Process to Add Missing Airport in X-Plane 11

Question

What is the process to get a missing airport added to X-Plane.  My example is KSYM at 38° 12′ 54.0″ N, 83° 35′ 15.4″ W and has been in operation since 2008 and is visible in all FAA/Aviation related material and websites.  Just to clarify this airport is non-existent in X-Plane but does exist in the real world.

Thanks in Advance,
Sgt. Kamer

Answer 1

Hi Sgt Kamer,

I am not with Laminar Research; just a flight simmer from downunder.

Every time there is a new release of X-Plane there are additional airports added.  These additional airports are made available by other flight simmers who also have a passion for creating airports.  Laminar Research is extremely appreciative of the generosity of these artistic creators as they do not have the staff to be dedicated just to creating airports.

I would suggest you contact Laminar Research direct at [email protected] whereby they can advise on the status of your request.  I am aware that any airport that is added is vetted for accuracy before release by an external auditor.  That person may have the knowledge when your airport becomes available.

Good luck

Glenn       

Comments

Hi Sgt Kamer,

Having done some further research I came across this link found at https://gateway.x-plane.com/ then follow the following link found at https://gateway.x-plane.com/sitemap then follow the following link at https://gateway.x-plane.com/sitemap/scenery/K and finally scroll down the right hand side of the page and you will find your missing airport KSYM

Then when I clicked on the following link at https://gateway.x-plane.com/scenery/page/KSYM I find that you have already asked the question with Laminar Research and in particular query has been assigned to Julian Lockwood who is the moderator for the addition or inclusion of airports within the X-Plane software. 

Your query was raised or posted on April 30th 2019 at 12:47:49 pm. Quite some time before raising the problem in this forum.  

Obviously you would have been given some advice so why raise the issue again in this forum?  My advice on what procedure to follow will only direct you back to the same location where it has already been lodged.

My reading of the posting also tells me the airport was completed on 3rd May, 2019 at 2:48:41 pm which is 1 day after the last major release of 11.33.  The official release of 11.34 was on or about 14 May 2019 and only contained minor bug fixes and no other additional "stuff" including your airport.

Although there is a release of 11.35, this is in Beta (testing) format.  Your airport should then be in 11.35 when it is officially released as a significant update.

Until then be patient.

Glenn

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Glenn,

I had a really curt response to your post but decided that only brings me down to a level I don't care to go; therefore, I deleted it before hitting send.

I'll simply sum it up this way - "You catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar".

Sincerely,
Sgt Kamer

Answer 2

Hi Sgt

I googled KSYM and then typed Morehead Rowan into the XP11 Flight Configuration box.
KSYM appears in X-Plane 11 as I32   Morehead-Rowan County
However as you probably already know, there is an error in XP11.

The error is that I32 (KSYM or SYM) has been drawn in at the co-ordinates for the disused strip used by the Morehead Utility Plant associated with the hydro electric station located approx 10 miles South.
There is a method for modification. I will add this bug myself, however these are generally gathered up and done in a batch at the next major update, as explained by Glenn. Although Julian reports this as "Done", there is no update yet included in v11.35
The Ortho4xp tile looks great, however there is no scenery seen as the location is loaded incorrectly. I have submitted a simple 3d scenery, which I guess will arrive with the next update.
Best wishes. Kev

Comments

Kev,

I apologize in advance for my utter ignorance concerning this whole process.  I've been reading and asking questions in attempt to learn as much as I can so I'm not such an annoyance to everyone.  I was hoping to reach out to a helpful community for guidance so that's why I took such offense to Glenn's post because it was immediate chastisement instead of helpful steering of an obvious newbie.

Here's the deal with I32; that airport did exist in Rowan County Kentucky up until 2008 and is correctly displayed in X-Plane.  However, the I32 airport was decommissioned in 2008 when the brand new KSYM (previously M97) airport was finished just north of airport I32.  So I32 never was KSYM because they are two totally different airports.  The commission did confuse things a bit by naming the new airport the same as the old one with the exception of adding Clyde A. Thomas on to KSYM's name.  I had entered a ticket to have I32 removed from the Gateway but I was told it was still visible like in Google Maps etc..  However, if you look in maps you'll see the runway has X's on it since it's permanently closed.  KSYM is properly located about 5 miles north of the old I32 airport.

Jan Vogel has given me some good advice to get started creating the airport objects for KSYM and I've made decent progress for never using WED before.  I hope to be uploading that in the next couple of days.

Again, it never was my intention to demand things be done in short order.  I was simply trying to get answers to questions about how this big animal called X-Plane is glued together and how I could hopefully make it just a bit better for everyone else.

Take care and God Bless,
Bill Kamer

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Hi Bill

I have had a KSYM scenery accepted which is now on the Gateway. I forgot to Save my last hours work, so I'll update it shortly.

I posted a second note above, but I included the url, so its still pending.

I'm happy to join you in the design? Or for you to use the existing to add to your work?

I e-mailed the airfield earlier for some further information, but I guess you may already have this if you are local?

Let me know what you think?

Regards

Kev

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Kev,

I would absolutely love to see the work you've done on this airport.  To be clear my experience with WED is but a few days old!!!  I do have a work in progress but it's rough around the edges to say the least.  I'd be willing to help in any way possible to make this a successful project and am willing to learn anything needed to become more proficient with the tool.  I've just read the manual and watched a bunch of YouTube videos to try and learn the WED tool.

If there's anything you need from me then please ask as I'm willing to help in any capacity needed.  Also, I'd be glad to share what work I've done so far if you can tell me how to get you my copy.  I'd be thankful for someone to tell me where I need improvement which I'm sure is a whole lot!!!

Kind regards,
Sgt. Kamer

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Hi Bill,

Did your airport make the latest release listings?

Glenn

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Glenn,

Morehead (KSYM) did not make it in the 11.35 release because I think they were probably too close to release date by the time my final version was approved.  I sure learned a lot about this process and hopefully created an airport that is very similar to the real-thing!  I know it sure helps having it available, at least in my copy, to use as a real-world practice scenario!  BTW - I have 13 hours of actual training complete now and am working on learning pattern work and landing; then on to solo!!

Thanks for your follow up - I appreciate it!

Take care,
Bill

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Unfortunate that it wasn't officially included but you know that you have something special that others do not have.

Good and safe flying

Glenn