AI in FSX

[Charl]

Looking at the November screenshot contest entry by JonARNZ, I see it's an AI plane, but in FSX.
I don't have FSX, but I would be interested to hear how it behaves.
Are the traffic files identical to FS9?
Do FS9 AFCAD files work?
Are there additional features to FSX AI?

[JonARNZ]

Very good questions Charl. Heres what I have discovered to date:

Traffic files created for FS9 work fine for X, however to get gates working some additional information on door location needs to be added to the aircraft config files, the same applies to cargo doors. Once added you have 100% functionality of all ground handling features. AFCAD files dont work at this stage as the structure for these has been modified. The really sad news is TTools will not be updated for FSX, but it appears an alternative will fill this gap. AT the moment X has about 5 times more gates already set up, so this is not a problem at this stage unless you install third party scenery.

A side note here, one of the good things with X is you can set up folders within the aircraft folder, which by the way isnt called this any longer, this folder is called Simobjects. All the boats, default aircraft etc reside here in separate folders, which means AI aircraft can be in there own separate folder, as can downloaded aircraft/ship etc etc

With the premium edition you get all the SDK's, and traffic files are covered. Tools have been supplied to allow you to add flights, modify them in game, interact with AI aircraft in different ways and also view them on a 'radar' screen. I havnt spent alot of time looking through this at this stage, but it seems rerasnobly straight forward, particularly as aircraft lists, airports etc are now stored in excell files making it easier to enter data.

Hope this info was useful.

[Charl]

It's all pretty good news, actually.
With the improved geospatial coverage it looks like less will be needed to make them park - I guess there will be an AFCAD3 at some point?
If the traffic file can be read you wouldn't need an updated TTools.
And since GNZLAP is all done in Excel, who knows, it may be worth looking into an FSX update after all.
Thanks for that Jon.