SimVector 1.1 - "The Schedule Cloud Update" Deployment

We are pleased to announce the deployment of SimVector 1.1, "The Schedule Cloud Update." This release is packed with new features, improvements, and fixes designed to enhance your experience and provide even more powerful tools for accessing and utilizing flight schedule data.

The update will roll out over the next day or so, with some features being available immediately and others being phased in as we complete final testing and optimizations.

Should you encounter any issues, feel free to reach out via Discord or contact Taylor directly for urgent matters. We appreciate your patience and support as we continue to expand our platform. Without further ado, here are the details of what’s new in SimVector 1.1:

New Features

Schedule Cloud

Schedule Cloud is both a rebrand of our existing schedule data product and a major expansion of its capabilities. The core concept remains: providing accurate, up-to-date flight schedule data for virtual airlines and aviation applications. However, we’ve added a suite of new features to make it more powerful and flexible than ever.

The crown jewel of Schedule Cloud is the new API Streaming feature, which is now available to the public under SimVector Plus plans. This allows you to pull live flight data directly into your VA platform on-demand, giving you access to corrected route schedules, observed equipment sets, and real-time enrichments. phpVMS 7 and smartCARS integrations are fully supported.

The phpVMS 7 module for SimVector will receive a mandatory update to enable Schedule Cloud support for phpVMS and smartCARS. Please apply this update when it is released.

For more information, you can check out the dedicated Schedule Cloud product page, which has been updated with all the new features and details.

Live Flights

On top of the Schedule Cloud API, we are introducing a Live Flight data feed. This feed provides real-time updates on flight statuses, including delays, cancellations, and real-world changes.

While the core API provides accurate schedule data, the Live Flights feed allows you to track actual operations that might differ from (or have yet to be reflected in) the static schedules. This is especially useful for VAs that want to provide pilots with the most current information possible.

Introducing Cargo Operators

With the addition of a new data provider, we are bringing cargo giants like FedEx, UPS, Atlas Air, and more to the platform.

Because of how these operators manage their schedules, we are currently offering cargo data exclusively through the Schedule Cloud Live Flights feed. This means you can pull live cargo data via the API, though it will not be available in static schedule downloads just yet. We look forward to integrating this data more deeply in future updates.

Communities (Organization Accounts)

The existing Communities feature has been completely revamped into a full Organization Account system.

Communities now have their own subscription plans, API credit balances, and member roles (Owner, Editor). Members can submit data requests and receive deliveries scoped to the community, keeping everything neatly separated from personal accounts. From the new settings pages, owners can manage members, operator access, delivery configurations, and billing in one place. You can also migrate existing personal data requests into a community account with ease.

Data Marketplace

We have completely overhauled the data request system. Instead of a basic form, we now feature a full Data Catalog. You can browse datasets, view per-operator pricing, and use a persistent cart system for your purchases.

Long term, we plan to expand this catalog and introduce direct monetary purchases alongside API credits. This will provide flexibility for users who need specific datasets without committing to a full subscription. Naturally, these will be priced in a way that encourages ongoing subscriptions, but the option will be there for those who just need something specific.

Dedicated Subscription Page

Your subscription, current plan, and billing details now have a dedicated settings page, making it easier to review and manage your plan without hunting through account settings. For Stripe based subscriptions, it's now possible to modify the subscription details directly through the Stripe Customer Portal, including changing plans, updating payment methods, and viewing billing history.

Improvements & Fixes

New Data Processing Engine

Recently, we hit a wall with our PHP/Laravel-based workers. Due to the sheer volume of data and complexity of the tasks, they kept crashing, which directly impacted your ability to use the platform. Rather than continuing to patch a failing system, we decided to rewrite the data processing engine from the ground up.

Written in C# and running on .NET 10, this is now a standalone proprietary application optimized for high performance and scalability. Since making the switch, the reliability improvements have been immediate and significant.

I know many flight simulation enthusiasts like a peek behind the curtain from time to time and understand how we developers work, so I’ll be sharing a long-form blog post soon detailing the architecture and why this move was necessary. Stay tuned!

Graceful Subscription Cancellations

Cancelling a subscription no longer cuts off access immediately. Your access now continues through the end of the current billing period, as expected.

Clearer Data Request Status

The job status indicator for data requests and deliveries now distinguishes between a request sitting in the queue and one that is actively being processed, giving you a more accurate picture of where your request stands.