New MSP Cat VII Schedule

Well, it's finally happened. The oft promised and frequently delayed new Cat VII schedule for the MSP Hub has finally been posted. In order not to duplicate the Cat VII schedules of the Miami and London Hubs, this schedule emphasizes flights to East Asia and the Pacific Islands. Like the other newly revised MSP schedules (MSP: Cat I, II and III), these flights follow two numbering conventions. Since MSP is a Hub, flights are either outbound and have odd flight numbers (e.g., 1701) or inbound and have even flight numbers (e.g., 1702). Some flights have multiple legs (e.g., 1711A, 1711B and 1711C). While these can be flown and filed as separate flights, the expectation is that a pilot will undertake the whole multiple leg flight and fly the legs sequentially, although not necessarily in a short period of time. Again odd numbers (1711B) are legs of an outbound flight and even numbers (1712A) are legs of an inbound flight. Note that the number of outbound legs on a multiple leg flight does not necessarily equal the number of inbound legs.

As you will see, with few exceptions, the Cat VII flights are true long range flights. Some exceed 12 hours in length, and require our longest range aircraft with very full fuel loads This has been done to add realism to our schedule and to give you heavy metal fans something to exercise your talents. There are some challenges associated with these flights and I will have a little more to say about that in an associated "MSP Hint of the Month" which should be forthcoming soon.

Next I will return to the task of revising the remaining MSP Hub flights (Cat IV, V, and VI) along similar lines.

Mike Daugherty
MSP Hub Manager

Thanks Yoland. I too have been flying the FSX PMDG 747-400. It's a great aircraft for these long flights.

Mike