UPDATE: Donation goal has been reached. This fundraiser is now closed until next time.

It's time again for the next FSE donation drive! 

Once again, we need to raise some money to support the ongoing operating expenses for our FSE Services, which range between $70 - $80 (USD) per month, on average .  Our goal is to raise $1,000 (US) in overdue costs* and another $2,000 (US), which should keep us operating for another 2 years. Thanks to the generous support of our membership, we've been able to keep FSE operational, free of charge, and running smoothly for 20 years!  A "suggested amount" is 5 US Dollars; however, any amount you feel appropriate is appreciated. 

You can send your donations by clicking the Donate button in the menu above, and using the PayPal donation link.  You can do a PayPal money transfer or use a credit/debit card if you do not have PayPal. 

FSE is updating its policy regarding the FSE Airport Database (ADB).  The current policy is that the ADB is a static, never-changing database.  A revised policy will be to allow ADB updates.  

First and foremost:  The intent of this policy change is NOT to make FSE reflect the real world, nor any particular simulator, in whole or in part. The intent of this policy is to enhance the existing FSE Airport Game World. ALL simulators will continue needing to make adjustments to match up that simulator's world with the fictitious FSE World.  

Changes will be incorporated slowly over time, in small batches.  We will do our best to ensure changes are pre-announced a short time before the change occurs. The downloadable FSE Airports Database file will be updated shortly after any changes are actually implemented – technically, the file will update on the 30-minute server cycle following any changes.  

The following topics are considered "Airport Database Changes", and the intent of each policy topic is described in further detail below: 

1. Adding New Airports 
2. Deleting Existing Airports 
3. Modifying Airport Details 
4. Moving/Relocating Airports 
5. "Local Market" Updates 

1. Adding New Airports 

The main intent of new airports, at first, will be to fill in portions of the FSE Game World in which there are large gaps between FSE airports in areas where large gaps do not exist in the real world. Only IRL Airports will be considered, on a case-by-case basis, for adding into the FSE Game World. Once these areas are more filled in, other IRL Airports which do not exist in the FSE Game World will be considered on a case-by-case basis.   

New Airport Usage: 

When a new FSE Airport is added to the ADB, it will be available for use immediately. It will begin generating system assignments for which the airport qualifies based on existing assignment template parameters. If the Airport meets FSE requirements for providing "local market" fuel, maintenance, or commodities, then those will be available immediately.   

FBO(s):   

All newly-added airports will have each individual FBO lot immediately occupied by a Bank-owned FBO in a "closed" state. Players will not have access to build an FBO. This replicates the current process of a foreclosed Player FBO being taken over by the "Bank of FSE".  

A one-lot Airport will have a single FBO, a two-lot Airport will have two individual FBOs, and a three-lot airport will have three individual FBOs.   These FBOs will not have passenger terminals nor maintenance facilities attached.   

These FBOs will go into a future FBO Lottery cycle, the same as If they were a player-foreclosed FBO. This might be the very next lottery cycle, or the FBOs may be delayed for multiple cycles in an effort to keep "release rates" low and spread out over time. If there are no bids, the FBO will be torn down and the airport lot will become available to be built on by any player.  Existing lottery prices, rules, and policies will apply to these new FBOs, including the "BoD's right to reserve a non-lottery give away method for any/all FBOs that have been foreclosed." 

2. Deleting Existing Airports 

Removing any existing FSE Airports is not being considered at this time.   

3. Modifying Airport Details  

Some FSE Airports have incorrect information (when compared to IRL information) such as Surface Type or Elevation, or the IRL information may have changed such as Airport Name, Identifier Code, etc.  FSE will consider, on a case-by-case basis, revising any/all information to make the FSE Airport reflect the IRL airport data.  

4. Moving/Relocating Airports. 

Some FSE Airports had incorrect lat/lon coordinates when the game was first created as compared to the IRL airport. These FSE Airports may still exist IRL, but at a different location (the IRL location was not moved).  FSE may consider moving these airports to the correct location on a case-by-case basis.  

Other FSE Airports were correct (as compared to the IRL airport) when the game was first created; however, the IRL Airport has since moved (relocated across town, etc.).  FSE may consider moving these airports on a case-by-case basis.  

5. "Local Market" Updates 

FSE may consider adding or removing any of the Local Market services from any airport on a case-by-case basis. Currently, the following Local Market services exist: 

• Local Fuel 
• Local Aircraft Maintenance 
• Building Material Commodities 
• Note: Supplies and Bulk Fuel are also considered to be "Local Market" services, but will continue under the existing policy for those items (Supplies are available at all airports, and fuel can only be purchased by FBO Operators) 

6.  Adjusting Airport Size 

There are some FSE Airports that have a very-mismatched "size" parameter, when compared to their IRL counterparts.  This is due to the way the original ADB was created, with the "length of all available runways" determining how small or large an airport would be.  There are some grass-strip farms with multiple long runways, causing them to be considered a Small Airport in FSE (2 lots) instead of the standard Airstrip.  A major regional hub area IRL, but with geographical space constraints, would also be "downgraded" to a 2-lot "Small Airport" in FSE.  

Policy: FSE may consider altering the "size" value of any airport on a case-by-case basis.  Airports will not be down-sized if the result would negatively impact any existing player FBO(s).  Airports may be up-sized, giving the airport an extra FBO lot. This WILL impact any existing player FBO(s) by increasing the daily amount of supply consumption. Any "new" FBO lots created by up-sizing an airport will follow the "new airport" process listed above, with the new lot being occupied by a "Bank-foreclosed" FBO that will go into the lottery process. 

Suggesting ADB Modifications.  

PLEASE NOTE: We have spent a few months gathering data on about 800 world-wide airports that do not exist in FSE.  PLEASE review the list of airports already submitted before suggesting a new airport. We might have already included it!
If you would like to contribute suggestions for a new airport in the FSE Airport Database, or propose changes to existing FSE Airports, please visit the "FSE Airport Suggestion Box" of the FSE User Manual and fill out the appropriate suggestion form.  

https://sites.google.com/site/fseoperationsguide/airports/airport-suggestion-box 

NOTE:  These suggestions will be monitored and considered, but there will be NO FEEDBACK on the suggestion itself.  We anticipate hundreds or possibly even thousands of suggestions and, as stated above, the intent is to incorporate changes slowly over time. Your suggestion may well take months or years to make it into the game if it was deemed an acceptable suggestion.  Please do not ask about the status of any suggestion, nor make multiple anonymous suggestions in an effort to "vote up" your suggestion.  

In honor of FSE's 20 Year anniversary, we will be giving away 20 aircraft.  But not just ANY random 20 aircraft – one aircraft from each of the first 20 aircraft models flown in the FSE Game World.  But wait, there's more! Not just ANY aircraft from that model's lineup – but the actual very first aircraft that was flown of each model type.  

All 20 of these aircraft have been acquired by the FSE BoD, thanks to many players who donated or traded these aircraft back to FSE specifically for this historical contest and prize giveaway (even after we told them what a significant aircraft they possessed!).  

To participate in the contest, simply fly any (or all) of the original aircraft on their original route. See the full list of rules below.

But wait, there's STILL more!  A GRAND PRIZE.  All participants in the FSE 20-20 Hindsight Contest, regardless of winning an aircraft or not, will be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing for your very own brand new airport!  The Grand Prize winner will get to nominate any new airport of their choice (within the approved parameters for new FSE airports) and have sole occupancy of the FBO (across all available lots) at that new airport.  

The contest will run from now, December 8th (the date of the very first flight log entry in the FSE Database) through February 28th, the final day of original beta testing.  Prize drawings will be held on March 1st, FSE's official 20th birthday! 

Well... not **quite** yet. 

The very first flight was logged into the FSE Database on December 8th, 2004 when a request for beta testers was posted to the Avsim forums.  FSE technically ceased beta testing and officially opened its doors to the public on March 1st 2005.  

We are planning a 3-month long celebration spanning roughly the original beta testing period, from now through the "actual" 20 year mark on March 1st.  

As we near the Dec 8th date of the First FSE Flight, we will be posting additional announcements and contests, and giving away some "historic" prizes!  

Happy Birthday, FSE!!