Just Flight's Traffic 2004

By Nigel C. Martin (10 May 2004)

am not sure about you, but with ever advancing scenery add-ons both freeware and commercially available one has a growing desire for ever more realistic aircraft at airports, traffic airborne in transit and various stages of the pattern. Not a lot to ask, I hear you cry!

Oh yes did I mention, the aircraft need to be modelled in Gmax so you get accurate aircraft and liveries, and 'kind' frame rates. They need to be flyable accompanied with interactive Air Traffic Control. And its own website to exchange and download additional resources... Not a lot to ask?

Some of you will be aware of other admirable products on the market but Just Flight has recently launched the latest in this family, Traffic 2004, which from the detail on the pack looks exactly what I have been hankering for.

So let's install it. Again, this process is very straightforward (booklet is also included) if you using auto-install or even if done manually. I am always tempted to have a 'gander' at the video clips of forthcoming programs--caution though the credit card may take another bashing!

Post installation, I was very keen to throw myself into the thick of it (170,000+ scheduled airline flights including international, commuter cargo as well as general and business flights, with over 340 different aircraft...and 120 airlines depicted). I selected Heathrow Airport (London) and opted for a gate start. Traffic 2004 takes a few minutes to 'wind' up into aircraft 'manic' status. Oh yes that external view is a must here. By magic there are numerous aircraft rendered in Gmax (and these are flyable; the selection will be found in the Aircraft menu) taxiing on final, static, etc. The actions you would expect in and around a very busy international airport.

Once you have hit the TX button and are tuned into the control tower the air becomes alive' with chatter. It's very nice to have some English speaking controllers. However, one 'controller' has a very annoying habit of raising his voice toward the end of a word or number (normally a sign of an actor who has not listened enough how it's done in reality, if this person is a ATC I apologise, - my view still stands--don't want to make a mountain out of a molehill, it's passable and does not detract form all the NEW ground and airborne activity).

Once clearance has been given, you can taxi towards the active. On your travels you may come across A320's, 747's, Islanders, and many more aircraft taxiing or queueing on various runways. Oh yes, congratulations to Just Flight for keeping Concorde 'alive' as this wonderful creation is included in the fleet.

So, you approach the active, note there are two aircraft in front of you and a quick scan back shows three more are joining the queue. Many a time have I been in such a queue. The same frustration was welling up, scary really! After watching the aircraft lining up and rolling you are given permission to go, as in real life. A quick scan up to the right and there are two aircraft on final! Line up and roll, V1, rotate, positive rate of climb, gear-up, and a controller says "traffic warning 1124 heavy, a Cessna 172 within visual range confirm visual?" Quick scan, there he is, confirm, obviously a VFR weekend pilot ventured into restricted airspace. Oh well, we are professionals. Move on, you are given hand-off instructions--nice.

On another occasion I sat on the active to see what would happen, Armageddon or the virtual controller earning his money. Yup he did. Firstly the jet on final overshot and the aircraft next in line to take off was given permission to roll, (with me static on the active). He reported that fact and remained stationary! Not bad eh?

I selected another airport to experience the traffic. I chose a real favourite, Vancouver, Canada, and of course my steed, it just had to be a DeHavilland Dash 8 from Air Canada Jazz. Despite some very English controllers the experience was very similar, rather less frenetic of course, but I had some real fun. There are some German accented controllers as well providing that 'European' feel, for those who want to venture out of FAA airspace!

If you want scary you may witness mayhem at other busy international airports, worth a go. Oh yes in the excitement i forgot frame rates, are these hit? Well kind of. If you select max aircraft at Heathrow I believe you would expect an 'effect' even on a reasonable machine. Did it detract from the 'feel'? No.

I almost forgot to mention, in real busy air space (like Vancouver) I took off and immediately requested a full stop landing, with traffic in the pattern! And I was on the downwind leg, and I could see two aircraft on long final. To my surprise I was given immediate short final instruction to land, and as soon as my wheels touched the ground told me to exit active (I was flying the 'stop on a sixpence' Dash 8). I enjoyed that!

There are a staggering 3000 airports to choose from which have been modified to provide additional parking. So likely your favorite airports is included as were mine.

I appreciate I have only touched the surface of this program but the above demonstrates the effectiveness and great fun I had and continue to have with this program. One of the major benefits over its previous editions is that some of the aircraft are presented in Gmax thus being frame rate friendly and fabulously detailed.

You may remember a real annoying trait of the previous offering, the aircraft on final just vanished only a few feet off the ground. That really got to me! Now they land and taxi. Also, in the previous version the aircraft detail was to say the least scant. None of these complaints are valid in Traffic 2004, indeed quite the opposite.

In conclusion then, it is great package which I have only touched on the surface and represents my first reaction, however I love it! There are some more elements well worth a look at namely editing tools are supplied proving customisation, allowing the virtual pilot the chance to create and amend the thousands flights already in place.

All the aircraft are flyable and they are all AI (artificial intelligence). There are 32 (in the fleet of 320) very highly detailed aircraft modelled in Gmax to ensure quality and the all-important friendly frame rate element is in place.

A very nice touch is the inclusion of a 'plane spotters view'. This allows you to position yourself into a prime location and watches the mayhem unfolding around and above you! There is a 'Traffic Viewer', a radar-like tool that shows all the other AI aircraft in the user vicinity. Also there is 'Traffic Editor and Paint Editor' for the adventurous to customise aspects of the AI flights and may be add your own! Many of these are shared on the Traffic 2004 website.

As previously mentioned there are other 'traffic' programs available but I have no experience of these. Has this program improved the quality of the 'simming' experience, yes it has. Is it worth buying? Yes, it's a great addition, which will bring a smile to your face. I would say however, the additional 'bits' the Editing Tools and Spot Viewer are I guess nice but as far as I am concerned will never be used by the average owner like me. I just want top quality and busy ground and air movements.

Have Fun!

Nigel. C. Martin
nigel@dbv-northeast.co.uk

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