Airline

Your objective in Airline is to make enough capital by trading at a profit to take-over British Airways! You are required to decide on the number of aircraft to operate, whether to buy or charter, the level of staffing and maintenance, whether to enter into long-term contracts for supply of fuel and whether to repay loans. Problems encountered are tax demands, strikes, cancelled flights, hijacks and aircraft crashes. The program makes use of histograms, bar charts and graphics to assist the user to assimilate the information available. Can you be more successful than Sir Freddie?

1. Object Of The Game
   You are the Chairman of L-AIR, an airline which starts up business with £3 million. You have seven years to increase your net assets to £30 million which will enable you to raise enough finance to take over British Airways. Situations and costs are realistic. The need to create revenue to cover fixed costs soon becomes apparent to the player. This program provides a good opportunity for you to see if you can be more successful than Sir Freddie!
2. Information Available
   Bar chart forecasting payload i.e. passengers/miles market. Histograms showing Charter Rates expected for next year.
   Graph showing interest Rates for next year. (Model B/Electron only).
   Profit & Loss Account and Balance Sheet.
   Financial Times report (Model B/Electron only).
   Telex messages.
3. Business Decisions Required
   You may either charter, buy or sell aircraft.
   You have to decide on how many aircraft to operate.
   Levels of stagging, maintenance and insurance.
   Whether or not to enter into a long-term fuel contract.
   Whether or not to repay loans.
4. Problems Encountered
   Tax demands.
   Increase in fuel costs.
   Loss of revenue through: cancelled flights - strikes.
   Hijacks, air crashes and sabotage.
5. Graphics and Charts
   Bar Chart: Passenger Payload
   The first chart to be displayed is a bar chart showing a forecast of the Passenger Payload for each level of activity. Generally it is best to select the number of aircraft with the highest payload factor. However, you should also consider the forecast of charter rates and the number of aircraft which you already own.
   
   Histogram: Forecast of Charter Rates
   This chart shows a quarterly forecast of Charter Rates for the coming year. If Charter Rates are high, it is usually best to charter fewer aircraft.
   
   Graph: Forecast Of Monthly Interest Rates
6. Hints For Playing
   1. From information in payload bar chart, decide on best high and low number of aircraft and take decision after watching level of Charter Rates expected.
   2. Cost of interest on loans needed to purchase aircraft is usually less than the cost of chartering the equivalent number of aircraft.

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Tape: CHAIN"" (RETURN)
Disc: SHIFT-BREAK