I think that airport models would be worth enhancing by turning off the lights, as/when at the real airports, plus adding PCL where available. Adding it at once to all the world’s PCL airports is unnecessary – gradually would be OK, resources permitting.
Other airport model improvements are needed too, but hey – every little bit helps!
In the US, airport pages in the FAA Chart Supplements (including AFD) provide all necessary info. All supplements are available free at:
https://aeronav.faa.gov/Upload_313-d/supplements/
The supplements also list the meanings of many abbreviations used in aviation, necessary for understanding the CS and communicating with ATC (if Asobo ever implements that).
PCL is usually activated by tuning a radio to the appropriate frequency (typically CTAF) and tapping the transmit key. Until MSFS has transmit capability, this could be done by tuning a radio & tapping a keyboard key.
I thought it might be interesting for simmers to see a typical airport page from a CS, & how PCL info is shown there. As an example, I’ve attached the page for Redmond / Roberts field (KRDM), from the FAA Chart Supplement / Northwest US. Roberts is a well equipped regional airport with control tower and fully lit runways & taxiways. Tower is closed & lights are off 8pm – 4am PST, but PCL is available then.
Also attached is a part of the page, with the relevant texts highlighted.
