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Airport Landing Lights

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germany
Dear all,

I am wondering how to add those "pulsing, running" lights which leads to the runway in front of the landing light system (sorry, don't know what the real name is). But I think in reality most airports have them.

If you don't know what I am talking about: KLAX in FS has those lights (in blue).

Is that an effect, an object, or do I miss something within AFCAD?

Thank you,
Martin
Scrshot104.jpg
 
Hi,

I got these running lights by using the program Airport for Windows 2.6... and for FS9 I suppose you need the program SceneGenX. Go to function: Create runway.
As the main site of AFW is at this moment down for maintenance, you can find all their software on
http://www.flightsimnetwork.com/airportsupport/

You can use GroundMaker 2k4 too.

Hope this helps José.
 
Last edited:
Thank you Jose.

I have made my airport layout with AFCAD. I have read several times to never mix the design of runways and navaids between different programs.

So when you say to create a runway in SceneGenx: Would that create a "real" runway (which FS sees as a runway) and which would compete with my AFCAD layout or could I just have the strobe light functionality I am looking for?

Cheers,
Martin
 
Why not open up KLAX in AFCAD and read the properties for the runway which has the lighting effect you wish to recreate and then assign the same values to your runway.

Also read section 42 (Runway Lights) of the AFCAD readme file.

Cheers
David
 
Hi,

Wel, SceneGenX is the version for FS9, as Airport For Windows is the version for FS2002. However it work in FS9 too. AFW create a visual runway with all the lights you need. Groundmaker does the same I think.
For ILS... do it in Afcad.
I would say: try it, download and install SceneGenX and look at all the possibilities the program offers.

Greetz. José.
 
I do the ground layout in AFCAD, then import it in SGX, place the buildings (this way you can place them very exactly without a lot of trial and error, because you see the outlines), export to XML, strip all the things AFCAD does and put the buildings into a BGL. This BGL in addition with the AFCAD BGL does a wonderful job. I place all other objects with ObjectPlacer XML into a seperate BGL.

I did this in my last project and I'm really satisfied with this way. Before it, I did everything in SGX, but ... expect problems!
 
@Georg

I installed SceneGenX after I saw you comment about importing the AFCAD file - I did not know this is possible.

I do the ground layout in AFCAD, then import it in SGX, place the buildings (this way you can place them very exactly without a lot of trial and error, because you see the outlines), export to XML, strip all the things AFCAD does and put the buildings into a BGL.

Looks like a brilliant approach, I will keep this in mind for the next project. SGX did change a lot since I looked at it the last time...

The runway light options are - this is at least my opinion after a first check - the same ones like in AFCAD with no additional features.

@Jose
AFCAD offers a bunch of lighting options, and with the one exception I am more than happy with it.

@PakMac
That was the first thing I did - nothing different there than at my airport.

@All
I am meanwhile convinced that this must be an effect. You might want to check it out. Start in KLAX at the default position in the night and then slew back. You will see the default light system pass by. After you have reached the end move back some more and you will see some blue blinking lights. The blink frequency is not the same so that from a distance it looks like a strobe directing to the airport.

Those lights are common at least at military bases. They are active day and night and start some kilometers before the runway.

Cheers,
Martin
 
They are approach strobes and are unfortunately hardcoded into FS, I do not think they are an effect...however, AFCAD does know how to make these. Maybe Arno can shed some light on this.
 
Hi,

I haven't seen such strobe lights yet, but I will try to take a look at them and "what" they are :).
 
Strobes

Is this what you are after :rolleyes:



Edited
Thinking about this while checking up on my
"Good Lookin Sheilas" collection I dont think
the Strobes work with all the different
approach light systems available in AFCAD

Tas
 
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Tasmanet, you are right. It is only with the systems I use (ALSF-1, ..-2) and some more that the blue strobes are not working (although you can define them).

I did a crosscheck with just another one with the same behaviour. :censored:, now I have to decide what is more important for me.

By the way, is there any way you can define (or select) that the runway light system is switched on during daylight?

Cheers, and thank you,
Martin
 
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