MSFS Jetway Configuration

[scruffyduck]

I need some help in understanding the way jetways are placed and configured. So far I am unable to place a jetway in ADE in such a way that it appears in the correct place and orientation in sim.

I have identified that the normal jetway consists of two elements - a library object which is a connector anchored at one end to a building and the other is a sim object which attaches to the far end of the connector from the building. I think this provides the animated end.

Each element has both a position (latitude and longitude) and a heading. I can't be sure if the reference point is centered in the element but I assume so. Most airports I have looked at have the two elements although, in theory the jetway can consist of a single element

I can compile and airport with jetways and the decompiled XML reflects the input. So my general issue is to be able to generate a shape for the jetway that allows accurate placement in ADE. If the jetway is moved or rotated then I assume (,maybe wrongly) that is rotates around one of the element reference points and the other element maintains a fixed relationship. However maybe I am better off generating a single reference point based of the two elements.

I have updated ADE 2020 to handle jetways and to ensure that if the parking spot details are changed the jetway is updated.

I don't know how MSFS determines where to place a jetway or what heading to give it

Thanks for any help on this since it is holding up the release of alpha 18

 

[rhumbaflappy]

The placement of the SimObject (Jetway_Asobo) is from the round base refpoint and it will extend out to the plane in the parking area. I think you'd want to place that on the left side of the plane, as that's where the door is, but there is no formula for auto placing it in the DevMode. You don't want the telescoping hood to be inside the parking circle.

The placement of the link is dependent on the size of the link extension. The link hood will extend to the SimObject refpoint by itself, as far as I can tell. The refpoint of the micro and mini link is the tip of the telesoping hood, I think. The refpoint of the link and megalink is the cylindrical rotating drum. The distance from the drum to the SimObject refpoint needs to be at least as long as the un-telescoped walkway. Refpoint for Micro and Mini can be as close as a point between the SimObject refpoint and the edge of the drum (actually inside the drum).

Does this make any sense or of any help? You would want to place them as un-telescoped shapes I would think, as they should extend controlled by the sim as needed.

Asobo must have a formula for determining the thousands of global jetway placements.

 

[scruffyduck]

Thanks Dick that does help. I might need to ask ASOBO

 

[rhumbaflappy]

Another thing about the jetways and link objects: they point -90 degrees. To point to the north, the heading must be set at +90. This is true of both the jetway and the link. Pointing the Jetway SimObject west requires a heading of 0.0...

 

[scruffyduck]

Thanks Dick - I have been playing around with this for all day yesterday. Looking at your jetway above am I right that the element to lower right is the connector and the rest is the sim object? In my tests I reduced the ADE display to two points

The rectangle is the reference point of the connector which I took to be at the building end point. The circle is the SimObject (I call it the Jetway End for now) and I assume that the reference point for this is the tower that meets the far end of the connector.

I was able to measure the bearing and distance between these two points and this represents the connector length (?) This varied depending on the actual connector used but was consistently between 10 and 20 meters.

I kind of expected (hoped) that the bearing between the two points taken from the connector far end would match the heading of the connector but that is not what is happening. I am not applying any -90 offset so maybe I will find some consistency between the bearing and heading, otherwise it makes no sense. In my current tests I have the connector and end (sim object) as drawn separately so they can be moved or rotated separately.


These are the properties for this jetway in ADE

The bearing between is 189 actual and the heading of the connector found in the XML is 82 so there is not a specific -90 here. This is EGNM by the way that has two jetways.

If I understand correctly I need to give an angle of +90 on the above so 270 for the End (Sim Object)) and 172 for the connector when I draw them? I tested the headings etc after compile and they come back the same. Just to be absolutely clear the Sim is adding 90 to the object actual heading in the XML to display it. I shouldn't be adding 90 the source XML - that generates a bunch of other problems

 

[scruffyduck]

OK - this one seems to break my theories - this is the second jetway at EGNM

based on reference points the sim object is directly south of the connector and the bearing between them (from the connector ) is 179. The heading for the connector in the source is 269 so if I add 90 then it is facing the wrong way relative to the end. I would need -90 to match things up.

BTW do you know which library bgl file the connectors are in. I am getting thumbnails for them from the collection you provided

EDIT
I get a consistent offset between the true bearing of the connector to the sim object of +270 (-90) This is at KORD, KPBI and EGLL. I guess the one here in EGNM is some sort of rogue

EDIT 2
It's not rogue it was my action that caused it. A clean load of EGNM has the correct offset of 270

 

[scruffyduck]

Getting closer with placing a drawing jetways. Moving and rotating them still needs to be worked on

This is part of EGLL

 

[GHD]

Looking good

 

[rhumbaflappy]

The Asobo Jetways link objects are hiding here on Steam:
D:\MSFS\Official\Steam\asobo-jetways\scenery

There should be some kind of delimiters as far as minimum and maximum refpoint distance and relative heading angle which would control (suggest) which link object to use. Otherwise there will be lots of headaches for developers. In-sim, the link objects extend and latch onto the SimObject automatically.

 

[scruffyduck]

So they are - thanks Dick

In the same place in the MS edition

I am thinking about the coding to add a jetway in ADE. Also to later modify it. I am thinking to build it up starting the connector ARP at the building and then work out. Still needs some thought but I feel much better about it after today. I see how it works thanks to your help Dick

 

[scruffyduck]

Basic editing of jetways. First attempt

I brought the jetway ends too far out and angled over the parking spots to get a clear visual and I wasn't expecting a plane on one of the spots. But the edit of placement seems to be reflected in the jetway in sim.

Still more to be done

 

[scruffyduck]

There should be some kind of delimiters as far as minimum and maximum refpoint distance and relative heading angle which would control (suggest) which link object to use. Otherwise there will be lots of headaches for developers. In-sim, the link objects extend and latch onto the SimObject automatically.

I am advised by ASOBO that no specific algorithm exists for which connector link to use. However I have now been able to establish the min/max lengths for the different type of connector based on the stock data. This does mean that ADE can automatically set the connector link type dependent on the distance between the building end of the connector and the base ARP for the End (Sim Object). I am working on code that will set the connector type as and when the distance is changed. The code also includes a manual option to allow the user to set the connector type in edge cases where the min/max ranges are adjacent. This manual flag would also ensure that stock loaded jetways are not changed unless the user decides to do so.

 

[Gelomare]

So they are - thanks Dick

View attachment 70496

In the same place in the MS edition

View attachment 70498

I am thinking about the coding to add a jetway in ADE. Also to later modify it. I am thinking to build it up starting the connector ARP at the building and then work out. Still needs some thought but I feel much better about it after today. I see how it works thanks to your help Dick

Jon, Just curious! How do i get the footprint to show in ADE as yours does in this post. Below is a snip of how mine appears in ADE. What am i missing?

 

[scruffyduck]

You need to wait for Alpha 18 You seem to be showing library objects there.

 

[Gelomare]

Yes, they are the LOs. I will wait. Thanks.

 

[Gelomare]

Basic editing of jetways. First attempt

View attachment 70561

I brought the jetway ends too far out and angled over the parking spots to get a clear visual and I wasn't expecting a plane on one of the spots. But the edit of placement seems to be reflected in the jetway in sim.

View attachment 70562

Still more to be done

Jon, my feedback for jetway placement is as follows. I took the following steps to place the jetway. Selected the parking spot-then right click add and chose jetway, which is reflected in the snip jetway placement. I then saved and built the package without any failures. Copied to the package to community folder and started sim- all loaded well- went to the chosen parking spot and the snip from the sim shows the results of the placement. It is not like your in the post above. I am sure i missed something for as you can see. There is not a jetway end only the link. Your thoughts. Thanks.
Gelomare

 

[scruffyduck]

Jon, my feedback for jetway placement is as follows. I took the following steps to place the jetway. Selected the parking spot-then right click add and chose jetway, which is reflected in the snip jetway placement. I then saved and built the package without any failures. Copied to the package to community folder and started sim- all loaded well- went to the chosen parking spot and the snip from the sim shows the results of the placement. It is not like your in the post above. I am sure i missed something for as you can see. There is not a jetway end only the link. Your thoughts. Thanks.
Gelomare

My initial reaction is that your jetway is ending inside the parking space . I think my notes suggest that the end of the jetway needs to be outside the parking spot. Dick (rhumbaflappy) is my source for this information so perhaps arrange your jetway to end outside the parking spot on the dotted circle. My example is badly placed I think.

I note also that you have overlapping parking spots there and also the distance from building to parking is very small. Did you make any adjustments to the jetway components to account for the relationship to the parking spot? The end section of the jetway is about 18 meters long

 

[Gelomare]

My initial reaction is that your jetway is ending inside the parking space . I think my notes suggest that the end of the jetway needs to be outside the parking spot. Dick (rhumbaflappy) is my source for this information so perhaps arrange your jetway to end outside the parking spot on the dotted circle. My example is badly placed I think.

I note also that you have overlapping parking spots there and also the distance from building to parking is very small. Did you make any adjustments to the jetway components to account for the relationship to the parking spot? The end section of the jetway is about 18 meters long

Jon, They work. Attached is a snip of the jetways in place in the sim. I just have to realign them so that they are not so far from the plane. I was able to get them in place replacing the jetway folder in the official folder. I had gotten corrupt somehow. Now all is well at the moment.
Gelomare

 

[scruffyduck]

That's great news.

 

[Gelomare]

That's great news.

Jon, a quick request if possible. Could the copy build to community be put back with a tick to turn off for those who currently don't like it. But those who do (like me) can continue to use it? Thanks.
Gelomare