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Creating and Editing Taxiways in FSX Planner
FSX Planner provides you with several ways to create and edit taxiways. You can create a brand new taxiway by first
creating two taxiway points and then joining them together; you can create a taxiway which will automatically create
the taxiway points at each end; or you can use existing taxiways or taxiway points as anchors for your new taxiway.
An overview of Taxiway Nodes
A brief overview of the three different type of taxiway nodes used within Flight Simulator is a good starting point.
FSX Planner creates taxiways in the same exact fashion regardless of the type of the taxiway point. However, to create
a well designed airport an understanding of the different taxiway nodes is required.
Normal Nodes: These are the most common type of node in an airport. They are used to join any type of taxiway.
If you are not sure which type to use, then this one is the safest option. These are displayed in FSX Planner as
a blue dot at the taxiway junction.
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Hold-short Nodes: These create the hold-short bars on the taxiway. These are used by Air Traffic Control as IFR
checkpoints for takeoff clearance. These are displayed in FSX Planner as a red dot at the taxiway junction.
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ILS Hold-short Nodes: These also create visible hold short bars on the taxiway. They are placed behind normal hold
short nodes on some runways to have aircraft hold further back during certain weather conditions. These are displayed
in FSX Planner as a yellow dot at the taxiway junction.
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Note on Orienation: NORMAL and ILS Hold Short nodes do not require a specific orientation. All nodes by default
are set to FORWARD by default. A REVERSE orientation may be required if the taxiway link line is drawn in the
reverse manner resulting in the hold short bars not facing the runway.
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An overview of Taxiway Types
There are six different types of taxiways within Flight Simulator. FSX Planner creates taxiways in the same
fashion regardless of what type of taxiway is being created. However, to create a well designed, and more
importantly correctly functioning airport, an understanding of the different taxiway type is required.
Runway: A runway taxiway should be placed down the center of a runway. It may be one long taxiway following
the length of the entire runway, or it may be several shorter ones which allow planes to exit the runway onto
taxiways. The runway type taxiway is needed to allow AI planes to taxi onto and off of the runway. Therefore
all runways should include a runway taxiway. FSX Planner will automatically create a runway type taxiway when
you draw a new taxiway onto a runway. This behavior can be turned off through the preferences dialog. See
Runway Taxiways below for more information.
Parking: A parking taxiway connects a regular taxiway to a parking location. This is true regardless of whether
or not the parking location is for aircraft or vehicles. FSX Planner will automatically create a parking taxiway
when you join a parking location to a taxiway node.
Taxi: The taxi type taxiway is used for the majority of taxiways through out the airport. This type of taxiway
will create a visible taxiway using the specified width and surface type.
Path: The path type taxiway is similar to the taxi type taxiway with the significant difference being that a
visible taxiway is not drawn. This type of taxiway is very useful at smaller airports if you have grass runways
that need taxiways to them, but you don't want these taxiways to be drawn.
Closed: The closed type taxiway is similar to the taxi type taxiway but has a "X" painted on it. This will not
stop Air Traffic Control from using the taxiway, however. To make a taxiway actually closed a break must appear in
the taxiway links. The best way to do this would be to place two taxiway nodes at the same location, but without
a taxiway between them.
Vehicle: The vehicle type taxiway is designed for airport traffic. You do not need a vehicle link for
animated ground support vehicles to travel from parking spot to parking spot. They will also use a normal Taxiway
or Apron link/parking path link. However, it is best that a vehicle link system is designed (attached to the
taxiway paths correctly) so ground Aircraft are not held up in their taxi instructions. Also if the User aircraft
has Crash Detection turned on then if by chance a animated vehicle runs into a User plane FSX resets.
Creating a New Taxiway
The easiest way to create a new taxiway is to select the taxiway tool from the toolbar. Then click where you want
to start the taxiway and drag the mouse to where you want to end the taxiway and release the button. As you are
dragging a line will be drawn to show you the path of the new taxiway.
Creating a taxiway between existing taxiway points
To create a taxiway between existing taxiway points, select the taxiway tool from the toolbar. With this tool
selected moving your mouse over an existing taxiway point will cause that point to become highlighted. This lets
you know that if you start or end your taxiway at this point you will not be creating a new taxiway point, but
rather be using this existing one as an anchor for the taxiway.
If we place the mouse over an existing taxiway point and then click and drag to a new location we will create a
new taxiway starting at the existing point, and ending at a new taxiway point that will be created.
Alternatively if we click on an existing taxiway point and drag to another existing taxiway point then a taxiway
will be created between those two existing taxiway points.
Inserting a taxiway into the middle of an existing taxiway
To create a new taxiway that joins an existing taxiway not at an end, but somewhere in the middle, where there
is no existing taxiway point, you can use the Shift key. As an example we will draw a taxiway from a new point
and connect it into the middle of an existing taxiway. To do this click at the location for the start of the
taxiway, and then drag to the existing taxiway which we want to intersect. Once the cursor is over the middle
line of the existing taxiway, hold the Shift key down and release the mouse button. A new taxiway point will
be created that divides the existing taxiway and connects to your new taxiway. You can also perform this in
the opposite direction, by holding the Shift key down when you start your taxiway over an existing taxiway.
Smart Taxiway Creation
FSX Planner includes our unique 'smart taxiway creation' technology.
Inherited taxiway properties
Inherited taxiway properties allow you to create several taxiway segments in a row all having the same properties.
For this option to work you must have the 'Set new taxiway properties based on existing ones' option checked in
the Properties dialog. In addition the new taxiway must be created from a taxiway node that has only one taxiway
currently connected to it.
To start, create the first taxiway segment and assign its properties. In this example we will create a taxiway
and change its width to 20 meters and its surface type to concrete. Next we create a new taxiway segment, starting
at the end of the first taxiway segment. Our new taxiway segment will automatically have its width set to 20 meters
and its surface type set to concrete. This feature allows you to quickly create taxiways with the same specific
properties.
Runway Taxiways
Runways taxiways will be created whenever you create a taxiway that is completely enclosed by a runway. For this
option to work you must have the 'Taxiways drawn on runways should inherit the Runway's properties' option selected
in the Properties dialog. Note that this option overrides the Inherited taxiway properties option.
If I create a new taxiway segment inside a runway, regardless of what other taxiway segments it is attached to,
the new taxiway will be set as a runway taxiway and will be assigned to the appropriate runway, with the correct
width and surface type. This makes it very easy to create runway taxiways.
We hope that this tutorial has explained the creation of taxiways in FSX Planner. FSX Planner contains many more
features, and we hope that you are able to explore and benefit from them.
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