UAL 2018 format observations

[Rodeo314]

B343 FUEL RESERVES FOR FLAG AND SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS seems to always be present regardless of the actual fuel policy being used.

I’ve also noticed the TOW/LW parameter winds behave possibly unexpectedly, for example I had an OFP with the following briefing weather:

LEMD -MAD - ADOLFO SUAREZ MADRID-BARAJAS
32L/14R  13084 32R/14L  11483 36L/18R  13711 36R/18L  11483 
SA 170600Z  VRB02KT CAVOK 16/09 Q1013 NOSIG
FT 170500Z  1706/1812 VRB05KT CAVOK TX29/1716Z TN17/1804Z
BECMG 1708/1711 22010KT
PROB30 1712/1717 23015G25KT
BECMG 1719/1722 VRB05KT
BECMG 1807/1810 24012KT

EGGP -LPL - LIVERPOOL
09/27  7500 
SA 170550Z  26006KT 9999 SCT023 BKN031 13/11 Q1006
FT 170458Z  1706/1806 28006KT 9999 SCT025
TEMPO 1706/1710 BKN014
PROB30 TEMPO 1706/1710 7000 -SHRA BKN009

but the parameters in the OFP were W220/10 for takeoff and W000/00 for landing.

For takeoff, it’s apparently using the “becoming” line (1708/1711 means the 17th between 0800Z and 1100Z, I think? whereas my takeoff is planned for OUT 0705Z/0905L OFF 0725Z/0925L so it shouldn’t be using it, unless refers to local time instead)

For landing, I don’t see where it could have found zero winds except a parsing bug?

I’ve also found this real-world detailed description of an IRL United OFP:

United Airlines Format Operational Flight Plan (OFP), Presentation and Q&A

Around 11:45 in the video, the Captain mentions that when extra fuel has a positive impact on the economics of the flight it is labeled “FERRY” instead of “EXTRA” (in the context of SimBrief would be the tankered fuel, I think). This is not implemented by Simbrief presently, as far as I can tell.

Regards,

Tim

[SimBrief]

Hi Tim,

• The B343 should be fixed now.
• The landing calculation winds should be fixed now.
• “FERRY” will now show instead of “EXTRA” if any tankering fuel is boarded.
• Currently SimBrief ignores variable winds when reading the TAF, so it ended up using the closest non-variable winds in the TAF you posted.

Best regards,