To zap traffic I use the Traffic Tools SDK for FS9 and FSX.  Just go to the Traffic Explorer, find it on the list, right click it, and choose Delete.

That's a lot of work especially finding out which ai is troublesome

 

The zapper works within a narrow range of what is in front of you and can be assigned to a hot key.

 

There is another function you can assign in fsuipc that with a hot key can change the percent of ai between two values. By setting one to zero, you can refresh all ai by hitting the key twice. The function it self was requested so it could be put in to Active Sky to refresh ai after weather writes were completed since ai would be departing and arriving using the initial weather setup in the default flight, then whatever was in a loaded saved flight, and lag behind the weather written to the FS weather engine. I saw this effect back in FS8 when the ATIS was incorrect for what AS was declaring. It is easier then advancing the FS time by a minute to refresh ai.

I run AI Smooth (when I remember) but can't recall the benefits of running both?

What are the differences between the two? 

 

Oh WingZ, I was afraid I might get sucked into a technical discussion on this, LOL.  I know the only technical difference in the two programs is that AI separation doesn't recognize the user's aircraft and AI smooth does.  Beyond that I can only talk about what I see happening in the sim.  It seems that with the way I have it set up,  AI Separation has the AI pre sequenced before it gets to  AI smooth's area of control.  The result is a smoother sequencing of traffic to the approach with far fewer aircraft holding off in the distance than if I were only using AI smooth.  When I tested this, I was sitting on the edge of 9R at KPHL (SunSky Jet's) with about 75% AI traffic (all the WOAI stuff).  I had maybe one or two go arounds  per hour with a steady stream of traffic.  With my settings, landing aircraft would be taxing off the runway while the next aircraft was 1 to 2 miles out on the approach.  I've tested this at other airports as well, with similar results.  I've only tested this in the airliner environment, i.e. big airports with big planes.  I'm not sure how these setting would affect a small GA airport with a lot of Cessna's doing pattern work.  Anyhow, my settings follow, so all I can say is try it out and see if it works on your systems as it does on mine.  The only thing to lose is a little time in testing.

Cheers,

Jeff

 

Thanks Jeff for showing the values you set. I will try these settings at KJFK.

 

Bernard

Thanks Jeff for showing the values you set. I will try these settings at KJFK.

 

Bernard

Let us know how it works for you.  Remember to let it run for a bit because, if I remember right, AISmooth doesn't really start working until one aircraft has landed. Just FYI.  :smile:

Cheers.

Doesn't seem to do much for me alas, I think this may have a lot to do with the 100% traffic setting I use.

This was Heathrow, there are 4 aircraft landing 09L in the picture, and 3 are going around.

 

 

AI Smooth was working, as it showed some aircraft in the dialogue box.

Not sure about AI Separator, it said "connected" but that's all.

 

If nothing else the exercise has prompted a little playing with the settings which I've never done!

Perhaps there is a middle ground somewhere - although for me it would never, ever, involve reducing any of that carefully crafted AI traffic!  

What happened to those three planes afterward?  It does take a little while for everything to settle into a flow.  It could well be the 100% AI setting.  Looks like you're running pretty much every airline WOAI offers, lol.  Sadly, everything we do in FS often involves compromise.  Go arounds are one of the things we just learn to accept.  I'm only at the airport for a few minutes on a flight so I just use enough AI to give me the right feel with as few AI conflicts as possible.  Sorry it didn't work so well for ya.

Cheers,

Jeff

Yes I went to WOAI and asked for everything that flies into EGLL

The sim was settled - I usually give it 15 minutes or so to get sorted.

The go-arounds are sent off so far that I lose interest...

And something I've never seen before: trying to slow down a 744 on long approach, one or both of the "slowdown" programmes running, had it do a series of weaves!

It obviously didn't have the desired effect, because it then went into what looked like a wingover, and disappeared (presumably overstress, Boeings shouldn't do that on a regular basis)

Go arounds are one of the things we just learn to accept

Pretty much how my sim has been working... although you've piqued my interest now!

I'll definitely have a tinker and if I get any joy will report back.

Cheers everyone for the feedback!!! I am using AI smooth but must try AI separation also. Thanks again

......

And something I've never seen before: trying to slow down a 744 on long approach, one or both of the "slowdown" programmes running, had it do a series of weaves!

It obviously didn't have the desired effect, because it then went into what looked like a wingover, and disappeared (presumably overstress, Boeings shouldn't do that on a regular basis)

..........

In a GA I've done weaving on approach in a GA faster than a GA in front landing to avoid a go-around. Tower was staffed with trainees.

 

It is a taught practice but not intended for jetliners.

 

 

Tower was staffed with trainees.

Heh... I have a lot of that.

I will persevere with small increments of AI Smooth settings.

Surely there is a sweet spot for a BBA (Big Busy Airport)

Mind you I see there are 497 planes inside the bubble, granted not all are trying to land at the same time...

 

 

Mind you I see there are 497 planes inside the bubble, granted not all are trying to land at the same time...

 

Wow, that explains a lot. 

Not knowing how AI Smooth does what it does, I wonder if it can fight the way the flighplans are generally written i.e. with a fixed arrival time? (by using @ in the arrival time)

In the Heathrow example, there would often be a half dozen or so planes spawning into the bubble at the same time.

 

 

I am sure this has been discussed in detail at some point in the past, just can't find the relevant spot... 

Like in the real world, scheduling does not guarantee arrival time.

 

AI Smooth places aircraft in a holding pattern stacking them vertically as well as grouping them. Unfortunately they are released as first in last out. By that time they may disappear by FS built in rules.

 

Both AI Smooth and FS9 Separator use skewing techniques to accomplish this. I used Separator but im my opinion its rapid skewing of ai into the pattern was a distraction especially as displayed on my TCAS overlay on my nav display. AI Smooth uses a smoother skew method.

 

The AI schedule arrival time is not strictly enforced even by FS itself since traffic delays can happen in arrival especially in highly dense situations.

 

Another FS anomaly is the "AI catchup" when a flight is first loaded. A time window is established for arrivals and departures and those ai within that window start clumping for departure and arrival. For a busy airport high density time an overhead view will show lots of ai leaving there gates "racing" for departure. Same with the clumping of arriving ai as observed on a TCAS. Both utilities help with reducing the take-off queues and excessive in-tail arrival string of pearls.

Well whatever settings I used here definitely had an effect!

The folks seated on starboard were treated to a really panoramic view of the Thames Barrier as the A340 orbited London City, on hold for Heathrow 27R

 

 

And the weave as performed by iberia saw this one make a last-minute decision to go for 27L!

 

 

Entertaining as this might be, I am wondering if I have the latest AI Smooth (v1.2) - there seemed to be talk of a V2 but I don't find this anywhere. (nor for that matter any version at all))

AI Smooth 1.2 was the last release and it is for FS9 and FSX.