I don't quite understand the principle of using AFCADS. When I download and install a particular AFCAD, how do I see the result in the sim? Do I need to have AFCAD running in the background? As an example, I downloaded an AFCAD for Pittsburgh Int'l. How can I tell if the AFCAD is working? Will the parking areas look different than prior to the installation?

AFCAD creates new parking spots for the AI aircraft. If you haven't added any new AI or flightplans you won't benefit much from installing an AFCAD file, as you don't have the new aircraft to park in that new gate. Bt default MS only has a certain number of flightplans installed and also a certain number of gates for AI, which is why AFCAD is around.If the new AFCAD file is in the scenery folder inside the ADD ON SCENERY folder, and it is enabled (yes by default) then it is working.Word of warning, if you start to add AI and AFCADs, best to get them from a reputable (project AI) site than the library here, since the new AFCAD can visually alter scenery and there is a pretty good chance, there some screwed up AFCADS uploaded that will change your airport. Better yet, make your own.Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://mysite.verizon.net/res052cd/mybannercva1.jpgCalVirAir International VAwww.calvirair.comCougar Mountain Helicopters & Aviationwww.cgrmtnhelos.com

As a follow-on from this, also, if you have got new AI, and then download a few new AFCAD2 files for some larger international airports.....say Heathrow, JFK, DFW, Hong Kong, etc, do NOT be surprised if your frame-rates suddenly drop quite dramatically. This is due to the numberr of AI aircraft that are now able to park and move around the airport, where they weren't before because the Microsoft default settings didn't allow for that quantity of traffic and so they would not have been present! I expected it as soon as AFCAD2 was released and the files followed, but was still 'surprised' to see airports suddenly lose upto a good half dozen frames per second -remember, AI traffic is a HUGE drain on resources, but, without AI a good airport is wasted!!Apologies if that seems obvious or patronising, but it is surprising how many folks actually treat AI as mere 'eye-candy' and forget that a lot of CPU power is still being used to keep that AI plane in the air and under ATC guidance, etc....!!