I've published 8 packages so far on Flightsim.to and they are all related to the idea of virtual touring in MSFS of filming locations for various movies or TV shows. The tour packages each include a PDF file that offers flight tips and explains the connection of the various landmarks to the show or movie. These "tour guides" are quite relevant to enjoyment of the package as they provide the user context to better visualize the landmark.
Today I just uploaded a 9th package - the Yellowstone Montana Tour taking the user on a flight tour of various locations seen in the Yellowstone TV show. This package was just bounced by the review system for containing a PDF file - which as I explained above is essential to the full experience of the package. None of my earlier packages have been bounced for this reason, including my most recent package from earlier this month. I think if you actually look at my content, you will agree that my PDFs should be an exception to your rule (which I have just now seen for the first time).
Please advise on the path forward. It would be a real shame to disallow this content - I have over 1100 downloads for these packages so far.
The flight plans require specific changes to MSFS settings to make them functional. Thus, I provide instructions for making those changes. I've never had any problems with the upload process.
Yesterday, after the major flightsim.to site update, I uploaded a flight plan. Because of the instructions included with the plan, it was rejected because the system identified it as a tutorial. A short time later, it was approved.
My flight plans appear to be simple. But because I am using waypoints in a way that they are not designed for, the plans require hours, and sometimes days, to create. If uploading plans is now a hit-or-miss endeavor, then I need to reconsider whether I should continue doing them.
I uploaded a new flight plan today. I put the required MSFS settings and usage instructions in a file named readme.pdf. I refrained from using any triggering verbiage, such as "instructions", "how to", etc., in the web page content. The system accepted the upload with no issues. Fingers crossed for the next one.
It happened again today.
I got this rejection notice: "[AI] Description references an included readme.pdf (a document). The guidelines disallow documents/information lists except specific allowed types (checklists, flight plans, GSX/SimBrief profiles, or applications). Remove the PDF dependency or move the required settings into the English description/readme text within the upload instead."
I've tried a couple of different approaches, and it's like playing Whack-a-Mole with the AI approval process.
Once again, I'm considering giving up contributing to the site.
I have discontinued doing my flight plans. It's not worth the hassle of packaging and repackaging them based on the whims of the AI approval system.
I'm done with uploading guided-tour plans, at least for the foreseeable future. I won't say "never" because I do enjoy creating the plans.
However, in addition to the AI approval issues, my plans lately have had a low download rate. I have 322 plans on flightsim.to, and over the past several years, they have been downloaded more than 70,000 times. That included more than a year when I was inactive. The norm was an average of about 100 downloads a day. Lately, though, the plans have been downloaded an average of less than 10 per day. That is a 90% drop.
I have not changed the format, scope or presentation style of the plans. So something else has changed. Is there suddenly 90% less user interest? It's possible, but having that huge a shift seems unlikely. Is it because of the changes to the flightsim.to the platform and implementation of how AI controls things? Is it because of other reasons? There's no way to determine the cause of the decline in my download rates.
But it takes hours, and sometimes days, to create and package each plan. Adding the extra hassle of dealing with the AI approval nonsense, along with the inexplicably low download rates, makes the effort not worth it. I am better off simply hanging a sign on the wall that says, "Bang head here".
So, at least for now, I'm discontinuing creation of guided-tour flight plans.