I guess I should know this stuff, but here goes...(gulp)...:-)Can some kind soul direct me toward a very basic primer to get started with AI. I know there is some material at PAI, but unless I missed the basics, what I have read seems to assume some knowledge. For instance, what are Rafcads? (no answer expected here, just an example of where I am.)Also, what's the relationship between traffic tools and PAI. I seemed to have this stuff down for FS2002, but all that is gone in the transitition to FS2004. I have seen on the PAI site that a program for FS2004 is still in development. But, based on shots in the screen shot forum, someone apparently knows how to get some good looking aircraft installed in the right place.Thanks for any help!Sherm

Download Ttools. The included readme, which you should read several times, explains all about ai.- Oyvind

You say you've visited PAI. In that case, why dont you download the PAI installers and just follow the instructions for Automatic install into FS2004? That is what I've done and although there aren't any afcads to provide more gates yet, I have enough traffic to keep me happy.BTW, AFCAD and RAFCAD (roughly the same thing with a few minor differences) is a program that allows you to add more gates to the scenery.Secondly, download TTools from Avsim, and go through the instructions and readme. Everything is explained there. All the knowledge I have of AI is from reading through that file. I did all my AI myself in FS2002 with that knowledge. Now, I dont have the time yet to do it for FS9, plus the AFCAD update isn't out as yet. So do like me....just download the PAI installers for the airlines you want, follow some simple instructions, and you'll have AI traffic in no time.

As Anthony said, do the automatic install routine for the 30 some odd airline packages they have on their site listed under "Certified Resources". I simply got tired of waiting for Ultimate Traffic to update so I did this as well and you don't have to download TT tools as it is included in the download. For airlines not included in the auto installers for PAI get the schedules from MRAI (Most Realistic AI Routes) at http://home.hia.no/~ahhala01/ where they have a lot more airlines not included at PAI. The only bad thing (if you want to call it that) is that it intalls a traffic file for every airline you install.I just spent the last couple of days installing AI in FS9 and for the most part am pretty happy although I won't be able to really enjoy the full extent of my labors until AFCAD2 comes out.Cheers!Richard

A small note.. You wont need this socalled RAFCAD (Radius AFCAD) in FS2004 since it brings its own way of sorting aircraft into cargo, ramp and gate parkings and even airline companies and countries of origin (all done in the aircraft.cfg files of the aircrafts).Only regular AFCAD's will be useful for adding more gates and reassigning runways for takeoff/landing. Sometime this month the new AFCAD will be out and the old one does *not* work with FS9.

thanks to everyone who responded. What a great hobby!Sherm

You are welcome :)Found the link that explains more in depth what AFCAD in FS9 will do and how to edit the aircraft to park in special places, its a great and helpful read by Matt Fox from PAI.http://afcad.projectai.com/documents/AFCAD2004_FAQ.html