✨ What's New in V2?

Everything. FSCharter V2 is a comprehensive overhaul of the original platform, introducing new systems and mechanics to create a more dynamic and challenging experience. This article outlines the major changes and enhancements in V2 compared to V1.

Dynamic Passenger Demand System

In V1, jobs (passenger and cargo runs) were largely tied to predefined routes and could become repetitive or overly abundant, leading to an inflated economy. V2 changes this by implementing a dynamic passenger demand system that generates passenger groups with specific origins and destinations. These passenger groups (“demand”) are not automatically attached to a single company’s route – instead, they form a common pool of potential travelers that companies can compete or cooperate to transport.

The new Demand Engine continuously generates new demand behind the scenes to ensure there are always opportunities. This demand generation is currently based on a set of internal plugins that generate demand (e.g. real world schedules, city hopper, island hopper, national, ski resort, water taxi, etc.), however the plugin system is extensible and we intend to allow user-created plugins in the future to introduce custom or event-based demand patterns.

There are two ways to fulfil demnd in FSCharter V2.

Routes

In V2, companies can still operate routes (regular flights between two airports), but these routes now draw from the shared passenger demand pool. Available passenger groups will consider the routes that make up your route network when deciding how to get to their destination. This means a scheduled route will only carry passengers if there is demand for travel across your network. If multiple companies have routes covering similar city pairs, they’ll essentially be competing for the same passengers. Routes in V2 become one way to fulfill demand, ideal for high-traffic corridors or regular service between your bases.

Charter Jobs

V2 introduces charter jobs as a flexible way to serve demand beyond fixed routes. A charter job is an on-demand flight that a company can set up to carry a specific group of passengers to fulfill (or partially fulfill) their journey. Instead of relying on pre-set routes, a company can create a Dispatch Plan for a group of passengers, potentially routing them through multiple stops as needed. Dispatch Plans allow breaking a passenger group’s journey into multiple legs – for example, picking up travelers from a small airfield, flying them to a hub, then taking them onward to their final destination. Each leg can become a separate job (or “Job Leg”) that a pilot can fly. This approach lets companies design complex itineraries to move passengers where route networks alone might not reach. Charter jobs and highly flexible: you can fly anywhere there’s demand, without needing a hub at the origin or destination. They are perfect for one-off trips, remote destinations, or adapting on the fly to market needs. By using Dispatch Plans, you could, for instance, bundle several small passenger groups with similar destinations into one multi-stop journey, or handle a single group’s long trip with connecting charter flights.

Fulfilling Demand via Multiple Legs

A powerful aspect of FSCharter V2 is that a single passenger group’s journey can be fulfilled by multiple flights (and even multiple companies) working together. Whether the passengers fly on a route, a charter, or a combination of both, it’s the trip as a whole that matters. For example, a group of tourists in a rural town might first hop on a charter flight with a local charter company to reach a major hub. From there, they transfer onto an airline’s scheduled route (operated by a different company) to fly to another continent. Finally, another charter company picks them up at the destination airport to shuttle to a smaller airfield nearby. FSCharter links these legs into one continuous journey for the passengers. Collaboration is key: each company handles the leg it’s best suited for (small operators feed passengers to large hubs, major airlines carry them long distance, and regional charters distribute them to final stops). Once the passenger group safely arrives at their ultimate destination, everyone gets paid their share of the earnings. This multi-leg fulfillment model is a big change from V1, enabling a true networked economy where companies can specialize and cooperate rather than every job being an isolated point-to-point haul.

Partnerships and Collaborative Economy

Building on the multi-leg concept, partnerships and player collaboration are heavily emphasized in V2. In V1, companies were more siloed – you mostly flew your own jobs. In V2, the lines blur: you might fly for your own company one day, then pick up another company’s charter job via a short contract the next to earn extra income or build reputation. Companies can effectively partner up by designing their operations to complement each other. For instance, a cargo-focused airline in V1 might have worked alone, but in V2 (currently passenger-only) a regional commuter company could partner with a long-haul carrier by timing their feeder flights to meet the larger airline’s schedule at a hub. By cooperating, both businesses expand their reach and profit from shared demand.

Hub-and-Spoke Collaboration

V2’s infrastructure supports a hub-and-spoke model among multiple companies. One company can operate feeder flights from smaller airports into a large hub, while another company (or several) runs high-capacity routes between major hubs. Yet another company could operate last-mile charters distributing passengers from those hubs to remote airfields. Because the underlying demand is shared, this cooperation isn’t just theoretical – it organically happens if companies choose to focus on different niches. The outcome is a win-win: passengers get to their far-flung destinations through a chain of providers, and each provider earns a portion of the fare relative to their leg. This collaborative economy in V2 not only makes the world feel more alive and interconnected, but also encourages players to specialize (e.g. bush pilot services, regional commuter airlines, international airlines) and rely on each other’s services. In short, success in V2 often comes from network-building and relationships, not just isolated flying.

Realistic Economy and Financial Overhaul

One of the biggest complaints about V1 was the hyperinflated economy – money became too easy to come by, and eventually every established player could afford fleets of aircraft with little effort. V2 addresses this with a ground-up redesign of the economy. It is significantly harder to make money in FSCharter V2, especially at the start. Passenger budgets have been balanced to be more realistic relative to operating costs, and many new expenses have been introduced to keep companies on their toes. For example, fuel costs, maintenance, airport fees, and taxes all factor into your profit margins. Every charter job incurs landing fees at the destination, scaled by aircraft size and value (so flying a heavy jet into a major airport will cost you more than a small prop into a rural field). Maintenance and wear-and-tear rates depend on whether you keep your aircraft in a hangar or not, which might require investing in repairs or newer planes sooner than in V1. All of this means bad business decisions can lead to losses or even bankruptcy – if you over-expand, take on too much debt, or operate expensive aircraft on thin routes, you may find your company bleeding money.

The economy has been deliberately designed to be more challenging than V1, but much more rewarding. Making profit requires efficiency and smart decisions – much like running a real airline or charter service. This tighter economy also makes progression more satisfying: buying your second aircraft in V2 will feel like a real achievement, not just a trivial purchase. Wealth and success now must be earned, which keeps the gameplay engaging long-term.

V2’s economy is still evolving; we're closely monitoring feedback and making adjustments to ensure it remains fair and fun. Player suggestions are encouraged to help us fine-tune!

Pilot Progression and Type Ratings

In V1, pilot progression was largely tied to a global type rating system: you started with small aircraft (Single Engine Props, etc.) and as you logged hours, you unlocked higher “levels” that let you fly larger classes of aircraft. This was a one-size-fits-all progression. V2 moves away from that fixed ladder. Aircraft type ratings are no longer a predefined global progression route. Instead, each company can set its own requirements and progression for pilots.

What this means is that when you join a company in V2, that company may require you to hold certain ratings or experience before flying specific aircraft for them. One airline might insist a pilot has 500 hours and a turbine rating before they can captain a jet, while another company might be fine letting you fly a regional turboprop with minimal hours if you pass their checkride. Companies can establish their own rank structure for pilots, making progression more diverse and company-specific. This change gives company owners freedom to run their operation how they see fit – whether that’s a strict military-style hierarchy or an open club that lets anyone fly anything. As a pilot, it offers flexibility: you’re not universally banned from flying a heavy just because your account hasn’t reached a certain hour count; rather, you earn the trust of each employer separately. It also adds realism in that moving between companies might reset your “seniority” – you might be a seasoned jet pilot in one airline, but if you switch to a new airline, you may need to prove yourself under their rules to access the same planes.

Overall, V2’s approach to type ratings and progression puts more emphasis on company loyalty and career choices. You can chart your own path: build up a stellar reputation and experience in a niche (e.g. bush flying STOL aircraft), or climb the ranks in a large airline company to eventually fly the big iron – the choice depends on where you work and how you want to play.

Buildings, Bases, and Infrastructure Development

A standout new feature in FSCharter V2 is the ability to construct and manage buildings and base operations at airports. In V1, owning hubs was largely abstract – there were limited ways to invest in airports beyond simply declaring a hub. V2 makes your bases much more tangible by allowing companies to purchase land and construct facilities like hangars, service centres, and FBOs that influence your operations and unlock new capabilities. You can even open up capabilities that buildings provide to the open market, generating revenue from other companies using your facilities!

Investing in buildings is a long-term strategy. They are expensive upfront, but they solidify your base of operations and can give you a competitive edge in regions you operate.

Ongoing Development and Feedback

FSCharter V2 is a labor of love, and it’s still evolving. We have have rebuilt these systems from scratch to address the shortcomings of V1 and provide a richer experience. Because of the scope of changes – from the demand engine to the economy and infrastructure – fine-tuning is ongoing. We openly acknowledge that V2’s mechanics are not final and may be adjusted based on community feedback. Players are encouraged to share their experiences, suggest improvements, and report imbalances. The goal is to strike the right balance between realism, challenge, and enjoyment.

Despite being more challenging, V2 is designed to be fun and rewarding. Every flight and business decision has a purpose in the larger virtual aviation world. Whether you’re a solo pilot looking to rise through the ranks or a company CEO aiming to build an empire of hubs and fleets, FSCharter V2 provides the tools and sandbox to live out that aviation career — now with deeper strategy and player interaction than ever before. So get out there, explore the new systems, and help shape the future of this persistent world!