February Developer Stream: Closed for Questions

[N316TS]

Airports:

Runway approach lighting in real life is directional. In the sim, you can see approach lighting from any angle and from very far away, often making it way too easy to find an airport in the sim compared to real life.

I cannot speak for the rest of the world, but the FAA has documentation on the visibility of various approach lights here:

https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/atpubs/atc_html/chap3_section_4.html

Conversely, airport beacons, which should be visible from very far away so that you can distinguish airports from other ground lights at night, are only visible within a few nm of the field.

FAA documentation of airport beacons is available in this advisory circular. Viewing distances are not given, but bulb intensity is (see page 8):

https://www.faa.gov/airports/resources/advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/document.current/documentNumber/150_5345-12

What is the plan to correct these lighting distances?

Runway approach lights - should be directional

It is not realistic that one can see the runway approach lights when one is 90 degrees off (or greater) from the alignment of the runway. They are FAR too prominent from a great distance, especially if not lined up with the runway, and this is not at all realistic. I think you’ve enabled it so the VASI/PAPI lights on runways are directional - that should be the case with the approach lights as well.

Unrealistic airport lighting distances

Title says it all, breaking down the issues as follows: Approach and REIL lights are way too visible (bright) and visible from too far way. In real life, it’s very difficult to find an airport, especially in cityscapes where there are a lot of lights. In the picture attached, the distance to that airport is over 20nm away (look just below the wing, can see the approach and REILs). You would never be able to see these lights at that distance. Conversely, have noticed that the airport beacon…