EGCC Massive Update Planned!

The time has come...  After liaising with the MAG team at Manchester Airport for some time now, we are ecstatic to announce that we will be visiting the airport with an all-access pass to areas like the aprons, runways, and ATC tower (to name a few)! Our visit to the airport will be this month, meaning that once we have all the footage and reference imagery, we will be in a position to start planning the big update for EGCC! Why do we need to visit the airport? From the very beginning, we wanted to make the airport as real as possible. Granted, EGCC was developed very soon after the launch of MSFS2020, it is now very much due for an update, but this time using actual reference imagery. This visit will allow us to fill in the gaps which were previously unknown or a mystery, see progress on any construction work, and accurately depict textures and models. The revamp isn't going to be a small endeavour... 90% of the current airport will be thrown in the bin and will be modelled and textured from scratch. As sad as this is for us, we want to do it properly. Due to the sheer amount of work that is going to be done, we will be pushing updates on a regular basis, rather than waiting until we are finished.  Once we begin the massive project, we will be posting more information and dev shots on our discord server, so make sure you join our community there! We will also send email newsletters when we publish a 'bigger' update. Small patches and updates won't be sent via email (as to not SPAM you).   Anyways... enough with the plan!  Here are some of the things to expect (No particular order. List not finalized): - Custom satellite imagery throughout the entire airport and surrounding areas - Real airport textures, and increase in texture detail - New ground textures, making use of PBR, adding more detail, edges, repairs, weathering, and more accuracy - More custom Jetway variations - Land-side ground textures (materials, painted lines, roads, car parks etc) - Long stay car parks with custom vehicle models - Full optimization of every 3D object and building - 5 LODs (levels of detail) for a much better performance - Addition of new multi-storey carparks - Full re-modelling and re-texturing of all terminals - Full re-modelling and re-texturing of ATC tower, ATS (formerly Thomas Cook) hangar, fire station, hotels, Signature - Addition of Train Station, train tracks, and animated trains - Addition of other landside buildings (warehouses, offices, etc) - Fully modelled interiors - Animated passengers - Fully modelled landside - Fixing and adding new remote stands (north of airfield) - New immersive lighting - Major increase in ground-level details (signs, people, dirt, fences, bollards, posts, doors etc) - New fire training area - RVP (Runway Visitor Park) to be fully modelled - Add-on to have optional 'less ground clutter' version - Full AI traffic integration - GSX profile to be maintained, and distributed in add-on download - New, more immersive night lighting  - Smaller objects to be scanned from real world airport object Once we have a finalized plan, we shall share with everyone. Safe Flight! From the team at Macco Simulations

Edited August 1, 20232 yr by jarmstro

My guess is well might start seeing the first parts of the update later this year but I agree it doesn't seem likely that it'll be complete before next year

i can wait , its pretty good as is !

Completely agree with the above, the current implementation is great.  Am really looking forward to see what an updated  EGCC will be like.

Well done Macco

Yesterday - I parked my Comanche outside the Cook Travel hangar - they went broke years ago - time for an update !

Some of us are old enough to remember how "Ringway" as it was called so many years ago with DH Rapides using it

My first commercial flight was in a Vickers Viscount - of B.E.A./Cyprus Airways landing there in Dec 1957

There was a huge hangar over on the opposite side of the field that was used as a Parachute School my dad trained at

in 1942