> Edit Aircraft Configuration. Right-click on the tail you want to duplicate and choose “Copy aircraft” and then label the new file with the new tail number.
If you want to delete or rename an aircraft file, then also use use the right click function.
