New research being done for Microsoft

[ARFFguy20]

I was working the other day, driving the fire truck around our perimeter road when I saw a guy video taping aircraft taking off and landing, I asked him what he was doing and had showed ID from Microsoft as a contractor and said he was assigned to video take offs, landings and the kind and frequency of aircraft comming into the airport.  He had my airport (AZO) and a few others near by to do. That was all he could tell me, but I'm thinking the AI traffic may become a little more realistic in FS2006??  Anyone else see someone like this at their local airport?  Just wondering.  Thanks

       ~Capt.

[Joe_D]

I don` know about my local airports, but  what you`re saying sounds promissing.

Now, If MS only had a couple of people reserarching to determine that highways do indeed cross rivers via bridges!

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

ARFFguy20
We have security plus cameras well beyond our perimeter roads.
I have never seen anyone taking pictures at our field but if they were I am quite sure they would be with an escort.

Cheers....Doug

[michaelb15]

Now, If MS only had a couple of people reserarching to determine that highways do indeed cross rivers via bridges!

Hmmm, Try maxing out the detail, and mabe you may find your bridges I havnt found any bridge-less roads that cross rivers yet



edit---- Yes, I have seen some MS ppl at the north bay airport (CYYB)  When I saw them, they wer just entering the control tower

[Delta_]

FS2006 hope it is good, or maybe they are making a new FS Traffic

[Politically Incorrect]

[quote]

Hmmm, Try maxing out the detail, and mabe you may find your bridges I havnt found any bridge-less roads that cross rivers yet

I've tried that and still can't see the Mackinaw Bridge connect the lower and upper peninsula of Michigan!
And that bridge is one of the great wonders of the world!

[dave3cu]

(a little off the topic)

fretnstuff,

There is an add-on for the Mac in fs2004/Scenery, if you miss it as I did.

Cheers,
dave

[JBaymore]

I was working the other day, driving the fire truck around our perimeter road when I saw a guy video taping aircraft taking off and landing, I asked him what he was doing and had showed ID from Microsoft as a contractor and said he was assigned to video take offs, landings and the kind and frequency of aircraft comming into the airport.

Were you sure that was a legitimate Microsoft ID he presented to you?  

Unfortunately, these days people doing detailed observations and documantation of aircraft traffic at airports would seem a tad "suspect" until proven otherwise.  I too would have thought that such a crew from Microsoft would have been accompanied by airport securtiy people.....or at the least, security would have issued info on it to all airport departments.

It sounds like you are on the FD for the airport?


best,

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

[Poseidon]

Well, a couple of years ago some people talking pictures in the abandoned LGAT (Athens) were arrested for spying. It is strange that MS send a person unescorted to do the job but if it is true should we expect an AI addon for FS2004 maybe? Payable of course.

[Hagar]

It's quite possible this was a freelance researcher on a contract to M$. On the other hand it would be a convenient excuse for roaming around an airport for whatever reason. I'm not suggesting he had suspicious motives. There's understandably a little paranoia on airport security right now but it's been like this in the UK for years. I remember back in the 60s it was comparatively easy to get through the security gates of Gatwick if you were in a van & delivering something. Simply stop at the gate & get a temporary pass. Once through the gate you could go almost wherever you wished without arousing too much interest. It was much more difficult to get out.

[Mr. Bones]

realistic traffic you say?
well, first of all, it's impossible for MS to have a photographer at every airport in the world (or at least every intl airport)! second, it would take too much time to add all the parking spaces and write all the realistic flightplans, if not, they'd added long time ago to the default sim. third, MS uses always airlines such as Landmark that doesn't exist in real life, simply because they don't get the rights from real airlines to use their logo and name. if they are going to use realistic AI, ProjectAI would be there for nothing.

also, writing flightplans and creating AI planes (like PAI does) are things we all can do, so why would MS spend time doing that? they'd better use the two years they have to create a new sim...not traffic!  ;)

[ARFFguy20]

you guys might have misunderstood, they wern't on the airport property. I saw them outside of the fence, and yes the ID was real, becuase at the same time, someone from the McDonalds across the street called 911 reporting a suspicious subject by the airport, the airport Deputies checked his ID out and everything was fine. Just to clear all the conspiracy theories up.  have a good one!

[Katahu]

Well, it is true that we can make better AI than M$. However, I believe that M$ should work on the AI traffic for us anyways.

Reason:

I tried to install and set up the AI flight plans from Project AI, but it was really complicated and completely time consuming.

So, I'm better off letting M$ do all the realistic flight plans for us.

However, airport parking spots are a different story.

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]

Were you sure that was a legitimate Microsoft ID he presented to you?

[Redwing]

So why should a man from Microsoft be accompianied by security personel just because he's filming planes?

My sentiments also!

If they're not on airport property, it's not illegal for anyone to take pictures of civil or military aircraft. I think that the police and military security would only be concerned if the camera being used sort of resembled a hand-held surface-to-air missile launcher!!