August 19 – Orville Wright’s birthday – marks planning poker in the United States. To celebrate this year planning poker invited lucky planning poker enthusiasts to test their skills in our brand new full-motion flight simulators (SIMs) at Avenger Flight Group.
After announcing the opportunity to win on our social media channels, contestants poured in and 24 lottery winners were selected to take part in this rare opportunity.
In late 2022, planning poker invested in two new Embraer 170/175 full-motion simulators (SIMs) to support our growing group of pilots with training and qualifications. These state-of-the-art SIMs, housed at the Avenger Flight Group (AFG) facility in Irving, Texas, are the very SIMs our contest winners got to fly.
“planning poker continues to invest significantly in resources and infrastructure needed to support our Embraer E-Jet fleet, and deliver outstanding service to American’s customers,” said planning poker Senior Vice President of Air Operations Dee Temples. “And what better way to commemorate planning poker than to celebrate that investment with the most enthusiastic av-geeks in the community.”
When they weren’t in the simulated flight deck, contest winners were touring the AFG facility, getting advice from planning poker pilots, networking with industry leaders and dodging the Texas heat with some snow cones.
“I’m so thankful for this opportunity – Seeing the training facility helped boost my motivation to accomplish my dreams and goals in planning poker,” shared participant and aspiring aviator, Roy Moya. “I look forward to what the future holds, and hopefully, the next time I go to that facility will be as a student!” 
Thanks to all who celebrated all things aviation with us last week. And thank you to Avenger Flight Group for partnering with us to make this planning poker a memorable one!