Airfield identifications

[Wrath Constantine]

I'd like to propose an identification system for the various airfields around Caledon. Like how Los Angeles Int'l is LAX, San Francisco is SFO, etc.

Steam SkyCity's airstrip is obviously SSC. Penzance seems to have the logical id of RCAFB. I'd like to claim the Middlesea airbase id of CMS.

Owners/operators of airfields, feel free to devise and post your airfield ID's here, so we may compile a list, and a sort of 'Registry' for aviation reference purposes.

[Darlingmonster Ember]

There is a clearly marked (amber hazard lights) rooftop landing zone in Port Caledon SW corner. Obviously this sort of short field (VTOL) is good for emergencies. I propose emergency landing fields are 'X', so mine in Port Caledon would be XDME.

Or should we list such spots as 'V' for Vertical? VDME?

[Wrath Constantine]

That's an interesting idea. I think XDME would work. I've landed non-VTOL planes on short runways (like landing the Asparas on the SSC runway), so 'any port in the storm' applies.

As there are three known runways in the Port, 'CPC' would be ambiguous. The current list is as follows:

RCAFB - Caledon Penzance RCAF base
CMS - Caledon MiddleSea (Iron Cloud)
PCG - Port Caledon Ground
PCS - Port Caledon Sky
SSC - Steam SkyCity

Still awaiting ID's for Lionsgate, Lovelace, Loch Avie, Downs, and Cay, plus whatever other airfields have not yet been noted.

Wrath Constantine
RCAF R&D

[Dan Gervasi]

It's a good idea!
For Cay, I simply believe "CAY" would do it...

Dan Gervasi.

[Dan Gervasi]

just for information: where exactly are PCG and PCS ? (a visual description would be useful).

Thank you,
Dan.

[Dan Gervasi]

One last post for today: How about the four following airports:
Downs
Caer Firnas
Lovelace Liberty
Loch Avie

There is also Lionsgate and the different piers for hydroplanes located in Oxbridge Village, Regency, and Kittiwickshire. Part of the SCC docks are also used for landing and take off of hydroplanes.

Although the owners of these places might not be part of the RCAF, should we name them anyway? It's for practical purposes. At least for the three "real" airports I propose:
Downs: DOW
Caer Firnas: CRF
Loch Avie: LOH
Lovelace Liberty: LLI

Comments welcome,

Dan Gervasi.

[Wrath Constantine]

That'll work for those airfields. We might want to post on the Steamlander Ning to get input from airfield operators throughout the steamlands. There's likely many that are little-known.
For the Port Caledon airstrips, I'm not sure where they are. They were reported to me by Ambient.

[Darlingmonster Ember]

y'know, based on M Gervasi's questions and further thought, what the RCAF really needs is a airfield script beacon that responds to a 'ping' from RCAF caller. The question about exact location of Port Caledon airfields is a good one.

M Kulkucan moves that about and I do not think there is one on ground at this time. ((He may be thinking the paved area behind his shop, which has been a landing strip in past.))

We could add this script to an airship landing pad? Simple?

The call (once inside a sim) would get a response like "XDME: 23, 33, 46" or "PCS: 124,85,246". Note these are not accurate calls, just approx.

This way, virtual stuff can be adjusted around, or improved without updating a forum somewhere.

We could add this script to a landing pad prim? Simple?

Now ULTRA-cool would be a 'caller script' in your aircraft that would drop down a menu of airship fields in that sim from the ping. You could pick one from the drop down: and get a 'beacon marker' from the SL Map that directs you to that field.

[Dan Gervasi]

That is indeed an interesting project, Lady Ember. Also we could add this to an sky watch system during special times (wars or skypirates' assaults) that would track who is flying over Caledon territory.

Dan "1984" Gervasi.

[Wrath Constantine]

A transponder is quite doable actually. A script embedded in each runway that just sends it's current location info out every 15-30 seconds. That way it's not having to listen all the time. (Listens cause lag). We can also set the runways up to not send a ping if it detects an object (like a plane) on the runway, useful for multi-airstrip facilities like the Iron Cloud (CMS). So only availible runways send info. A script in the plane listens for this ping and when one is recieved it pops up a dialog box to tell you the position. Now you have an on-screen notepad of sorts with the coordinate info handy. (Just remember to move your minimap so it isn't blocked by the dialog box and you can still see...)

The trick would be to have an idea of which sims have runways, which would require some flight experience. Also, this would enable you to discover air-carriers that happen to be in the sim at the time, without any prior updates or arrangements made.

If you wanted a long-range seeker or nav beacon, one would need in/out-world access to a web server that has updated runway info and can communicate this info two-way with your aircraft. Such a system would be difficult to enable carrier tracking. It's easier at this point to use a landmark and select "Show on Map", then close your map and follow the arrow.

[Darlingmonster Ember]

Oh... nice. Yes, landing in a movable field is another wrinkle. The transponder idea is super. Now we just need a scripter.

[Darlingmonster Ember]

As I think on it... Transponders work wondrous for mobile landing platforms. Suggestion then is we use numbers for Airships instead of letters for Transponder and preface with 'CA' for Caledon Airship? Unlikely we shall ever have more than 999 mobile air platforms.

DME Skyshell Emilin becomes : CA.303

[Wrath Constantine]

Or perhaps CVA-303? (Caledon Vessel - Air, not to be mistaken with CVN or CVL) However we could also just as easily have it send the ship's name for the transponder. Or maybe even both. ^^

" => CVA303 Skyshell Emilin 1593m "