1. Join
Create your free pilot account on Join: a pilot name, your email, a password of at least 10 characters and, if you like, a home airline and your SimBrief Pilot ID. You get your pilot code (like AAV1042) and start as a Cadet. More about your account.
2. Add your SimBrief Pilot ID
In Profile & SimBrief, paste your SimBrief Pilot ID and choose kilograms or pounds. It takes a minute and saves you half a point on every flight. SimBrief guide.
3. Book a real flight
Open Schedules, pick an airline or an airport, and click Book on a flight the airline really operates. A short first flight is a good idea: one to two hours, on an aircraft you know well. Booking guide.
4. Plan it on SimBrief
On the booking page, click Plan on SimBrief, generate the plan, then Import my latest OFP. You can also import it later from the ACARS with Refresh on the boarding pass.
5. Install the ACARS and sign in
Download it from Pilot › ACARS and sign in with your account, once. It updates itself. ACARS guide.
6. Fly
- Load the booked aircraft type at a gate of the departure airport, engines off, and start your simulator.
- In the ACARS, the boarding pass and the Ready for departure checklist turn green. Click Begin flight.
- Push back and fly as usual. Everything is recorded by itself; you show up in gold on the live map.
- Keep the simulation rate at 1× and never use slew mode in flight: both make the flight invalid.
7. Park and submit
At the gate, shut the engines down. The ACARS shows your landing and the score worked out with the website's rules. Add a comment if you like and click Submit report (or let it file itself after 20 minutes).
8. Read your report
Your report is in your Logbook. Accepted flights add their block time to your hours, your rank and your passport. What each status means.
Tip: the score starts at 10 and only loses points for mistakes. A clean, gentle flight with the lights on and a SimBrief plan scores 10/10. How flights are scored.