I have seen that there exist three commercial traffic addons. i.e.Ultimate Traffic, My Traffic and Traffic. In what way do they enhance the flysimming?Is it by means of quantity? So that even with traffic set to 100% we get an unrealistic low amount of traffic with the FS default traffic?Or is it quality in the meaning that the traffic will behave more realistic? Maybe the default traffic behaves in a unrealistic way?Or is it eyecandy? Is it that we will see more planes with these addons?Another question do these addons work like Active Sky i.e they are external programs that is started outside FS.How much do they affect performence? Which of them has the lowest impact on framerates?

The default traffic is scarce, doesn't follow real world schedules and is fictional. These addons try to fix this, but the ATC programming cannot handle the real volume of traffic to most major airports, but does a much better job than the default.Yes, you will see an impact on FPS, rule of thunb, more objects in view, the more the engine has to render them (not to mention the calculations of the flights themselves). The less you have showing the better your performance.Have nothing to do with any outside programs, so you have no probs there.Regards, MichaelKDFWhttp://www.calvirair.com/mcpics/mcdcvabanner.jpgCalVirAir International

I'll take real airliners flying around instead of Landmark, Orbit, etc. Theres your big difference.

>I'll take real airliners flying around instead of Landmark,>Orbit, etc. Theres your big difference.Of course, you can get that with freeware like Project AI, though that doesn't help the weak default ATC.

There you go....yes it's eye-candy, and yes it's quantity, but it also adds to the realism in a huge way!Just go to a large international airport; I would by default choose London Heathrow being a UK citizen (!), and set AI to 100% with just the default FS9 AI. A few odd looking 737's, 747's, and MD-80's, and a bunch of Cessnas buzzing around......hmmm...!!Then, install your chosen commercial package, or as has been suggested, download the Project AI freeware AI sets and install them. (I use this freebie option), and go back to Heathrow....It'll be full to overflowing with aircraft all types, and airlines from BA, KLM, Lufthansa, United, AA, Cathay Pacific, Gulf Air, Arab Emmirates, Singapore Airlines, PIA, and so on....even if the AI flight plans are not 100% accurate, it still looks like a real airport; which makes it so much more immersive than with a couple of those nasty purple things that Microsoft provide!!Of course, frame-rates will take a hit, but that is normally acceptable provided you have a reasonable spec. PC. It is normally perfectly OK to run at between 50-75% AI to get a realistically busy airport, and not compromise performance too much.

In my opinion all AI add-ons are next to worthless because they don't solve the main problem - ATC. ATC in FS9 is incapable of handling even small number of AI traffic resulting in frequent go-arounds. Unless the go-around problem is solved I am better off just looking at the parked aircraft ...Michael J.WinXP-Home SP2,AMD64 3500+,Abit AV8,Radeon X800Pro,36GB Raptor,1GB PC3200,Audigy 2http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_beta_member.jpg

>In my opinion all AI add-ons are next to worthless because>they don't solve the main problem - ATC. ATC in FS9 isWhat about using Radar Contact to solve this problem?

That's what i thought. Radar Contact and UT work fine together for meCheersDan

>>What about using Radar Contact to solve this problem?I think Radar Contact version 4 will attempt to fix this problem, maybe not completely but partially. But I don't think the curent version can do that. Remember - go arounds in real life are extremely rare, if I am forced to execute go around even once per 10 landings - that's not good enough (for me).Michael J.WinXP-Home SP2,AMD64 3500+,Abit AV8,Radeon X800Pro,36GB Raptor,1GB PC3200,Audigy 2http://www.precisionmanuals.com/images/forum/747400.jpghttp://www.hifisim.com/images/asv_beta_member.jpg

I agree that go-arounds are very unrealistic, in fact i usually quit the flight when it happens. But i don't seem to get them that often, except with traffic at 90-100% at the major airports and mostly during the 'rush hour' periods being that UT is based on real-world schedules.As you say i believe RCv4 is working on this.CheersDan

Any of the aforementioned pkgs as well as PAI and other groups like AI Aardvark will offer a wider variety of aircraft, in 'realistic' airline paint schemes. Add to that the fact that these models have a much lower polygon count, and LOD (Level of detail modelling), than the default FS AI planes, and the soultion is clear - get rid of the default AI and replace it with an add-on AI. I have a friend that swears by Ultimate Traffic but there are free alternatives.I don't think there's much that can be done about the handling of AI, as far as sequencing/go arounds etc though I did hear of a program called AI Smooth that's supposed to rectify this problem in some manner or other. There's an payware AI package due out soon that uses this AI Smooth software - can't remember the name off hand.If you are serious about getting some good AI, why not pick up Traffic Tools by Lee Swordy and make some AI of your own. It's very fun and rewarding.Adam

AISmooth takes care of go-arounds quite nicely for me. I use UT. AISmooth puts planes in a holding pattern if approach density becomes too heavy.aismooth_v100.zip found here at Avsim - freeware.Regards,

Go arounds are often caused by conflict between ground aircraft and your approach aircraft - both are often uncoordinated.Michael J.