Job Pay
Recent Pay Changes
The amount of revenue that routes generate has been recently updated. Throughout the ongoing beta stage it has been noticed that new users (those with low type rating levels) were put off by low job pay and users with higher type ratings were making more money than was reasonable. As of 10th May 2022 low type rating levels pay more and high type rating levels pay less. The changes have been finely tuned to ensure that new players are not discouraged in the early stages of gameplay and more experienced players are still generating sufficient revenue.
Route Revenue Basics#
In an effort to reward flying time over having a faster aircraft, job revenue in FSCharter is based on the amount of time that you spend in the air. In addition to airtime, the amount of revenue generated by a job is also based on the number of passengers and cargo carried (subject to VIP Limits), the route distance and the type rating level of the pilot.
If you carry more passengers cargo you will likely generate more revenue, however it is less obvious that longer routes do not necessarily increase revenue. This is shown in more detail in the examples below.
VIPs#
In an effort to balance out aircraft that can carry significantly more passengers with smaller aircraft, FSCharter implements a VIP system. Every job in FSCharter will try to load VIPs onto the aircraft first (up to 20 passengers and 1,400kg cargo), with the rest of the passengers being regular class. VIP passengers and cargo pay significantly more than regular passengers and cargo, which in turn ensures that flying airliners, although fun, doesn't have a large advantage over choosing a career flying smaller business jets.
Cruise Speed and Wind Speed Impact#
Faster cruise speeds with the same level of payload result in lower flight revenue. In the same way as the BE58 generated more revenue than the TBM9 in the examples below, the same can be true for the same aircraft flying at a different speed.
Type Rating Impact#
The amount of revenue that a job generates is scaled based on the type rating level of the pilot. For example, a Level 1 pilot in any type rating will earn less than a Level 4 pilot flying the same job regardless of type rating type (e.g. Single Engine Props, Long Range Airliners, etc.) assuming that the same number of passengers and cargo are transported between the same airports.
Examples#
These examples assume both pilots have Level 1 (L1) type rating levels in Single Engine Props (SEP) & Multi Engine Props (MEP).
Example A#
| Aircraft | Pax | Cargo | Route Distance | Cruise Speed | Route Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TBM 900 (TBM9) | 5 | 219kg | 500nm | 280 kts KTAS | £1,625.19 |
Example B#
| Aircraft | Pax | Cargo | Route Distance | Cruise Speed | Route Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft Baron 58 (BE58) | 5 | 219kg | 500nm | 186 kts KTAS | £2,445.97 |
As you can see, the BE58 generates more revenue. This is because the flight time is longer due to the lower cruise speed.
Example C#
| Aircraft | Pax | Cargo | Route Distance | Cruise Speed | Route Revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beechcraft Baron 58 (BE58) | 5 | 219kg | 500nm | 186 kts KTAS + 40 kts tailwind (226 kts GS) | £2,012.83 |
This example demonstrates the impact that a tailwind has on cruise speed and subsequently the airtime, thus reducing the revenue from the job.
Calculated Airtime#
When configuring a job from a marketplace you can see the airtime value that FSCharter will use to determine optimal pay on the final Summary page. If your flight time is significantly shorter than the calculated airtime you will generate less revenue.
Revenue and Pilot Pay#
The generated revenue of a flight has a direct impact on the amount that the pilot will be paid (because pilot pay is a percentage of generated revenue). If the route used in the examples above above paid 60% to the pilot and the aircraft had no finance remaining the difference in pilot pay between Example B and Example C would be £259.88. As the revenue generated increases this difference would become larger.
Predicted Income
As a manager, you can view the breakdown of a job's predicted income by clicking on the i icon on the Service page of the route configuration wizard.
Tips and Tricks#
To maximise the flight revenue and the pilot pay, pilots should fly routes keeping the calculated airtime in mind. If they have a high tailwind they should reduce thrust and speed to match the required arrival time. Pilots are free to fly at a normal cruise speed with high winds but this may significantly impact the revenue generated and therefore the pay that they receive.
Additionally, if the aircraft is flown significantly faster than the Vne speed for the aircraft (according to the FSCharter aircraft database) the flight will be invalidated. For this reason it is best not to fly at maximum IAS with high winds as the flight is likely to be invalidated (and if it isn't the pay will be very low).