information request Details of DCS Runway Selection Logic.

[rurounijones]

As requested by BIGNEWY on https://forums.eagle.ru/forum/english/digital-combat-simulator/dcs-world-2-5/bugs-and-problems-ai/general-questions-ac/291489-reported-al-dhafra-ils-setup-incorrect I am starting a new thread.

 

Could ED provide the following information:

1. What is the logic DCS uses to decide which runway to use at a given airfield.
   1. Based on data from the above thread it is to do with wind direction and speed but the details (e.g. wind speed cutoff for the logic) are not clear.
   2. If the wind speed is low enough not to matter (whch is implied in the above thread) Is there a default runway per airfield or does it just use a default wind direction on all runways.

[*]Which airfields are the exceptions to the general logic and what their special handling is.

This information will be extremely useful for OverlordBot and DATIS programs to make sure we are in sync with the game.

 

Alternatively (and preferably): Implement the APIs requested in https://forums.eagle.ru/forum/english/dcs-world-topics/mission-editor-discussion-and-questions/7116647-request-for-scripting-apis-to-be-implemented-to-enhance-overlordbot-functionality so that we can just query the DCS engine directly instead of having to replicate the logic.

 

Edited December 3, 2020 by rurounijones
Fix formatting issues from migration

[Mike_Romeo]

What is the logic DCS uses to decide which runway to use at a given airfield.

 

The wind direction

 

If the wind speed is low enough not to matter (whch is implied in the above thread) Is there a default runway per airfield or does it just use a default wind direction on all runways.

 

There is allways a wind direction. Maybe no wind speed but a direction (default setting is 0kts 000° in the ME). So I think DCS will use that default 000° direction to decide wich runway to use.

 

[Bailey]

Mike_Romeo, unfortunately it is much more convoluted than that. Some airports land only 1 way no matter the wind speed. Others have a preferred rwy up to and including tailwinds.

[Frederf]

I did some testing. There is a class of airports which have the following logic:

The B runway is used when the wind velocity at airport elevation is 1m/s or greater and the alignment is within 77.5° of the B runway. Otherwise runway A is used. These include: Anapa, Krymsk, and I think Vaziani.

 

There is a class of airport which only use runway A and never B, these include Novo and Gelendzhik.

 

The only exception I have found so far is Maykop which acts like the first class but the requirement of wind alignment is 12.5 degrees not 77.5 degrees.

[rurounijones]

Yes. Based on some testing the rules are convoluted and varied. Therefore without exhaustively testing every airfield at varying wind directions and wind speed combinations (which is not feasible) only ED can provide this information with any surety.(or preferably provide the API)

[sthompson]

If there is an API then possibly it could distinguish between arrival and departure runways if these are ever different. There are quite a few airports with multiple runways (sometimes parallel as at Nellis) on some of the maps. Even on the free map you have Krasnodar and Sochi.

[ex81]

Mike_Romeo, unfortunately it is much more convoluted than that. Some airports land only 1 way no matter the wind speed. Others have a preferred rwy up to and including tailwinds.

 

Yes,

for example Batumi and Khasab. Otherwise it`s fun entering those airfields from the oposite direction.