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Trying to build a new airport

PostPosted: Wed Jun 25, 2003 7:26 pm
by FE
I would like to build a completely new international type airport.  My question is how to get some of the AI traffic to go there so that I am not alone?  I use the addon My Traffic 2 and I would like to know if there is a way to get into the code to route some heavies my way.  
I am using FS Scenery creator to build the place.  I am not trying to go too fancy.  
Also does anyone know if there are design macros for F/A-18s for the military part of the airfield?  ???

Re: Trying to build a new airport

PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 11:41 am
by Eng. Rafael Coronel
hey, buddy....acctually I have the same doubt. I have one or two made by myself really nice airports but I can't add them so that AI can recognize 'em. This is kind of frustrating for us who loose time projecting, designing every detail as real as we can and everything. Well, as I'm in the same position of you, if you got the info we want before reading this, just let me know. I'll do the same!
Greets
???

Re: Trying to build a new airport

PostPosted: Wed Jul 16, 2003 2:53 pm
by emh8
FE,

I'm not familiar with My Traffic 2, but if the program is designed to work with Lee Swordy's Traffic Tools Version 1.2 or higher, adding airports to the Traffic.bgl file should be simple.

First run the Decompiler.  Then open the file, Airports.txt, in notebook.  Using the coordinates and elevation data from your new airport, create a new entry in the Aircraft.txt file using the four-character ICAO symbol of your choice.  Save the file and open My Traffic.  At this point you should be able to create flight plans for the new airport.

But, if for some reason, the new airport doesn't show up in My Traffic, I recommend running the Compiler once and then running the Decompiler again afterwards to see if it shows up on the list of airports in My Traffic.  

You'll have to forgive me, but since I'm not familiar with My Traffic, I don't know the finer points, such as how, if at all, it works with Traffic Tools.

Good luck :)

Re: Trying to build a new airport

PostPosted: Thu Jul 17, 2003 6:34 pm
by JBaymore
I haven't done this in a little while....... and was FAR from a master at it............ but if I remember correctly:

The first issue is that you have to have ATC available so that the AI aircraft pilots "know" that the field is out there.  In the program Airport 2.? that I use there is a function to add tower and nav frequencies and ILS and such into the airport along with the visual stuff that you can see.  Have you found that function in the scenery design program that you are using?  Lacking such stuff ..... all you have is "visual" scenery....... but not something that AI "pilots" can see or use.

I also seem to remember that after getting the visual scenery all set I had to use the AFCAD program to add a "tower" (invisible) to the airport so that the frequencies I assigned in the Airport program were actually "on the air".  AFCAD also allowed me to designate the (invisible) AI runways, parking spaces, gates, and so on that AI actually use.  They don't actually care about the visible scenery...... they'd just as soon land and take off on grass  ;).

Then I used AIMover (frontend for the TTools program) to assign flights to and from the new airport.  

And that resulted in a realistic new airport complete with AI traffic.  Yeah.... as I remember it was a bit of a "process" and took a while to learn.

Someone PLEASE correct me if I am wrong here..... it has been a while.

Hope this is a help to you.  ALso..... look back at past postings........ I was in your same place a while back.... and many others were too.  It is all sitting in this forum somewhere  ;).

best,

......................john

Re: Trying to build a new airport

PostPosted: Fri Jul 18, 2003 12:00 am
by emh8
Hey John,

Yes. You're correct about AFCAD.

While making an AFCAD file isn't required for building flight plans for new airport, it is essential if you're planning to fly in and out of the new facility.  Creating the AFCAD file will accomplish all of those things you listed in regard to controlling traffic in and around the airport.

Thanks,

Erik :)

Re: Trying to build a new airport

PostPosted: Fri Jul 25, 2003 5:48 pm
by jrmartin
Not so hard to do.  In your AFCAD open the airport you have created while keeping the same airport turned on on the FS.  You will need to use your "CTRL + S" keyed to look straight down.  This will give you constant coordinated for placing your taxiways and runways, etc.

Use the view & insert buttons to enter your AFD information from your scenery, plus flight service information, tower, etc, etc.  You will also need to add navaids, etc.  Once completed save and export.

Remove your AFD.bgl from scenedb=afdfiles so the new txt file for your airport will take its place.  Check my CJCRxp.  It is a totally virtual major airport with all the above thanks to a friend in Atlanta.
jimmy R martin