AIA vs PAI traffic models

[littlebirdie]

I have all the packages of PAI and heard that some people are changing their models with AIA models. Are they that much better? Is it alot of work to change them? Is there a tutorial on how to change them without messing up my AI traffic? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks!

[wsieffert]

I find PAI's model very acceptable. They just provided an easy aerodynamic update installer to their PAI Installer Program. You should also check to see if you have the latest models installed by visiting their download site and matching the dates of the install files with the ones you have installed.

W. Sieffert

[budreiser]

I, on the other hand, like the Aardvark line. I don't yet have a top-of-the-line video card and I think Aardvark is pretty easy on frame rates. It is a little tedious getting used to ttools but also rewarding when you get it figured out.

[hopper1]

I can only once again recommend the freeware tool AITM by Thomas Molitor. VERY easy to organize your AI flight plans, swap models, add flights, etc. Comes with tutorial (which you barely need...). A must-have!

It also makes use of TrafficTools without you even noticing it.

[davidvoogd]

I've only ever used Project AI, and I did use it on my Pentium 3 800 and it didn't hurt system performance too much.

I find the key with AI is to NOT use custom afcad files that add 100's for parking spaces. For example at CYYZ I only have 20 spaces, aircraft still come and go as scheduled but only 20 will be parked at once. You don't see anything weird happen because of this either. I find it's the best compromise.

[Coneman]

I've been using PAI and now Ultimate Traffic (also PAI models) and am now switching to Aardvark and FSPainter. I not only find them easier on frame rates but better looking as well. It's going to be a huge task switching, but for me it will be worth it. Not a slam on PAI, they were one of the first and I will always have a soft spot for them, they do terrific work.

Todd

[mariosunshine]

I changed yesterday all posible Aircraft at KSAN from PAI to AIA. I'm using Ultimate Traffic. My frame rates did go up since then some 5-6 FPS. By far not all airplanes are covered by AIA. It'S a lot of work, apart from the assignments you have to change the flight dynamics of the FS 2002 models ( every 737), to FS 9 by hand, as the FS2002 ones show a rather strange behavior. IN total I had to download over 60 planes and liveries, change the flight dynamics to the FS 9 versions, including the lightmaps and models. in Total about 8 hours of work. However the result was quite satisfactory.

[hopper1]

Switching to the AIA FS9 FDEs can be hard work, indeed, but it can also be done in less than an hour or so: it depends on how you organize your ai aircraft fleet.

Obviously, many simmers have one extra folder per AIA aircraft, as they usually come complete with model, FDE and livery in the zip file, which can be extracted to FS9. This, however, means you have to swap hundreds of models, air-files etc. should the need arise to update.

There are many alternatives, but I have my AI files organized in folders like:
AIA737_300_Europe (for European airlines)
AIA737_300_America,
_AfricaAsia,...
AIA737_400_Europe, ... etc.

The texture files go the respective folders, which means whenever I download a new plane I only extract the texture files and deal with one aircraft.cfg.

Of course you can further optimize that system by using only one folder per aircraft type, without setting them up by regions. However, I found that my way of doing it was the best compromize because it makes it easier to find, check, select or delete AI planes, which CAN be a big task when you have 1000+ different planes and liveries.

Again, for switching from e.g. PAI to AIA, I use AITM which I find to be really easy to handle.