AI Parking Codes

rcrc · Post by **rcrc** » 07 Apr 2009, 15:07

2 part question here:

1-Why do you hard-working designers of AI use different codes other than the obvious? i.e. A10 using a code like '47FS' instead of 'M-whatever/A10'

2-If I change the code to something easier for my brain (using the Aircraft Editor within AFCAD) for my own projects, will that totally screw up all of the MAIW packages that utilize the AI aircraft parking codes I've changed?

Note: I am NOT complaining-I appreciate all of the hard work done more than you can ever know. I Just want to understand the method behind the madness before I change something and blow-up my flight-sim lol.
I also want to be able to contribute one day. (working on that beast-Nellis right now in my spare time)

Jumpshot724 · Post by **Jumpshot724** » 07 Apr 2009, 15:19

1-Why do you hard-working designers of AI use different codes other than the obvious? i.e. A10 using a code like '47FS' instead of 'M-whatever/A10'

2-If I change the code to something easier for my brain (using the Aircraft Editor within AFCAD) for my own projects, will that totally screw up all of the MAIW packages that utilize the AI aircraft parking codes I've changed?

1) "47FS" stands for "47th Fighter Squadron". The reason it's done this way is so that aircraft from the same unit park together. For instance, Langley AFB has 2 F-22 squadrons. Instead of having those 2 squadrons park wherever there's an "F22" code, they park together by unit (IE 27FS aircraft all park together and 94FS aircraft all park together). This is how it's done in real world. If you went to Langley AFB today and saw the flightline you'd see a distinct seperation of the 2 F-22 squadrons. Each squadron "owns" their own part of the ramp essentially.

2) For that to be 100% succesful you would have to not only change each a/c's code but also the parking code at each and every AFCAD that package utilizes. Personally, I think it's 10000 times easier to just adopt the MAIW way, it's not hard. Keep in mind that AI aircrat can have more than one parking code. For instance you could have "27FS, F16" which means when the ai aircraft is searching for parking it will look for spots coded 27FS first. If there are none, it will look for F16 coded spots next. If there's neither of the two it just finds an open spot of comparable size.

maddog65 · Post by **maddog65** » 07 Apr 2009, 15:21

Well done!!! I couldn't have explained it any better.

Post by **Firebird** » 07 Apr 2009, 15:26

I don't consider my self the god of these things but I will try to explain as I understand it.

The M series was designed to enable people to separate generic size aircraft into the parking areas that they wished to place them. In short a system mainly useful for airports.

Now as the AI community developed, people wanted to become more specific in there parking, as an example BA have specific slots at Heathrow and are further organised by fleet. So how do you make a BA 747 park in a specific spot? make it a certain size and give it a code for BA.

We do this as well, except that quite often a base will have two or more squadrons of the same type, so how do you make their parking specific, by giving them individual squadron parking codes.

There can be a few more little twists here and there but as general rule and for understanding of the principle that's it.

Hope that helps.

UPDATE
Damn I have just seen that somebody has already replied, hope it doen't cause confusion.

Post by **Garysb** » 07 Apr 2009, 18:36

One thing to remember though only the first code works in the aircraft cfg file but you can have as many codes as you want on the parking spots

Gary

kungfuman · Post by **kungfuman** » 07 Apr 2009, 19:54

Garysb wrote:One thing to remember though only the first code works in the aircraft cfg file but you can have as many codes as you want on the parking spots

Gary

Ditto that!

Parking spots can have many codes, ai aircraft cfg entries only one code (that is, FS9 will only use the first code).

The system used by MAIW enables them to include two main realism features:

1. Aircraft that are based at the airfield will use their squadron parking area.
2. Visiting aircraft (with different parking codes) will park in parking spots that are not assigned any codes, and MAIW AF2 files will include a visiting aircraft ramp for them. Again, you will observe this kind of system in use in the real world. This second point of course applies to the based aircraft when they are visitors at other airfields.

In addition, much research goes into the afcad files, so designers are usually aware of regular visitors that may also have specific parking behaviour - which can also be provided for using their unit specific codes.

Think of individual squadrons as being analogous to individual airline companies in the civilian world.

HTH

ps. being new to this forum - hope I'm not speaking out of turn...

rcrc · Post by **rcrc** » 07 Apr 2009, 20:02

okay, I soon as you said it my brain clicked...makes sense now. Thanks guys!!!

From This Day forth, I shall officially adopt the MAIW way!!

KevinJarvis · Post by **KevinJarvis** » 08 Apr 2009, 01:13

Oh-no...another lost to the darkside...

rcrc · Post by **rcrc** » 08 Apr 2009, 12:53

It actually explains a lot...I've been working on Nellis AFB, and I assigned A-10's to a certain spot (as per Google Earth)using MAIW codes( I think there were 2 or 3 different codes for the A10's-I used them all )
and I was wondering why when I went back in to check, all F-15's were in that spot. It was pretty cool that everyone was matched up together...including the A-10's-they just weren't where I told them to be. Kinda funny now that I know why.

It amazes me the details you guys know about all of this!

AI Parking Codes

AI Parking Codes

duh

lightbulb!