FSX Seattle-Tacoma International Scenery

Immerse yourself in an enhanced rendition of Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (KSEA) with this freeware modification designed for FSX. This creation, authored by Dan Downs, refines runway numbering, corrects geographic placements, and offers a more realistic look and feel while still making use of the default building structures.

Updated Airfield Layout and Runway Designations

This scenery update adjusts runway identifiers to reflect current configurations (for instance, 16R/34L is now 16C/34C). Every runway, taxiway, and associated shoulder has been positioned precisely according to real-world coordinates. The precise geometry showcases the airport’s modern design and provides a truer representation of Seattle-Tacoma’s runway environment.

Accurate Taxiway Alignments

All taxiways match their genuine layout at KSEA. Surfaces have been styled to look more authentic than default textures, and lighting elements have been refined to align with standard aviation design conventions. Multiple hold lines are placed based on present-day operational guidelines, though they may extend distances that AI traffic does not always handle seamlessly.

Visual Enhancements Using Default Structures

The developer has retained many default 3D objects for terminal and parking areas. However, jetways and parking spots have been carefully repositioned to complement the new runway layouts. Travelers—both virtual and real—often refer to SEA-TAC as a vital gateway to the Pacific Northwest, and these improvements underline the airport’s significance without discarding the original FSX architectural assets.

ILS and Navigation Aids with Real-World Accuracy

Localizers, glideslopes, distance measuring equipment (DME), and precision approach path indicators (PAPI) have been carefully aligned with the actual FAA data. Middle markers and low-frequency outer markers (LOMs) are retained for the default environment, though some have been decommissioned in reality. Due to the inherent limitations of Airport Facilitator X (AFX), these navaids remain in place.

Installation Instructions

To install this package, simply place the ksea_asbuilt.bgl file into your “Addon Scenery/Scenery” directory within FSX. Afterward, ensure you reload or restart FSX so the simulator can register and display the updated airport layout.

References and Modification Guidelines

Sources utilized by Dan Downs include official FAA charts, AirNav data, Google Earth imagery, and the terminal’s own online resources. Users may adapt these files for AI traffic or any other freeware purposes; if you do, please credit the original author accordingly. These enhancements may not be repurposed for commercial products. The accompanying FAA Airport Diagram is included for your convenience and reflects KSEA’s current operational specifications.

Potential AI Traffic Behavior

Although the package is structured to accommodate AI operations, certain hold lines are realistically set at distances greater than 225 feet from the runway. As a result, some AI controllers may exhibit unexpected runway queue behaviors. Nevertheless, these placements convey the airport’s real-world procedure for increased immersion.

This Seattle-Tacoma International upgrade offers a compelling and technically accurate portrayal of one of Washington State’s busiest transportation hubs. By blending default textures with newly aligned runways and navigation aids, it empowers FSX enthusiasts with a faithful Pacific Northwest flying environment—courtesy of Dan Downs.

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