Airport Design

[idahosurge]

I am thinking about getting into modifing stock FSX airports or if that is not possible then designing new ones.

What program would I need to take a stock FSX airport that has no parking or limited parking and then add parking?

An expample is KRIV March JARB in Riverside, CA.  The stock FSX airport has no parking so MyTraffic X will not park any aircraft there.

Rod

[Travis]

I'm not positive, but I'm fairly sure that AFCAD will still work with FSX.

Find it here.

[Brett_Henderson]

I've been using Airport Design Editor (ADE).. works great  :)

http://www.airportdesigneditor.co.uk/

[Scruffyduck]

AFCAD won't work with FSX airports.  In some circumstances FS9 airport files created by AFCAD can work in FSX.  However there is almost always conversion work involved.

[Travis]

Whoops!  Sorry 'bout that!  Good thing to know, however.  So the only two programs that can create facilities for FSX are AFX and ADE?  If so, what is the difference?  I've been looking at both, and wondering why anyone would choose the payware program over the free (and apparently much more versatile) program . . . :-?

[dave3cu]

Travis,

The big difference is

[idahosurge]

So ADE seems to be freeware and AFX is payware.

Is there any real advantage to either in relation to modifing current FSX airport blg files or desiging an airport from scratch.

I am fine with paying for AFX if it makes sense to buy it.

Are there any other airport design programs besides ADE and AFX?

Rod

[Travis]

Is there any real advantage to either in relation to modifing current FSX airport blg files or desiging an airport from scratch.

The big difference is  that AFX does not require that the FSX SDK be installed. This makes it the only option for those with FSX Standard version (as is my case). The 'Live View' function is also handy.

If you have the standard version of FSX (as opposed to the "Gold Edition" :-??) you'll want AFX.

It seems that for the moment there are NO other programs for airport design in FSX.  But I'm sure there will be others in the future.

[dave3cu]

Rod,

If you have the FSX SDK installed I think ADE is your best choice. It provides all the tools that AFX has for airport modification. In addition, it can create airport terrain polys for creating new airports or expansion of existing airports. (AFX cannot)

There is one other freeware editor, FSX Planner by ZBlue: http://www.zbluesoftware.com/fsxplanner/ Not familiar with it but looking at the features I see no mention of airport terrain poly tool. Like ADE, it requires the FSX SDK.

Note: Although a convenience, it is not necessary to have the airport terrain poly tool in the airport editor. There are other (free) design utilities that can create the polys. They will require the FSX SDK.

Dave

[Travis]

Dave, when you say "terrain poly" are you referring to the cleared space around most airports?  If so, what programs can you get that will do this?  For FS9, I mean.

[Scruffyduck]

For FS9 you will need SBuilder.  ADE does not support FS9 at the moment although we are beta testing a version now.  In any case it will not provide terrain polys (that is airport backgrounds, land class etc).  These are created quite differently in FS9 and FSX.

[dave3cu]

Travis,

Terrain polys?-Yes, flattening, clearing and applying texture to the area for an airport.

As Jon mentions, SBuilder is the 'tool of choice'. It is a 2D CAD design program with the tools needed to create/modify FS 2004 scenery.

SBuilder is now available here- http://www.fsdeveloper.com/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=68

This download incorporates SBuilder 2.05 and all revisions needed to give you

[idahosurge]

Rod,

If you have the FSX SDK installed I think ADE is your best choice. It provides all the tools that AFX has for airport modification. In addition, it can create airport terrain polys for creating new airports or expansion of existing airports. (AFX cannot)

There is one other freeware editor, FSX Planner by ZBlue: http://www.zbluesoftware.com/fsxplanner/ Not familiar with it but looking at the features I see no mention of airport terrain poly tool. Like ADE, it requires the FSX SDK.

Note: Although a convenience, it is not necessary to have the airport terrain poly tool in the airport editor. There are other (free) design utilities that can create the polys. They will require the FSX SDK.

Dave

Thanks Dave, I do have SDK installed, actually I just got around to that a couple of weeks ago.  So I guess ADE it is.

One more question, can ADE modify an FSX airport made or previously modified with AFX?

Rod

[dave3cu]

Rod,

....can ADE modify an FSX airport made or previously modified with AFX?

As I don't have ADE (no SDK) Jon will have to answer that one. As AFX uses some unconventional means, my guess is that even if it could open AFX files, editing would be problematic.

Dave

[Scruffyduck]

Rod,

If you have the FSX SDK installed I think ADE is your best choice. It provides all the tools that AFX has for airport modification. In addition, it can create airport terrain polys for creating new airports or expansion of existing airports. (AFX cannot)

There is one other freeware editor, FSX Planner by ZBlue: http://www.zbluesoftware.com/fsxplanner/ Not familiar with it but looking at the features I see no mention of airport terrain poly tool. Like ADE, it requires the FSX SDK.

Note: Although a convenience, it is not necessary to have the airport terrain poly tool in the airport editor. There are other (free) design utilities that can create the polys. They will require the FSX SDK.

Dave

Thanks Dave, I do have SDK installed, actually I just got around to that a couple of weeks ago.