Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
AlphaInfinity

AFKAD Files

Recommended Posts

Hi all, how do AFKAD files interact with FSX? What is their pourpose and if you run GEX, UTX or REX is there any impact to installing these?


Scott

KGPI

 

Banner_MJC1.png

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Hi all, how do AFKAD files interact with FSX? What is their pourpose and if you run GEX, UTX or REX is there any impact to installing these?
A "non-technical" response:AFCAD (spelled with a C, not a K) is a generic term which describes a file that contains data which FS uses to display the runway(s), taxiways, parking and some other airport related features such as runway lighting, taxiway lighting etc..The default "afcads" are pretty basic for some airports - in fact they may not include parking spots at all.Replacement "afcads" which you can download will likely have additional parking spaces (often needed if you employ AI traffic), updated runways, updated approach lighting and so on.Many add-on scenery (airport) enhancements will include a replacement "afcad" in the package.Replacement "afcads" do not have any noticeable impact on the performance of your system.Hope this helps.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Scott,To add to Opa's comments above, there IS one thing you need to be aware of.In the "old days" of AFCADs, the AFCAD only did what Opa says above. That's not necessarily true today with some of the new "AFCAD" design tools or programs. Today, you can also add "scenery" to the AFCAD....buildings and all other kinds of stuff.So you have to be a LITTLE bit careful when you download and install an "AFCAD" nowadays. You would NOT want to install an AFCAD to any airport that you PURCHASED as a complete airport. It may not be compatable with the scenery included in the purchased airport. However, if it was developed SPECIFICALLY FOR that purchased airport (the AFCAD designer should say that in the download), then it would be OK. An example would be you bought an airport that included it's own AFCAD, but it only used one set of runways. Someone then uploads a "replacement AFCAD" they made for that commercial airport addon that uses "crosswind runways"...it enables more than one set of runways to be used. Installing THAT AFCAD would be OK, as it was designed for that SPECIFIC commercial airport addon.The words "AFCAD' and "Scenery" are sometimes interchangable today. Many "AFCADs" today also include "scenery" in them for the airport, so it can get confusing sometimes.Also, you don't have to worry about an AFCAD interfering with any of the products you mentioned...GEX, UTX, REX, etc. An AFCAD is an "airport" addon. It displays the airport only (and MAYBE a bit of the surrounding area...but not much).If you are new to the concept of AFCADs, may I recommend going to the "Tutorials" section of the AVSIM forums. In the "Scenery" section, there is a very long thread referenced there where I posted several tutorial posts on managing addons in FSX. Several of the posts talk about AFCADs, and how to use them in FSX and the Scenery Library without them causing problems.EDIT: Here's a link to the thread that contains the tutorials http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtopic=67367Rick(FalconAF)


Rick Ryan

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Scott,To add to Opa's comments above, there IS one thing you need to be aware of.In the "old days" of AFCADs, the AFCAD only did what Opa says above. That's not necessarily true today with some of the new "AFCAD" design tools or programs. Today, you can also add "scenery" to the AFCAD....buildings and all other kinds of stuff.So you have to be a LITTLE bit careful when you download and install an "AFCAD" nowadays. You would NOT want to install an AFCAD to any airport that you PURCHASED as a complete airport. It may not be compatable with the scenery included in the purchased airport. However, if it was developed SPECIFICALLY FOR that purchased airport (the AFCAD designer should say that in the download), then it would be OK. An example would be you bought an airport that included it's own AFCAD, but it only used one set of runways. Someone then uploads a "replacement AFCAD" they made for that commercial airport addon that uses "crosswind runways"...it enables more than one set of runways to be used. Installing THAT AFCAD would be OK, as it was designed for that SPECIFIC commercial airport addon.The words "AFCAD' and "Scenery" are sometimes interchangable today. Many "AFCADs" today also include "scenery" in them for the airport, so it can get confusing sometimes.Also, you don't have to worry about an AFCAD interfering with any of the products you mentioned...GEX, UTX, REX, etc. An AFCAD is an "airport" addon. It displays the airport only (and MAYBE a bit of the surrounding area...but not much).If you are new to the concept of AFCADs, may I recommend going to the "Tutorials" section of the AVSIM forums. In the "Scenery" section, there is a very long thread referenced there where I posted several tutorial posts on managing addons in FSX. Several of the posts talk about AFCADs, and how to use them in FSX and the Scenery Library without them causing problems.EDIT: Here's a link to the thread that contains the tutorials http://forums1.avsim.net/index.php?showtopic=67367Rick(FalconAF)
Guys, thanks so much for the replies, they have been very informative! I will give a few of them a try and backup my existing files.

Scott

KGPI

 

Banner_MJC1.png

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Actually AFCAD is not the corect name. it came from a programnme that was used to edit the original, it is actually an airport BGL file, AFCAD is very confusing at times bit it has stuck so i guess we have to live with it.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Yup...that's the problem with them now. You can find them in both the "AFCAD" and "Scenery" library sections. They aren't just "runways and taxiways and parking spots" anymore.


Rick Ryan

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The most correct name would be "Aircraft Facility Files", but "AFF" as an acronym just doesn't roll off the tongue as easily... :( AircraftFacilitiesComputerAidedDesignLee's AFCAD program was brilliant in its day, but was never even close to being fully compliant with FS, because he was handicapped by having to work from a reversed engineering position, and a set of assumptions that have later proven to be less than accurate.Aircraft Design Editor (ADE9X) has taken Lee's original source code, and in addition has corrected nearly all of the mistaken assumptions. Further, the guys working on ADE have added a LOT of additional functionality to the program. The ability to code proper approaches, as well as delete stock scenery objects and replace them with either other stock objects, objects from freeware libraries, or custom-built objects is beyond brilliant! :(


Fr. Bill    

AOPA Member: 07141481 AARP Member: 3209010556


     Avsim Board of Directors | Avsim Forums Moderator

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

  • Tom Allensworth,
    Founder of AVSIM Online


  • Flight Simulation's Premier Resource!

    AVSIM is a free service to the flight simulation community. AVSIM is staffed completely by volunteers and all funds donated to AVSIM go directly back to supporting the community. Your donation here helps to pay our bandwidth costs, emergency funding, and other general costs that crop up from time to time. Thank you for your support!

    Click here for more information and to see all donations year to date.
×
×
  • Create New...