Important Aircraft Type MatchingWhen operating flights, you must use the aircraft type that matches your booked flight:
- The aircraft type you fly must match what is scheduled for the route (e.g., if booked for an A320, you cannot substitute a 737 MAX 8)
- Substitutes are allowed only if specifically mentioned in the aircraft lists below or confirmed with Virtual Air Canada Airline staff
- Having an Air Canada livery on a different aircraft type does not make it an acceptable substitute unless it’s an approved substitute
- Using incorrect aircraft types without approval may result in your flight being rejected
Rank does not restrict aircraft selectionYour pilot rank does not limit which aircraft you can book or fly. Any pilot can select any aircraft available for a given route, regardless of their current rank. Aircraft availability is determined by route distance and operational rules, not by pilot progression.
Air Canada Fleet
Based on Air Canada’s current operational fleet, the following aircraft are accepted for use with Virtual Air Canada Airline:- MSFS
- X-Plane
Air Canada Rouge Fleet
For Air Canada Rouge operations, pilots may use the A320 family aircraft listed above with appropriate liveries.
Air Canada Jazz Fleet
For Air Canada Express regional operations, the following aircraft are accepted:- MSFS
- X-Plane
Air Canada Cargo Fleet
For Air Canada Cargo operations, the following aircraft are accepted. These aircraft can be booked through the Pilot Portal for cargo flights:- MSFS
- X-Plane
Cargo Operations
- Boeing 767-300 Cargo is the main aircraft for Air Canada Cargo operations
- Airbus A300-600 Cargo and Boeing 777F Cargo are fictional additions to expand cargo flight options
- All cargo aircraft must use appropriate Air Canada Cargo liveries
- Cargo flights should prioritize freight operations and follow cargo-specific procedures
Air Canada Fictional Fleet
The Fictional Fleet is purely optional and pilots may fly it at their discretion. We’ve included popular aircraft models in our fictional fleet so pilots could use them as substitutes for some of the long-haul flights. However, we encourage pilots to primarily fly Air Canada’s real-life fleet. When flying with the fictional fleet, please ensure you are using the correct aircraft type and liveries.Airbus A340-300
The Airbus A340-300 is now available in our fictional fleet for international long-haul operations. This four-engine widebody aircraft is designed for extended long-haul routes and offers pilots a unique flying experience with classic quadjet operations.Available Now: The A340 is available for booking through the Pilot Portal with dedicated SimBrief profiles.
- MSFS
- X-Plane
Airbus A340-300
Airbus A350-900
The Airbus A350-900 is now available in our fictional fleet for international long-haul operations. This aircraft is designed for extended long-haul routes and offers pilots an enhanced flying experience with modern avionics and fuel-efficient operations.Available Now: The A350-900 is available for booking through the Pilot Portal with dedicated SimBrief profiles.
Substitute Aircraft
Substitutes exist so a missing add-on never stops you from flying. They are a fallback, not a default. Fly the aircraft type on your booking whenever you can.Book the Aircraft You Plan to Fly
Our flexible fleet model usually offers several aircraft types on the same route, so you can often avoid substituting entirely by booking a different type. The A319 and A320 are a good example. Both are assigned the same 300 to 2,200nm route range, so many routes offer both. If you own an A320 add-on but not an A319, book the A320 rather than booking the A319 and flying the A320 as a substitute. Same route, same flight, nothing to explain afterwards.Simbrief Configuration
When using substitute aircraft or any aircraft from the approved list, it’s important to properly configure your Simbrief flight planning:- After booking a flight through Pilot Portal, you must manually select the appropriate aircraft profile in Simbrief
- Choose a Simbrief aircraft profile that matches the actual aircraft you plan to fly, not necessarily the scheduled aircraft
- For substitute aircraft, select the Simbrief profile that most closely matches your simulator aircraft’s performance characteristics
- Ensure your OFP (Operational Flight Plan) reflects the correct fuel calculations for your chosen aircraft
Mention the Substitution in Your PIREP Comment
Pegasus ACARS reports the airframe and livery you actually flew, not the type on your booking. When that combination is new to the system, your PIREP is caught by theNew Livery/Airframe rule and sent for staff review. If that livery was rejected on an earlier flight, Rejected Livery/Airframe does the same. See PIREP Statuses for the full list of failure rules.
Leave a PIREP comment whenever you fly a substitute. Name the aircraft you actually flew and the type you were booked for. Without that context the reviewer only sees an aircraft that does not match your booking.
Booked A319-100, flown as FlyByWire A32NX in Air Canada livery. Approved A319 substitute per the Accepted Aircraft list.
Leaving a PIREP comment sends your PIREP for staff review, whether you file through Pegasus or vAMSYS. That is expected here. The comment is what lets the reviewer confirm the substitution was approved and accept your flight.
Important Notes
- Aircraft not listed here may be used with prior approval from the Virtual Air Canada Airline Operations team
- When using substitute aircraft, proper Air Canada/Air Canada Rouge/Air Canada Jazz liveries must be used
- Pilots should make every effort to match the actual aircraft type used on their selected routes
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