AFKLM Airmen Best Practices

AIRFRANCE-KLM Virtual is home to the AFKLM Airmen. The label "AFKLM Airman" is an ideal that is not influenced by a pilot's gender, class, race or creed, but rather by the guiding principles of professionalism, aptitude and the pursuit of knowledge. 

How to Fly like an
​AFKLM Airman

The AFKLM### callsign is not given. It is earned in exchange for a promise to embody the AFKLM Airmen ethos at all times -- in the air, on the ground, and everywhere the Infinite Flight Community extends.

​Here's how to fly like an AFKLM Airman.

1. Prepare a Proper & Safe FPL

1. Create and generate your FPL using SimBrief or IF to FPL Converter. 
2. Do not take more fuel than recommended. SimBrief takes into account flight rules and winds. So the fuel amount will be sufficient for your journey, even if the ETE Destination turns red for most of the flight. If you take more fuel, you will be overweighted and the FL recommended by your FPL will be to high for your plane’s weight to be sustain by the high altitude thin air… which will lead you to stall and drop and over speed and get violations.
3. If you wish to add an extra safety fuel amount, chose 45 min instead of 30 min extra fuel in the SimBrief Options.
4. During your flight, comply with recommended climb / descend profile, as well as cruise altitudes and speed. The altitudes and speed (KIAS & Mspeed) are calculated per your route, plane, weight and optional step climb. You can and should trust SimBrief.

2. Know Your Aircraft

Or check out our IF Tutorial video playlist to watch a training video.

Tutorial Videos

3. Taxi

1. AFKLM Virtual policy is to taxi at 12kts during turns and 20kts on straight aways.​
2. Do not taxi through other planes or buildings (black areas).
3. Do not stay more than 1 minute on the runway without moving or taking off. If you are on the runway to take off: take off. If you are on the runway to cross it: cross it.
4. Remember: runway starts at the hold short line. So if any part of your plane crosses that line, you can be considered being on the runway.

4. Climb

1. Stay with your device during the ENTIRE CLIMB to monitor parameters until cruise is established !!!
2. Under FL100, limit your speed to 240 KIAS to avoid violations in case there are some wind gusts that can bring you over 250 KIAS.
3. Do not exceed the climb profile speed recommended listed in FPLtoIF.
4. Do not use a 3rd party app to handle your climb. (such as IF-A)

5. Cruise

1. Be professional and check the Mspeed and corresponding KIAS Speed listed in FPLtoIF. Double check with your plane’s VNE (Velocity to Never Exceed).If you go beyond, the Ap will disengage and… you know what happens. So go with the lowest recommended cruise speed unless you feel it will make you stall. The Max speed limit above FL100 is indicated by the red threshold on your HUD on the left side speed bar.
2. Stick with the altitudes and step climb recommended by your FPL. If you don’t want to step climb, uncheck the step climb box in SimBrief to have a fixed altitude.

6. Descent

1.  Stay with your device during the ENTIRE DESCENT to monitor parameters until landing !!!
2. Set your AP during descent at FL120 to avoid any drama.
3. Under FL180, start reducing your speed to 240 KIAS. Use spoilers, flaps and even gears if needed.
4. Aim at reaching 240 KIAS at FL120. 
5. Maintain 240 KIAS or slower under FL120.
6. Do not exceed the descent profile speed recommended listed in FPLtoIF.
7. Do not use a 3rd party app to handle your descent. (such as IF-A).

8 Ways to Avoid Violations

90% of non-IFATC related violations occur due to over speeding. Here are some of the most common ways you'll find yourself over-speeding. 

1. ​You fly faster than 250kts below FL100. Most likely because you forgot to set your AP speed during climb, or your VS on descent is preventing your aircraft from slowing down. Be extra vigilant during your climb and descent.
2. Your cruising speed is too slow, you stall, AP disengages and a nose dive ensues resulting in overspeed. Use a FPL and adhere to the recommended speed. Don't forget to check your speed once you've reached cruising altitude.
3. You fly too high for your weight, you stall, your AP disengages, you nose dive and overspeed.
4. You are too heavy for your altitude, you stall, your AP disengages, you nose dive and overspeed.
5. You fly too fast (M Speed and/or KIAS). If your speed goes beyond the red speed bar your AP disengages, nose dive and, yep - you overspeed.
6. Aerobatics exceeding +/- 90 degrees bank or pitch. 
7. You sit idle on runway longer than 60 seconds.
8. ​You taxied beyond 35 kts on the ground. AFKLM Virtual policy is to taxi at 12kts during turns and 20kts on straight aways.