The stock Paro Airport is nicely crafted, but the apron layout is not update, and the parkings are classified as RAMP_GA_MEDIUM, which means that certain types of ground handling vehicles needed for jetliners are missing. I feel no good after I've completed the "flying an Airbus like a bush pilot" landing.
With this addon, the runway, apron and taxiway layout of Paro Airport has been revised to be up-to-date. Taxiway names are assigned according to information from Bhutan AIP, and most of the parkings have been changed to RAMP_GA_LARGE so now you can call for Boarding Ramp and Large Pushback there. You can now taxi on the parallel taxiway (Taxiway T) safely with an A320. The runway IRL is sloped with gradient as much as 0.8%, while runway 15 is sloped downward and runway 33 is sloped upward, resulting in height difference as much as 16M bewteen the thresholds. The portrait of the Royal Family of Bhutan at the apron has also been replaced with the current one.
The approaches have also replaced to become circle-to-land procedures, which are independent of the runway used on final. You are recommended to use the development version if you are flying with A32NX as it now supports automatic holdings and all the RNAV procedures include compulsory holding for some of the transitions.
From the AIP of Bhutan, these two points about Paro Airport are specified:
- Entry/Exit into circuit area is via Chhuzom (confluence of rivers Paro Thimphu)
- Avoid flying over dzongs, monastery or temples
In addition to modding the stock Paro Airport, certain helper POIs including the important pattern checkpoints and the religious buildings along Paro Valley are also added, which are helpful for those who want to try a full flight to/from Paro Airport, rather than just playing with the Paro Landing Challenge (but passing the challenge with a score of 'B' is essential before a full flight). In fact most of these buildings are located on hillsides so it is not likely to fly over them directly. The largest one among them is the Rinpung Dzong (also called Paro Dzong), which is already handcrafted in stock scenery and you should see it clearly. In additional, I've also placed a POI on Mr. Smith's House, which is the "visual target" for approaching runway 15.
For longer flights into Paro, it is often to have a stop at Guwahati or Bagdogra Airport to confirm the weather at Paro before heading for it. I hope this mod would help you to get familiar with the landscape nearby.
A detailed tutorial about the full procedures is attached in the zip file as PDF. Have a look on the video from Just Planes for the complete procedure:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLITsoyPBjk
There is another channel on YouTube with plenty of real world video for operating in or out of Paro, by a Captain at Bhutan Airlines:
https://www.youtube.com/c/FlyingDragonBhutan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fj7pL-Zngt0
The procedures above are practiced for simulations ONLY. DO NOT FOLLOW THIS IN REAL LIFE. Dedicated rating is required for flying into Paro in fact
Please DELETE the previous version before installing a new version to avoid problems due to BREAKING CHANGES
Now the navdata and the scenery have been separated. Just delete the file "navdata-vqpr.bgl" if you have subscribed 3rd party global navdata from vendors like Navigraph to prevent conflicts.
If you have bought the GSX Pro payware addon, you may also want to download the corresponding Profile by JR1705.
Known issues:
- Some of the terminal buildings on the apron looks "floated" as I made the whole airport inclined, but I have no good method to solve it at this moment.
- It is reported that the stock Paro Airport could not be modded for a few of players with Steam version
My Bhutan scenery series:
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Welcome to subscribe my channels for MSFS live game-play:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC21efZOlIujoYpzzCGoiYfQ
https://www.twitch.tv/kychungdotcom
This is the dedicated playlist for the past MSFS live game-play sessions into Paro Airport:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcMXnlY1eyJpRuvwQsk9r9Ls0DoVI3i-V
Couldn't you design the buildings in blender to match the geography of where they will be placed, therefore they won't be "floated"?
3 months ago
aPLUSsian
Maybe stupas?
6 months ago
aPLUSsian
Beautifully detailed. Very well done. Thanks for sharing.
7 months ago
Actually
7 months ago
SimonAv231
Sky173
Updates are welcome, thank you very much. I have to say that I didn't like the vegetation in the flower beds that appears and disappears as we get closer or farther away but the biggest problem for me is still the runway, the color / model of the runway still reminds me of FS2004, it is very dark, new and unmarked of use. If it were possible to use a new texture similar to this example, it would be awesome: https://imgur.com/a/XVzD3c5
8 months ago
Levelupgamers
So small File size and so much Better. Thats Great. Thanks and always Happy Landings.
9 months ago
CaptainMoonlight
Thank you for your work! Paro is one of my favourite approaches!
9 months ago
mtteh88
nice. The perimeter fence looks too big, can u change this?
9 months ago
It is theoretically possible, but I need some better references before making major amendments
9 months ago
kychungdotcom
nxt
Please your work is great i would like to suggest to lighten the asphalt color of the runway, try to use a lighter texture or even concrete, because the real runway is not too dark. Thanks.
10 months ago
The runway is that dark nowadays, while the aerial images from Google Map is taken in 2 years ago, you may have a look on this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_54TfScB2j8
10 months ago
kychungdotcom
Levelupgamers
Thank you!
10 months ago
Ginete
Great job on the modelling and lovely small details, Thanks a lot!
I notice an elevation anomaly (airport sits a bit higher) which I think is because of OrbX. Are they compatible?
Also, some random pink spots (missing textures?) and square patches of land taking off from rwy 15. Not sure If they relate to this add on. I'll upload a photo and maybe you can take a look?
10 months ago
It is known that there are some conflicts between Orbx Himalaya Mesh payware and this addon. The elevation profile of the airport is based on documented information in Bhutan AIP. The problem of pink spots are most likely because of missing textures, but I didn't reproduce the problem you've experienced. Are you running any 3rd party Community addon management tools like Addon Linker?
10 months ago
kychungdotcom
zbootsum
Fantastic work, thank you!
11 months ago
Trustdesa
Sorry, can you explain again what to do with the navdata, I don't undertsand. I have navigraph, but I am not sure what file and where it is that I need to delete.
1 years ago
The file path is "scenery\kychungdotcom\paro-mods\navdata-vqpr.bgl"
This file is to modify the stock RNAV procedures, it is not a must to delete this file if there is no problem occurred in the flight planner, i.e. "World Map". Moreover, the Bhutanese pilots IRL are still using the "old-skool" VOR procedures instead of those RNAV procedures.
1 years ago
kychungdotcom
abennett
Thank you so much for your continued refinements to this amazing Paro airport, the most challenging approch in MSFS. And now with the added GSX profiles by J1705, it is real cool to watch passengers walking to/from the terminal.
1 years ago
AthenaGrey
It is the many very good, but why is the runway completely black colors?
1 years ago
The runway is that dark nowadays, while the aerial images from Google Map is taken in 2 years ago, you may have a look on this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_54TfScB2j8
10 months ago
kychungdotcom
aPLUSsian
This is amazing! Way better than default. One thing I ask is to make the runway marking a bit more realistic. A bit more ware and tear. Like the markings left behind after aircraft have landed. That would be amazing. Other than that, amazing!
1 years ago
Rithvik