How do I assign flight plans?

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RobinHague
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 1:53 pm

How do I assign flight plans?

#1 Post by RobinHague »

Hi,
I should point out that I am very new to all this. Up to now I have loaded my AI traffic from WoAI.
I have just loaded FAIB's 737-500 along with BMI Baby paint job to FSX but I have no idea how to assign flight plans to it!
Please can anyone help?
Regards

ewerber
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Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:48 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#2 Post by ewerber »

Hi Robin,
First welcome, Since you are totally new to installing flight plans here is a brief overview.

What do you need?
1. Models and paints. You can get this from here or sites like these: Avsim, Flightsim, RealBigtree, FlyingCarpet75 etc.
2. Flight plans. My favorite flight plan maker is AIG(Alpha India Group) but there are many others and some even release under their own name, best bet is to check
the FS2004 Flighplans categories in Avsim or Flightsim. note: even if you fly in FSX, FS2004 plans work if compiled correctly.
3. A flight plan compiler which turn all the text files you get from a flight plan zip into a BGL you can place in FS and have traffic. I recommend AIFP V2 available on Avsim.
4. Time, like any hobby needs.

What are the txt files I get in the archive of a flightplan?
1. The Airport*.txt file which tells the compiler where the airports in the flightplan are in the world and is used by FS to determine which traffic to show where.
2. The FlightPlan_*.txt file which contain the actual schedules, before each schedule there is a code in the form AC# which tells the compiler what aircraft to associate to that
part of the flightplan from the next file.
3. The Aircraft_*.txt file simply creates an association between AC# codes to actual "aircraft names" in FS, these names are defined as "title" in the various [fltsim.#] section in
every aircraft.cfg file and must be unique or else FS will complain. using the associations in this file the compiler can tell FS which repaint to associate with which flightplan.
4. Readme.txt, one of the problems of this hobby is that people always skip reading the readme file, I suggest you don't, it might contain important info.
5. Repaints.txt(not mandatory) should contain a list of download links and names that should help you install all the repaints needed by the flightplan.
The trouble starts where there are dead links or repaints that were not repainted yet or even totally missing models like the CRJ-1000 or 747-800.
6. Setup.cfg(not mandatory) This file is created by the now defunct MRAI installer and contains some data that should help that program install the needed paints.
7. AIFP.cfg(not mandatory) This file if properly created can help you install entire airlines with the simple click of button inside AIFP V2, it will even download all the paints for you.

My first suggestion is to visit the excellent AIG forums here and specifically this thread where you can learn some basic info about installing AI and using AIFP V2.

For me if the flightplans are not by AIG or don't have an AIFP.cfg file in them the process goes generally like this, having an AIFP.cfg file in the flightplans can greatly ease the installation of AI as AIFP V2 does most of the work including downloading and installing the paints for you.

So what do I do if there is no AIFP.cfg?
1. I decided which airline I want to install.
2. I search for the latest flightplans on the various sites and once I download the file I read the readme.txt for important info about the flight plan and also which repaints and AI models are needed for the flight plans(sometimes in the repaints.txt file).
3. I download all the various repaints and if needed models.
4. This usually take the longest, installing all the repaints into FSX. You need to edit the various aircraft.cfg files and copy the textures into the correct folders etc.
If you don't know much about the aircraft.cfg file here is a nice thread in the AIG forum.
The most important thing in this stage is that the aircraft "title" in the sections be exactly like in the Aircraft_*.txt file or FS wont find your repaints.
5. after the paints have been installed I use AIFP V2 to compile the flightplans, in the process AIFP V2 will also scan your aircraft directories and notify you if missed any paint or
if it cant fine one of the repaint titles.
6. copy the traffic BGL into the correct folder which is FS_ROOT\Scenery\World\Scenery\ and off to check the traffic inside the simulator.

This might sound very daunting and it is at first but you should be optimistic, After a few flightplans you should begin to grasp a better understanding of what you are doing
and it should become easier, also I am working on an application that should help specifically with the installing repaints part so no need to edit aircraft.cfg files.

As a final word I really recommend you register on the AIG forum just one tip of advice, if you search and cant find what you are looking for please provide as much information
as you can about the issues you are having with installing traffic if you decide to post a question.

RobinHague
Posts: 2
Joined: Sat Aug 18, 2012 1:53 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#3 Post by RobinHague »

ewerber,
Thanks very much for your quick and very detailed reply.
I've scanned quickly through it but as it's now late , I'll go through it properly in the morning and see how it goes,
Again, thanks!
Regards

Marius
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:47 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#4 Post by Marius »

Hi guys,

Amazing work u are doing here. I have been using ultimate traffic for few years but I am very new in AI world.
Currently I am using FSX.
I am looking for Small Planet airlines traffic for my FSX. Little luck.. All I have found is some models, textures and flight plans in AVSIM, but all of them ar for FS9.
Also found most of Small planet airlines fleet in here. I have no idea how to make it work. I tryed installing fs9 plans into AIFP V2, converting from FS9 to FSX, but it doesn't work..

Any idea how to make Small Planet traffic appear on my FSX?

ewerber
Site Admin
Posts: 949
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:48 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#5 Post by ewerber »

You did not provide enough info on what you did and which guide you followed.
Like I wrote above in order for traffic to show a couple of simple things must be adhered to
1. you need to have paints installed with correct titles
2. you need to have the traffic bgl compiled for your FS version X or 9 with the correct titles inside

If you failed to automatically install the paints you should first get acquainted with installing paints in FS and understanding the Aircraft container scheme (editing the aircarft.cfg etc).
If compiling of the plans you found failed you should go to the AIFP forum on fsdeveloper.com and post the error message there to get support.

Marius
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:47 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#6 Post by Marius »

Thank you for your replay.



The problem I am getting is that AI doesn't appear on my FSX. I have hundreds of AI, but having problem with b737-Small Planet airlines.

I downloaded FAIB_B7373V11, then textures faib_b733_small_planet_fs. I install everything as it is said in reed me file. Afterwards I launch AIFP 2, creat brief flightplan assign with small planets aircraft, save and compile it.

After launching fsx i hope to see aircraft but it's not there... and I have no idea why. Maybe is something to do with 32bit file that I get with texture folder?

Best regards

ewerber
Site Admin
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Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:48 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#7 Post by ewerber »

Does AIFP manages to find and assign the correct repaints for the flightplan?

Marius
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:47 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#8 Post by Marius »

It does, I see all installed AI aircrafts via AIFP. But after launching FSX everything dissapears

ewerber
Site Admin
Posts: 949
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:48 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#9 Post by ewerber »

Do you have invisible planes or not planes at all?

Marius
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:47 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#10 Post by Marius »

No planes at all

ewerber
Site Admin
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Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:48 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#11 Post by ewerber »

Make sure you have the bgl in the proper location, you might need to enable the traffic box dll in order to figure out what is wrong with the traffic.
I personally never done it but you should be able to find some tutorials on google.

Marius
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:47 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#12 Post by Marius »

Thanks for tips, but my problem still remains. Did everything that you advised me many times, still no results. I am usin WOAI in addition, all files are converted in to FS9. When I creat flightplans for FAIB aircrafts I do convert them into traffic_nameit_fs9.bgl . I am adding a picture maybe you will get any ideas from this?
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ewerber
Site Admin
Posts: 949
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2012 7:48 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#13 Post by ewerber »

This means there are no aircraft with the titles in shown in red color.
Make sure you installed the aircraft with the correct titles from the flight plan or use AIFP to change the title in the flight plans to correct titles you have in the aircraft.cfg.

Marius
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:47 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#14 Post by Marius »

Did it. And still no results. It is like a dead end. Even though I think it is something easy...
Even FAIB Boeing 737-300 House colors I see in red color

Marius
Posts: 7
Joined: Sun Mar 31, 2013 3:47 pm

Re: How do I assign flight plans?

#15 Post by Marius »

Dont know what I did but finnaly i got them. I think it was something with subfolders

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