1. Check the replacement aircraft

Confirm delivery, actual location, passenger suitability, maintenance and route restrictions in Fleet. Record the old and new registrations. A larger aircraft may have different airport or route eligibility; matching the airline is not enough.

2. Clone the published plan

Open Schedules and use Clone on the source template. The portal directs changes to live schedules through a new draft. Simple Clone creates an unassigned draft; check its name and blocks before proceeding. Advanced Clone can shift times, so review every affected day if you choose it.

3. Assign and validate

Assign the intended replacement aircraft in the draft. Confirm the registration in the designer, both route directions, turnaround and weekly continuity. Run Validate and resolve each conflict, then save. Copying a timetable does not prove it works for another aircraft.

4. Review the handover dates

Check the old template end and replacement start together. New publication requires the displayed lead time, at least 14 days. Read assignment conflict messages and any effective date. Do not leave competing assignments or assume the last date generates every departure you expect; inspect the actual upcoming records around the handover.

Confirm the new operation before selling or retiring the old aircraft. A future replacement is not an emergency same-day swap. For a current disruption, use the recovery checklist.