AFCAD/parking spot question

[sprocky]

I am currently working on some AFCAD files for FS9 using Lee Swordy's tool. It is nothing special and I just play around with it enhancing some sceneries.

The question I have is about the parking spots. I read the AFCAD manual but want to make clear if I understood the part about the parking spots.

1. The given parking types were given kind of "random". In AFCAD I can downsize the radius for a "Gate Small" from default 31m down to 21m (will be enough for the AIA B733). Also I can enlarge a "Ramp GA Large" from 18m to 21m - again suitable for the AIA B733. As long as I have specified the right value in the aircraft.cfg (atc_parking_types=GATE and/or RAMP) the aircraft will show up, right? I know I also have to have enough parking spots. At this stage I have nothing assigned to "atc_parking_codes=".

2. If this is the case does it mean a FMAI Tornado will use all kind of parking spots? Even if I have it assigned to Mil Combat in the aircraft.cfg?

3. I noticed as long as I have a mod AFCAD I can make changes to the file with FS9 opened jump to a different destination (I guess it must be outside the AI boundaries) and switch back to the airport and the changes are visible without having to close and restart the sim. Is this just for the parking spots or can everything be changed in that AFCAD file (e.g. RWY, ILS,reference point, etc.) and FS9 will recognize those upon the next loading process?

Thanks in advance for taking some time to answer my questions.

PS: For those who are interested. I am working on AFCAD files for the older Bill Melichar's Hawaiian airport sceneries (still love them although they seem to be incorrect or at least outdated from what I've seen on google maps). Noticed today that some use the default ones. I am sure there are some suitable AFCAD files out there - but where would be the fun?

[gsnde]

Hi Jan,

3. I noticed as long as I have a mod AFCAD I can make changes to the file with FS9 opened jump to a different destination (I guess it must be outside the AI boundaries) and switch back to the airport and the changes are visible without having to close and restart the sim. Is this just for the parking spots or can everything be changed in that AFCAD file (e.g. RWY, ILS,reference point, etc.) and FS9 will recognize those upon the next loading process?

This is true for all changes you do. I worked on a German airport and saved a flight in the US just for the purpose of switching as fast and convenient as possible between my airport and a far away region (and back afterwards).

In FS9 the parking selection follows this principal:

• the parking size must be sufficient, otherwise a parking spot is not accepted
  in case of a match of atc_parking_code (aircraft.cfg) and Parking Codes (parking spot property) such a spot is preferred with priority 1
  in case of a match of atc_parking_types (aircraft.cfg) and Parking Type (parking spot property) such a spot is preferred with priority 2

Cheers,
Martin

[sprocky]

Thanks Martin.

All the other questions I posted here have been answered already.