My odyssey into traffic has consumed a fair part of the weekend, but I wanted to report back on my findings so far.

I first purchased Simple Traffic available from Aerosoft's website for $15. Installation is super easy. It is a one click operation, without any configuration to do. That would also be the biggest positive. It really doesn't move the needle much if what you are looking for are airports that sort of feel alive. Using real-time online traffic I didn't see much in the way of moving aircraft, taxiing, takeoffs, etc. The real issue here is this tool relies 100% on MSFS for actual traffic behavior, which most of us know is totally broken. 

Next up was AIG. Now AIG has two components. There is AIG AI Manager that let's you download models/liveries, and while complicated to setup the first time, I think it was well worth the effort. I downloaded Southwest, United, American, Alaska and several other airlines. Without doing anything else I jumped into MSFS and now see the right aircraft at my local (KDEN) airport. The second part of the equation is AIG Traffic Controller. After a little fiddling I was able to get it working, and it was a very big step up from Simple Traffic. Unfortunately it crashes on my system after a few minutes, and it take quite a while to load/refresh. The UI is also late 90s if you know what I mean. If they can get this working in Windows 11 (latest HF didn't work for me) then I think this has potential. I see planes landing, taking off, and taxiing, and it definitely adds to the immersion. It is also free, which is a big plus. You also have to register at the site, you will want to watch the setup video below to cut the learning curve, and if you have Windows 11 it might crash on you for now.   

Lastly, I tried PSXT + Real Traffic. PSXT is free, but RT costs money. You can get a 24 hour trial at the website. This was super easy to install, and while not perfect it felt the most realistic of the 3. First, the traffic is actually real. I tried it at KLAX, KSFO and KDEN. At KLAX traffic was everywhere as you would expect from...KLAX. I sat and watched for 20-30 minutes, and this was easily the most believable experience. The program loads fast, feels light and just works. My frames dipped down to 20 ish (3080 here), so KLAX was particularly heavy on my system. At KDEN and KSFO frames generally stayed above 35-40. Jumping between airports the program seemed to resync without issue from KSFO to KLAX, but it didn't do as well from KDEN to KSFO. Also, I saw planes taxiing across the grass at KDEN and warping when taking off. The planes would freeze then catch up a few seconds later. I also had a floating 737 at KDEN when taxiing. This program costs money ($60 per year for standard version) so keep that in mind. 

If I had to conclude my experience, I would say that Simple Traffic really doesn't add much imo. AIG (when it works) is difficult to install and not nearly as fast/smooth as PSXT + RT, but it is free. But if traffic is really something you need a believable solution for, and you cannot wait for Asobo to fix this aspect of the sim, then PSXT + RT is a solid solution. Installation is super easy, it is fast, and the result is the best of the bunch. 

Aerosoft Simple Traffic:
https://www.aerosoft.com/en/microsoft-flight-simulator/msfs-tools/3537/aerosoft-tool-simple-traffic

PSXT:
https://www.lekseecon.nl/

Real Traffic:
https://rtweb.flyrealtraffic.com/

AIG:
http://www.alpha-india.net/
AIG Setup Video:

 

I believe you say PSXT + RT is super easy and fast to install because you already had downloaded the AIG liveries that takes 5 or 6 hours to download and install. If we don't have those liveries how do we use PSXT + RT? Can it be used with ST instead of AIG?

4 minutes ago, Alvega said:

I believe you say PSXT + RT is super easy and fast to install because you already had downloaded the AIG liveries that takes 5 or 6 hours to download and install. If we don't have those liveries how do we use PSXT + RT? Can it be used with ST instead of AIG?

It took me 7 hours to download the models and the flight plans.

2 minutes ago, Alaska738 said:

It took me 7 hours to download the models and the flight plans.

Yes, that's my point. Besides de 20GB of the textures. That's why I'm not installing them and would like to know if it works with the ST textures.

3 minutes ago, Alvega said:

Yes, that's my point. Besides de 20GB of the textures. That's why I'm not installing them and would like to know if it works with the ST textures.

27Go. I hope there would be the possibility of unzipping in order to reduce the size of the mod?

5 minutes ago, Alvega said:

Yes, that's my point. Besides de 20GB of the textures. That's why I'm not installing them and would like to know if it works with the ST textures.

Let me try. 

6 minutes ago, RobJC said:

Let me try. 

Ok, thanks. 

1 hour ago, RobJC said: 

If I had to conclude my experience, I would say that Simple Traffic really doesn't add much imo. AIG (when it works) is difficult to install and not nearly as fast/smooth as PSXT + RT, but it is free. But if traffic is really something you need a believable solution for, and you cannot wait for Asobo to fix this aspect of the sim, then PSXT + RT is a solid solution. Installation is super easy, it is fast, and the result is the best of the bunch. 

Aerosoft Simple Traffic:
https://www.aerosoft.com/en/microsoft-flight-simulator/msfs-tools/3537/aerosoft-tool-simple-traffic

PSXT:
https://www.lekseecon.nl

Somebody will no doubt correct me if I’m wrong, but the only reason you saw models and liveries with PSXT is because you had previously installed the AIG models and liveries. 
 

if you had installed PSXT without having previously installed AIG you wouldn’t have had all those models and liveries on your PC to display.

For those that want to use PSXT_MSFS/RealTraffic but don't want to take the time to install AIG-OCI try:

https://www.ivao.aero/softdev/beta/altitudebeta.asp#dl

deleted

Neither are perfect but are less painful to install than AIG_OCI.

I am using all three - AIG-OCI, deleted and IVAO. Admittedly I only installed around 230 AIG airlines...which took about 3 hours. IVAO is actually a pretty good alternative as it offers a very broad range of aircraft models and airline liveries.

1 hour ago, Alvega said:

I believe you say PSXT + RT is super easy and fast to install because you already had downloaded the AIG liveries that takes 5 or 6 hours to download and install. If we don't have those liveries how do we use PSXT + RT? Can it be used with ST instead of AIG?

This is true and I should have clarified that. But it only took me a couple hours max to install maybe 10 liveries. Wasn't going to install 100 or more for testing. 

Regarding a few negatives with PSXT + RT, the floating planes seem to be airport specific, as I have only seen this at KDEN. Maybe this is altitude related? What I can say is this. While none of these solutions are perfect, thanks to MSFS being in "not the best shape" in this department, clearly combining AIG models/liveries with PSXT and RT, you get the best experience. It is a huge improvement. 

12 minutes ago, RobJC said:

Regarding a few negatives with PSXT + RT, the floating planes seem to be airport specific, as I have only seen this at KDEN. Maybe this is altitude related? What I can say is this. While none of these solutions are perfect, thanks to MSFS being in "not the best shape" in this department, clearly combining AIG models/liveries with PSXT and RT, you get the best experience. It is a huge improvement. 

You said you were going to try if it works with just the Simple Traffic liveries, Did it work or not? 

 

Another observation. When I load the AIG Traffic Controller up it is like the airport just opened. Activity starts when you load it up. Planes start to taxi at this point. With PSXT + RT the airport is already alive, as you would expect it to be. Planes are already taxiing and getting ready to take off, planes are landing, etc. It seems way more believable. 

2 hours ago, KL Oo said:

Somebody will no doubt correct me if I’m wrong, but the only reason you saw models and liveries with PSXT is because you had previously installed the AIG models and liveries. 
if you had installed PSXT without having previously installed AIG you wouldn’t have had all those models and liveries on your PC to display.

 That's 100% correct, without the models and liveries from AIG, PSXT wouldn't have anything to display except the default liveries or as mentioned above another source of liveries at least.

3 hours ago, Alaska738 said:

I hope there would be the possibility of unzipping in order to reduce the size of the mod?

  This is really only an issue if you have storage problems.

KSFO w/PSXT and RT. Lots of activity going on.