Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
Guest

Another AFCAD question

Recommended Posts

Guest

I have uploaded several third party AFCAD files with different degrees of success. I do have one issue that has got me stumped right now. In SOME airports I find a problem when an AI plane lands, taxis to the gate, parks and then starts up again to leave on its next scheduled leg. When it is time to start taxiing out of the gate, the plane disappears! Obviously, it found the gate when it landed so why this behaviour? As stated, this only happens on some airports. Any insights would be appreciated.Gil Diaz

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Captain Barfbag

From this behavior, I'd take a look at the AFCAD file for the airports. If the plane landed, taxied and parked, then there must be a good path from the landing end of the runway to the gate. However, there might still be a break near the takeoff point. Run AFCAD, bring up that airport, and choose Tools-Fault Finder. This will probably catch the error, most likely overlapping nodes near the takeoff end of the runway.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Does this happen at airports that you have overlays for? If so it sounds like you have reference point issues.What happens is when an aircraft lands it goes to the overlay with the closest reference point when it stops braking on runway. So it can easily end up on the wrong overlay when it lands. When it goes to take off it is now on the wrong overlay and there is no way for it to taxi over to the correct overlay to take off so it disappears.Matt

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

Thank you all for your insights. Unfortunately, in this specific situation, the aircraft disappears at the gate right after ATC's Clearance Delivery exchange. At night, the aircraft's lights come on and you can hear the sound of the engines starting. However, it never gets to taxi back out. Also, I only use one airport in which I have overlays. This airport works fine although this phenomenom has occasionally happenned there. Where it really happens a lot, I use a single layer AFCAD file which uses one runway for takeoffs only and one for departures only.Oh, and I always use the Fault Finder on any AFCAD file I download before I decide to keep it.Thanks againGil Diaz

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest Captain Barfbag

What's the name of the AFCAD file you're having trouble with? If I can find it, I'll download it and take a look.Another thing to try: Can you get "progressive taxi" lines to the takeoff runway? If not, that's another indication that FS can't find a path to the takeoff point.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

The file I'm currently having this problem with is KPHX by R. Mohammed. Bear in mind that, when you first go there, most of the gates are full and aircraft taxi out of their gates and take off normally. This problem occurs when an aircraft that came into the gate AFTER arriving at the airport reaches its departure time. I guess you'll have to sit there and let the file run for a few hours to see this happenning.Thanks CaptainGil Diaz

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Some other possibilities:The destination airport's gates are full - plane will disappear.The taxi path right at the gate is malformed - planes "placed" there by FS upon load will depart OK, but aircraft that arrive and then try to depart get "stuck" and disappear. Try making the last turn to the gate less than a 90 degree turn.Hope this helps,-- Tom GibsonCalifornia Classic Propliners: http://www.calclassic.com/Cal Classic Alco Page: http://www.calclassic.com/alco/Freeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.com/San Diego Model RR Museum: http://www.sdmodelrailroadm.com/Drop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

Tom: I think you have described my phenomenom to a "T" with the malformed taxi path explanation. I do believe that the planes appear to "shake" a tiny bit just before disappearing as if they got stuck.Should all turns to the gates be less than 90 degrees? I also noted that most of the paths to the gates are done in obtuse angles (greater than) 90 degrees but the parking "heading" is 90 degrees off the terminal. Could that also be part of the problem?Gil Diaz

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

For me it's the last turn to the gate that must be less than 90 degrees. If you need to, add an extra node to make the turn in two steps rather than one sharp turn.Hope this helps,-- Tom GibsonCalifornia Classic Propliners: http://www.calclassic.com/Cal Classic Alco Page: http://www.calclassic.com/alco/Freeflight Design Shop: http://www.freeflightdesign.com/San Diego Model RR Museum: http://www.sdmodelrailroadm.com/Drop by! ___x_x_(")_x_x___

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Guest

I understand clearly Tom. Thanks for your insight. With so many airports with many gates, it looks like I'm in for some work.Now if I could only learn how to paint planes........(I've already downloaded your tutorial but don't have the software)....Gil Diaz

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
Sign in to follow this  

  • Tom Allensworth,
    Founder of AVSIM Online


  • Flight Simulation's Premier Resource!

    AVSIM is a free service to the flight simulation community. AVSIM is staffed completely by volunteers and all funds donated to AVSIM go directly back to supporting the community. Your donation here helps to pay our bandwidth costs, emergency funding, and other general costs that crop up from time to time. Thank you for your support!

    Click here for more information and to see all donations year to date.
×
×
  • Create New...