FSSB Bird Island, Seychelles

This freeware update delivers a meticulously designed Bird Island Airport (FSSB) scenery, crafted by Kai P. Kamjunke and Alpha India Group. It introduces a realistic grass runway in the Seychelles, complete with charter traffic and accurate parking positions. This package aligns seamlessly with Microsoft Flight Simulator X and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004, ensuring highly detailed layouts that enhance virtual aviation within this picturesque region.

Scope of Release and Background

Alpha India Group designed this airport enhancement as part of their tenth wave of updated airfields. Their proprietary technique, known internally as AIG Ground, refines AFCAD (airport facility data) for both default and add-on scenery. The aim is to achieve faithful replication of real-world characteristics while offering functional paths for AI traffic. The presence of a grass runway mirrors the actual Bird Island setup, where Air Seychelles conducts charter flights to the main international hub. That design focus allows realistic flight operations and an immersive experience for those exploring the remote northern isles of the Seychelles.

Key Adjustments and Technical Highlights

• Newly Created Airport: Incorporates up-to-date positioning and geographical data to fit the real island.
• Runway Upgrade: Introduces a grass runway surface consistent with its actual field use, supporting charter operations.
• Expanded GA Ramp: Adds accommodating general aviation parking positions to facilitate increased traffic flow.

Significant Notes on Compatibility

Using this modification with the default island layout may lead to scenery conflicts. To address accurate landclass data for Bird Island, Alpha India Group advises installing aig_seychelles_landclass_fsx_default.zip for reliable terrain representation. This approach ensures the add-on meshes properly with the surrounding environment in Microsoft Flight Simulator X or FS2004.

Installation Steps

1. Remove any older AFCAD files for FSSB within your simulator’s directory.
2. Copy AIG_FSSB_ADEX_KPK_Default.BGL into the “Addon Scenery/scenery” folder and restart Microsoft Flight Simulator X or Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004.

Uninstallation Procedure

1. Delete AIG_FSSB_ADEX_KPK_Default.BGL from the “Addon Scenery/scenery” folder.
2. Restart the simulator to finalize removal.

Development Credits and Tools

This scenery owes its precision to the adept work of Jon Masterson and the entire Airport Design Editor (ADE) team, specifically version 1.47.07. The assistance of Jim Vile in creating a specialized approach layout for FS9 has also been instrumental. Their collaboration allowed Kai P. Kamjunke and Alpha India Group to produce a highly functional grass airstrip true to Bird Island’s real-world scale and operations.