JFK may not be as simple as it may seem because they use many different runway procedures sometimes all in the same day. Runway ops vary depending on time of day (crazy traffic in the mornings and evenings-to-night *rush hour*), it also varies depending on weather conditions (serious IFR conditions causes separation and issues brings ATC to its knees because of the proximity of LGA and EWR).
For example,
1) There are times when 31L is used for takeoffs only and 31R is for landings only with 4R/22L being inactive (similar to simwings' EGLL) *see link* http://www.airliners.net/photo/-/-/1188136/M/
2) At other times while using the same runways (31L/31R) both sides are used for dual ops (arrv. and dep.), and during rush hours 4R/22L is opened as well for landings while 4L/22R is left inactive.
That's two afcads already for eg. 1 and 2. Example 1 wouldn't be the most popular among simmers because (believe it or not) the 13R curved approach (which would be closed for landings) is much, much more exciting than the VOR 13L because the turn is much sharper and at a lower altitude as the end of the turn is almost literally right over the Runway threshold (experienced it for real in an Air Jamaica A321 at night and it was just as thrilling as it was nervewracking).
3) From my experience in travelling and from listening to ATC when they use the 4s and 22s: runway 4L/22R is used as a takeoff only runway while 4R/22L is only used for landings while the 13s and 31s are inactive and used for taxiing heavies (especially A340-500/600s they normally feel the wrath of ATC as they are too long for the tight taxiway turns in the area where the 13s/31s intersect 4L/22R).
I am guessing that a single regular non-star afcad could cater for 1) and 3) even though it would eliminate the 13R approach in 1) if the winds are blowing that way. But what about those who would want example 2) without the star system (no 4s/22s usage); wouldn't that be another afcad in itself. From my count that's 3 afcads already and that's not all the runway combos that are used.
So it might not be as simple as it seems, but I think if you just want one afcad as most users do then the best option (in my opinion) is to just make a regular non-star afcad using the parallels only with both L/R sides used for dual operations (meaning if the 13s/31s are in use then open both rnwys for takeoffs and landings, and when using the 4s and 22s do the same).
Hi Dre
All the possibilities you mentioned are not problematic to simulate in 2 afcads because you can just put the V out of the square. For FS purposes, the problem starts when one side of the runway is ONLY used for takeoff and the other side of the runway ONLY for landing. For example you have 04R/22L at JFK. When the winds are set for 04R you just land there and when they are set for 22L you just land there also. The problem would be if you set the winds for 04R and you just use it for landing and you set the winds for 22L and you only use that runway for takeoff and not for landing, or in the opposite way arround, because when you just change the winds, FS will move traffic to the opposite side, but since you can only have the V before the square just for one type of operation, you would be a non-real life procedure. The 2 afcads is just for the beginning of the star. You can make it like this:
04/22 (real runways)
05/23 (fake)
06/24 (fake)
...
...
13/31 (real runways)
and hier you can use 04+13 or 22+31 but never 04+31 or 22+13,
or you can have this:
31/13 (real runways)
32/14 (fake)
33/15 (fake)
...
...
04/22 (real runways)
and hier you can use 31+04 or 13+22, but never 31+22 or 04+13.
This is how the star system is made.
For KORD if you go to
http://www.fly.faa.gov/ois/ you will see that plan R has
- Land:14R/10
- TO : 22L/9R/4L
You may ask: how is possible to have 04L and 22L at the same time when they are going in opposite directions? SImple: you must have light winds of course, otherwise you would take off with tail wind. I left this experience out on my afcad files for now, which means that 04L is closed for plan R, but it can be done. You just begin the star like this:
04L/22R (real)
05/23 (fake)
...
until you reach the last runways which are 14/32s (real). After you reach 14/32s you continue the star:
15/33 (fake)
16/34 (fake)
until you reach 22/04 again with the runway left which will be 22L/04R.
I am almost sure that this can be done and then you have for example 04L for take off and you move down and you have 22L for take off as well.
This is the reason of several afcads which sometimes are needed if you just want real life operations.
I am happy that you also not dislike this way of viewing things. It is a question of realism versus "simulism". When some people say that they don´t want to change afcads between flights, they are right of course, but it is a little bit unlucky if you would need that in a flight with 45 minutes or even 2 hours. Of course if you make a departure from Paris or Munich to KORD, after that you are going to make your dinner or to read a book, and you just come for landing in the next morning after a flight with 6 or 8 hours, maybe the winds have already changed of course.
harpsi