Aircraft Lifecycle Reference
This page covers everything that can happen to an aircraft in FS Reality, from first use to final sale.
Acquisition
There are several ways to get access to an aircraft:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Rent | Temporarily use someone else’s aircraft for an hourly rate. Ends when the flight completes. |
| Purchase | Buy an aircraft from another player. Full ownership transfers to you. |
| Lease (receive) | Another owner grants you controlled access for a set period. |
| Transfer (receive) | Another owner gives you the aircraft directly, no money involved. |
Ongoing Operations
Once you have access to an aircraft:
- Fly. Start tracked flights with loaded assignments.
- Refuel. Add fuel at airports (who pays depends on wet/dry rental type).
- Store in hangar. Park the aircraft for safekeeping.
- Update settings. Change registration, sale/rent flags, prices, and operator lock settings (owner only).
Maintenance
Aircraft condition degrades over time:
- 100-hour inspections: Required every 100 flight hours
- Annual inspections: Required once per year
- Maintenance events: Random issues generated by the system over time
All maintenance costs money and must be completed while the aircraft is on the ground.
Disposal
When you’re done with an aircraft:
| Method | Description |
|---|---|
| Sell to another player | List it for sale, set a price, and wait for a buyer. |
| Sell to system | Instant sale at a depreciated value. The aircraft is removed from the world. |
| Transfer | Give it to another user or operator for free. |
| Lease (grant) | Give someone else controlled access while retaining ownership. |
State Constraints
An aircraft’s current state restricts what actions are available:
| State | Restrictions |
|---|---|
| In active flight | Cannot sell, transfer, lease, revoke lease, refuel, perform maintenance, or run inspections |
| Actively reserved | Cannot sell or transfer |
| Not airworthy | Cannot be rented or flown |
| Parked in hangar | Automatically removed on flight start |