Airport Enhancement Package: Feature Preview
- 20 hours ago
- 2 min read
Updates
Airport Enhancement Package 2.0 has now been in beta for about 3 weeks, and we're making great progress! I have an awesome team of testers who have provided incredible feedback, and I'm down to just a handful of bugs to patch and features to refine!
As mentioned in the initial post, AEP is generated using default airport data. As such, whenever the default airports are updated, AEP would need an update. This could quickly become cumbersome, which is why I've decided to implement support for Skunkcrafts Updater!
Rather than having to log in to the store, redownload AEP, and copy it into your Custom Scenery folder, you'll just have to click update, and you're done! In addition, I'm working to integrate Skunkcrafts Updater into all my products, allowing for easier updates for you, and more rapid distribution when improvements become available!
Snow
Now that the distribution has been addressed, it's onto features! One feature I'm very excited about is the new snow system! As you see above, rather than simply adding snow everywhere, by using the same algorithm used to auto-generate skids, I'm able to auto-generate areas free of snow! This results in airports areas with much more realistic and varied snow coverage.
Signs
Another feature I'm also very excited about is the AEP Live plugin, which in real time replaces all taxi signs with higher quality models based on FAA standards! It works off apt.dat taxiway signs, and maintains styles and contents nearly exactly, so you'll see these improved taxiway signs at every airport that utilizes the default system, including custom airports. And the best part is, it all runs on a background thread, and communicates with the sim through a message queue, so there is virtually zero performance overhead!
Regional Grunge
I've also implemented a regional grunge system. In some parts of the world, due to pollution or other factors, pavement overall is darker and dirtier but is actually lighter along taxiroutes! This is due to aircraft tires and engines clearing the dirt. AEP 2.0 now features this type of grunge in the appropriate regions!
A good example of this is ZSHC. This is of course one of the most extreme scenarios, but throughout the world you'll find varying levels that are appropriate to what you'd find in the region, ranging from none, to very heavy.
Autumn Leaves
And last but not least, my favorite feature. You'll only see it at small airports, and only for a brief time - animated falling and fallen leaves! Despite being a small feature, it adds so much to the atmosphere!
It's been a long road to get here, but AEP 2.0 is almost here! I hope you all enjoy these previews, and I can't wait for you to enjoy the real thing!