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Nantucket Information

SoloWing

SoloWing

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unitedstates
Hi all!

A friend has recently contacted me with a joint design proposal to make some updated scenery of the Nantucket Airport, as he used to live on Cape Cod and frequented the area. Now that he's in Texas, he misses the place, and wanted to update the default airport.

Problem is, there is almost no really good useable photo or satellite information for the airport. The terminal recently had a new addition put on it, and there are no recent photos or quality satellite imagery which show this. In fact, the best satellite imagery shows an airport layout from about 2007, not nearly enough for us to create a reliable design from.

Emails and calls to the Airport Manager have yielded nothing, and I have been told that such information as quality terminal pictures, or even a basic plan/floorplan/satellite view of the new terminal construction is on a need to know basis (This I have been told, might be a result of new laws in place following 9/11).

So I am asking, before I toss the idea for now and wait in for updated information, is there anyone that can help me and my friend obtain the information on the new construction and all other pertinent areas of the airport? Ideally, we are looking for:

- Updated satellite imagery (hoping for 2010, but willing to take most current available which exceeds the current quality of google, something RELIABLE to work with.)
- Photographs of the main terminal and surrounding buildings on airport grounds (for texturing and/or reference purposes)
- Floor plans, or a reliable layout reference of the new terminal.
- General photographs of interest (neat little details, important points, etc.)

We will take anything we can get, and this is saying something considering we have scoured the internet for about a month and have not come up with much. We have no means to pay for this information, but if you are able and willing to help, we'd be very grateful for the assistance! Many thanks!
 
Hmmm... I would ask the guy what law is in place that bars you from getting photos of Nantucket Airport, and that if pictures and diagrams are on a need-to-know basis, that you are building a scenery for the airport for flight sim and you need to know.
 
SoloWing said:
- Updated satellite imagery (hoping for 2010, but willing to take most current available which exceeds the current quality of google, something RELIABLE to work with.)
Click to expand...

Today is your lucky day!

USDA Gateway has 2010 aerial imagery for Mass. Just need to convert to GeoTiff and the format that FSX wants and you're good to go. "Only" 1m res. but it is current
 
Interestingly, Google for 2011 shows the 2007 scenery, but if you step back a notch on the historical clock, you get the July 3, 2008 view of KACK. But all it shows is the construction going on at the terminal, and that is a bit fuzzy.
 
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jonmkj said:
Hmmm... I would ask the guy what law is in place that bars you from getting photos of Nantucket Airport, and that if pictures and diagrams are on a need-to-know basis, that you are building a scenery for the airport for flight sim and you need to know.
Click to expand...

All the rep told me when I had called was that the law prevented her from distributing the information, and unfortunately there is no direct email to the airport administrator. I already sent a third email asking for clarification but I fear it too will be ignored like my first and second emails.

This seems to be dependent on the airport with the reactions I get. I'm working slowly on a remake of my hometown airport personally, and the administration and pilots there have been more than helpful in going out of their way to help, so this may just be the atmosphere under which Nantucket operates. I'm going to try calling again, but in the mean time...

LCSims said:
Today is your lucky day!

USDA Gateway has 2010 aerial imagery for Mass. Just need to convert to GeoTiff and the format that FSX wants and you're good to go. "Only" 1m res. but it is current
Click to expand...

Thanks for this pointer! I just downloaded and viewed the imagery. Indeed very pixelated at the more useful zooms, but it is worlds better than what google currently offers. Definitely a step in the right direction. My friend asked if it would not be prudent to essentially paint our own groundpoly if we decide to do one, so the satellite imagery is useful for measurements and positioning at the very least.

ricktk said:
Interestingly, Google for 2011 shows the 2007 scenery, but if you step back a notch on the historical clock, you get the July 3, 2008 view of KACK. But all it shows is the construction going on at the terminal, and that is a bit fuzzy.
Click to expand...

Yes, I did notice this imagery. Unfortunately, you are right. The dated imagery only comes as far as 2008, and does not show completed construction. The terminal expansion looks incomplete here and detail for measurement is non-existent.

But that is odd, why put the 2007 data as default, and hide the 2008 ones? Quality perhaps?

Going forward, as I'm trying on this end, does anyone else have any more information they could share? The updated imagery was a good find, and it is already going to use with the AFCAD update for the Ai aircraft. Still looking for plans of that terminal building though, possibly including information on the new ARFF station.
 
Wasn't it William Shea who did really good sceneries for Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Hyannias and a couple other airports?

Might see if you can reach him. The scenery looked like he had very current photos.
 
EDIT: I just tried emailing Mr. Shea, but the address bounced back as non-existent. I used the email address he provided with his scenery readme.

rfields said:
Wasn't it William Shea who did really good sceneries for Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Hyannias and a couple other airports?

Might see if you can reach him. The scenery looked like he had very current photos.
Click to expand...

I did see those some months ago while initially looking for some updated scenery. Seems just these days, only the AFCADs are up to date in AVSim or Simviation.

His scenery, while nice and custom, seems to be based off of 2006 data at the latest. I don't see the extension of the GA ramp, nor the terminal additions. But good thinking, I'll see about contacting him for some help if he is willing.
 
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Tell ya what... How about I try to contact them tomorrow? I'll make myself a note. I can tell you with 1,000% certainty that no law exists like anything she's referring to. I'll call the airport director directly ;D
 
If more people calling might get them to move, or even someone who sounds older than me (I'm 22, yet I'm still perceived as 16) then that's all the better.

I too will be calling tomorrow. It's on my list, because I was in classes all day today, and had no free time to make the phone call. This will be (counting....) my 4th call for the information. We'll see what happens.

Worse comes to worst, I live close to New York City, and I'll see if a friend feels like flying out to Nantucket for a day, and I'll inquire in person. But my friend doesn't fly that way much unless it's summer, still got months to go till then.
 
Well, I say I will call them because I was able to get access, no problem other than a background check, to Charlotte Douglas airport, one of the top 10 busiest airports in the world. KACK is essentially a general aviation airport with small airline service.
 
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