HOW TO: Exclude objects from runways and airports

[KChapman]

Do you ever find it frustrating to fly to an airport only to find your approach to the runway impeded by tall trees or to (almost?) collide with a VOR or other object actually on the runway? While there's not much you can do about these objects on the first try, you can wield a virtual chainsaw/wrecking ball and remove them for subsequent visits with just a few simple steps:

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1) Do a search in the library for bgltkit0.zip and download it.

http://img75.exs.cx/img75/1788/bgltkit0.jpg

2) Extract its contents into a folder of its own.

3) Download VB40032.DLL from [link:www.dll-files.com|this site] and place it in the folder into which you extracted the BGL Toolkit.

4) If you have a sectional chart that includes the airport in question, refer to it to determine the magnetic variation at that field. Otherwise, open AFCAD v2.xx and then open the airport in question. Take note of the magnetic variation by double-clicking anywhere there isn't an object to find the variation in this box (just used my home airport as an example):

http://img78.exs.cx/img78/8615/MagneticVariation.jpg

5) Open FS and go to the airport/area in question. The airport I'm showing in this exclude is 2S9, Willapa Harbor Airport in South Bend (Raymond), Washington, USA.

6) Slew over to the object(s) you'd like to exclude, <Ctrl> + "S" and zoom to a desired overhead view, and rotate your plane so your heading is true north (360 minus east variation, 0 plus west variation).

7) Without rotating your plane again (keeping it oriented to true north so your rectangle is bounded as you expect it to be), go to a point northwest of the object(s) that would include all of it/them if lines were to be extended true east and true south of your position. Write down the coordinates (no elevation needed).

NOTE: In this case, this aircraft's heading (magnetic in the sim) is 341 because variation is 18.5 E (360 - 18.5 = 341.5).

http://img71.exs.cx/img71/5487/2s9NW.jpg

8) Again without rotating (it may be best to use your keyboard's numpad keys with NumLock off for this), slew down to a point southeast of the object(s) that would form a box when joined with the northwest point that includes everything to be excluded and write down the coordinates.

http://img71.exs.cx/img71/8986/2s9SE.jpg

9) Exit FS and start the executable file BGLTKit32.exe that you extracted in step 2.

10) Click "I agree!!" to enter the program proper and then click the Exclude File Builder tab.

12) Enter your coordinates in an accepted format (i.e., N 46 41.92), leaving the "Span" and "Total Area" boxes empty, and click Recalc. Check the box beside "Scenery Tiles and Objects" to exclude the visible scenery objects within the rectangle specified by the coordinates you entered.

NOTE: If you're trying to remove only visible objects from FS, do not click on any of the other three boxes (even if you're trying to remove a visual VOR or NDB), as this was intended to remove the functionality of such facilities and not their visual presence in the sim.

http://img78.exs.cx/img78/6374/BGLToolkit.jpg

12) Click "Create Exclude File", name your new .bgl file (no need to place .bgl after the filename, as BGL Toolkit does this for you), and place the resultant .bgl file in your Addon Scenery\scenery folder (or another folder activated in the Scenery Library in FS).

FS will re-index its scenery files on startup, and you're done!!

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This may seem overwhelming at first (lots of little steps), but before long you'll find that it's easy to do and remember. I find it very valuable to be able to clear a few unrealistic runway- or approach-blocking objects here and there from airports that I frequent (especially as a bush pilot ;-) ), and I hope you will, too.

Happy flying,

Kevin

[fafnir]

Whoa! :-eek ! Bet this was a lotta work to find out! I'll try it next time when I get back to bush flying in Alaska hence there were some airfields with trees or even hangars in the approach paths! Thank you for posting this excellent "chainsaw" ;-) .

Edit: Is the BFU livery for the default Caravan and if so where can I get it?

[prowler3]

LOL! I thought that was the Idea...land and take-off with the obstructions in mind.

Vic

[KChapman]

Fabian,

Just glad I have a few extra chainsaws to give away ;-) . It actually wasn't too hard to figure out how to use this program. After all, I did. :-)

Yes, that BFU livery is for the default Caravan Amphibian, and you can get it as bfu_caravan_amphibian.zip in the Avsim library (couldn't find it in the Flightsim.com library). However, if you haven't been to the BFU website for a while, you might check it out by clicking on my sig. Hawkeyez reworked it from scratch and did a great job. You'll find links to many other repaints for freeware and payware planes that are suitable for bush flying, and the scenery is a blast, too.

Vic,

<tongue in cheek>
Yeah, that is a big part the fun of bush flying, getting in and out of remote, seemingly inaccessible spots with the unforeseen waking up all grumpy to try and grab you whenever it hears an airplane engine. However, folks who go to the trouble to fashion an airstrip of some sort usually do so because they need what we bring and will reasonably clear and maintain the approach path and strip for our sake and theirs. 150' trees that are 300' off the end of a 1,250' strip severely limit access to what planes can land and take off there. Clearing a few too-tall, too-close trees opens things up a bit and gives the residents a chance to haul their precious cargo out of the burning wreckage of my plane right there on the strip instead of having to run all the way out to the treeline to get it. :-lol

Have fun up there,

Kevin

[burnside]

Kevin,

Many thanks for the procedure! I've long been annoyed by a 150' telephone pole at the end of my home airport, KMGY. I'll give this a try as soon as I get home from work tonight.

Dale

[flightstrike]

Thanks Kevin, I was actually looking for a program to do that for the area Im making scenery for. Thanks a lot for the detailed guide.. appreciated!

[ronzie]

There are some pretty tall structures shown on the LOC 20 plate for KMGY, one about 100 ft tall shown at the ENE end. Actually, there appears to be tall stuff but not as close all over. Interesting.

Would it not be realistic to take it out for obstacle take offs?

[prowler3]

LOL! Point taken!

Vic

[burnside]

>There are some pretty tall structures shown on the LOC 20 plate >for "KMGY, one about 100 ft tall shown at the ENE end.

I have flown the real approach to 20 at KMGY, and can assure you there is not a 150 ft telephone pole directly in line with the runway just to the North of Austin Rd. There used to be an old house in the area (but not in line with the runway), but it has long since been torn down.

Dale

[soldano]

I search in this site library, but couldnt find bgltkit0.zip .- It is pretty old (1997)
Where can I download it from ?