Hi all,I was reading a few of the other threads regarding AI Traffic and it got me to thinking what others do to undermine, or cheat the less then perfect FS9 ATC and AI traffic actions. (AI smooth or similar programs help!)Here are a few of my tricks:For takeoffs at busy airports:

1. Take KORD for example, when there are a bunch of arrivals and departures at the same runway, request takeoff clearance ASAP. As soon as an incoming plane crosses the runway threashold, line up and wait even if ATC doesnt tell you. It will force the other 87 aircraft in line to land, to go around, and clear you to takeoff as soon as the landing plane leaves the runway. This saves from having to wait for 4 or 5 planes to land before you get to takeoff.
2. Dont taxi all the way to the end of the runway for takeoff, Taxi the the second or third from last taxi way to avoid waiting in line for ever and just takeoff with more power since there is less runway.

For Landing at busy airports:It may not be realistic, but I never go around!! When an AI plane has landed just in front of me, I either shut of all AI and immiediatley resart AI or I'll land and brake as hard as possible and take the first taxi way I can off the runway, so I dont run into the slow poke lollygagging down the runway.I am sure there are better tips out there, but I wanted to share mine. Anyone have others to add?

For landing in a heavy AI area without AI Smooth, sometimes I'll just cancel my landing intentions with ATC and land anyway. One interesting thing I've noticed lately. If I'm flying VFR with a flight plan, I'll set the flight plan destination airport to and airport that's close to the one I want to land at but not the one in the flight plan. Then at the last minute, I'll switch airports to the correct one.I think, (for the most part), AI Smooth works better :)Mark

My solution, buy FSUIPC, and assign the Traffic Zapper feature to the spacebar. When ever I have an AI problem in front of me, I press the spacebar, and the AI is zapped (removed from the game). Works great. I no longer use AI Smooth or AI Seperation.Good luck, and happy zapping.. RJ

I use AI Smooth. It provides two benefits in its spacing of arrivals:It keeps the take-off queue from building up excessively by allowing some take-offs to be squeezed in between arrivals. When a flight is loaded AI has a catch-up time window within their schedule and a "mad rush" occurs where many AI start taxiing and also soon a "bunch" of arrivals occur. It also allows me to on arrival get vectored to squeeze in within a string-of-pearls situation.All of my aircraft that might fly to controlled airports have a TCAS gauge in them. Knowing the position of AI lets me adjust speed to fit in with the landing stream.The FSUIPC Traffic Zapper is only for AI in front. One of the goals in its development was zapping traffic as a last resort to get into a gate. The FSUIPC Traffic Toggle allows you to set two levels of AI traffic. I use 0 and 100% to toggle AI off and on. This refreshes AI as well and is handy with bringing AI patterns up to date after a weather application initially writes new weather conditions to FS. The toggle forces a faster update of ATIS.Intersection take-offs are used to reduce taxiing by small aircraft that can use a shorter runway included having enough distance for aborted take-off. I am not sure if FS ATC will recognize aircraft for take-off position not at the runway beginning or threshold. RC does.If you are going to use default or other ATC application why not comply with it? That's part of the realism.

Hi,FS ATC does recognize you if you pull up to the hold short point at a runway intersection. You then ask for takeoff clearance and get put (almost) at the front of the line.

the best and simplest way to "dispose" of unwanted AI is to change to time. Adjusting it by 2 minutes is usually quite enough!!Vololiberista

the best and simplest way to "dispose" of unwanted AI is to change to time. Adjusting it by 2 minutes is usually quite enough!!Vololiberista

If you want realism then you work with the AI traffic. In the real world you can't just decide to jump the line up!Rob

If you want realism then you work with the AI traffic. In the real world you can't just decide to jump the line up!Rob

I use AI smooth but even so on occasions it is necessary to rely on mass alien abductions!!!Vololiberista

I usually just back off the traffic slider a bit. I have a couple hundred WOAI files and some of the AI from the Calclassics website, so it can get crazy.But for the most part, my airports are packed and I just deal with it.

I think it is quite good idea to choose smaller airports than those highly occupied. Due to shorter runway, the landings are sometimes even more challenging :( The traffic is usually smaller and all taxing is much smoother without additional smoothing software. However, I really appreciate AI Smooth.

Hi all,I was reading a few of the other threads regarding AI Traffic and it got me to thinking what others do to undermine, or cheat the less then perfect FS9 ATC and AI traffic actions. (AI smooth or similar programs help!)Here are a few of my tricks:For takeoffs at busy airports:

1. Take KORD for example, when there are a bunch of arrivals and departures at the same runway, request takeoff clearance ASAP. As soon as an incoming plane crosses the runway threashold, line up and wait even if ATC doesnt tell you. It will force the other 87 aircraft in line to land, to go around, and clear you to takeoff as soon as the landing plane leaves the runway. This saves from having to wait for 4 or 5 planes to land before you get to takeoff.
2. Dont taxi all the way to the end of the runway for takeoff, Taxi the the second or third from last taxi way to avoid waiting in line for ever and just takeoff with more power since there is less runway.

For Landing at busy airports:It may not be realistic, but I never go around!! When an AI plane has landed just in front of me, I either shut of all AI and immiediatley resart AI or I'll land and brake as hard as possible and take the first taxi way I can off the runway, so I dont run into the slow poke lollygagging down the runway.I am sure there are better tips out there, but I wanted to share mine. Anyone have others to add?

The main thing I'll do to avoid traffic problems is to always run the sim for a good 10-15 minutes before my departure time to allow things to equilibrate. Usually this time is taken up by setting up the flight and getting a cup of coffee etc... Also, if the sim is just sitting 'equilibrating' while I'm doing something else, I will run it at 4x speed (I'd never do this otherwise). This way the traffic is usually ok by the time I am on my way to the active.For approach management I'm using both (!) AISmooth and AISeparation at the same time - AISeparation does most of the work and AISmooth catches any conflicts with the user aircraft (there is a file somewhere in the library which outlines good settings for this)... Both are running over WideFS so not really much impact by using both. I also have the traffic zapper enabled (ctrl-X) to remove any direct conflicts caused by AI engine stupidity - I often get told to stop on the taxiway because of traffic when it is already too late and the conflict is already ineviatble! I could just use the zapper but then I'd get to watch the AI doing go-arounds all day!I will admit that sometimes I will ignore a go-around when it is obvious that the AI is going to exit the runway in time but otherwise I'm happy enough to fly a go around procedure. Sometimes, if I see another plane right in front that has clearance before me, I'll try to approach as slow as possible or wait to get clearance and then fly a quick 360 to make up a reasonable separation distance...Geoff