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Need help with AFLT

A

arnobg

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unitedstates
First I want to say this program seems fantastic but after going through the manual and tinkering with it I haven't figured it out...

After you've made bgl files, how do you go about actually placing the lights at the airport where you want them to be?

I'm starting with something basic, runway edge and touchdown zone lights.
 
arnobg, AFLT includes a complete set of light models and, among other things, its user manual provides step-by-step instructions on the creation of:
  • individual airport light elements,
  • a library of those elements, and
  • arrays to place those elements, including sample files.
I don't know how to explain things any more clearly. While I'm quite happy to answer specific questions, what you seem to be asking for is a new user manual.

If you really want to have 3D airport lights or otherwise emulate the R/W lighting arrangement at your airport, I suggest you re-read the user manual, try something and, if you don't get the result you expect, try again. You can't do any damage with AFLT.

If, during that process you encounter seemingly insurmountable difficulties, tell in detail me what you are doing, what you are trying to accomplish, and what is the unexpected result. I'll be happy then to offer some guidance.

Don
 
I'm starting to get the hang of it thanks but I do have a few general questions.

I am working on scenery that has a runway 12R/30L in it for example. When I create lights for the runway specifically the centerline lights which are split white/red in ground lights, do I have to create a library for that runway specifically or can I use those lights on other runways? I ask because I put in the specific heading but then when I place them in ADE and assign the opposite heading for the other runway, they still are red/white on the wrong sides and they match the other lights even with a recipricol heading assigned in ADE.

This means I have to create a set of lights for each individual runway even the other end of the same runway? Sounds like a lot of BGL files and libraries for an airpot with 5 runway....that's 10 lighting files alone.

Also when I add the .bgl library into ADE The names are numbered 1-20 for example and I can no longer tell which lights are which without placing them then going to look in the sim to see what they are. Any way around this?
 
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arnobg, it seems you already have your answer.

Because of the way separation planes work, oriented lights will work only in the programmed orientation. The orientation used for placement will affect the model, but it won't affect the orientation of the attached lights.

As for not being able to determine which light is which in ADE, that's a topic for the ADE forum.
Don
 
Another issue I am having is with the default MALSR .def file. I keep getting an error "invalid latitude line 7" and it is the default file?
 
That is a sample file. It won't compile directly. If you wish to use it, you are expected to replace the words "latitude", "longitude", etc with actual values.

Don
 
gadgets said:
That is a sample file. It won't compile directly. If you wish to use it, you are expected to replace the words "latitude", "longitude", etc with actual values.

Don
Click to expand...

So each individual light needs exact coordinates? Is there a simple way to do this?
 
No. You specify a reference point for the entire array. Please refer to the appendices of the user manual.

Don
 
I have reviewed it already and did again. I can't find any clear explanation of how to write the latitude/longitude in the .def file or how to place it. Would someone be willing to help me out with an example .def file for KHOU Runway 12R MALSR system? All lights are in pavement threshold except the strobes and one row of lights after the strobes.
 
I don't know how to make it any clearer than as currently described in the appendices. any standard format is acceptable.

don
 
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