Scenery release date: 2011.02.08

The scenery is offered for FS2004 ONLY
Each version is sold for US$ 17.50

Current Version: 2.0
Publication Date: 2015.04.06
Download free upgrade to v2.0 here.

A free upgrade to KLAX version 2.0 is available for download here. Purchase and installation of the corresponding KLAX version 1 scenery (FS2004 or FSX) is required prior to installation of the version 2.0 upgrade. KLAX v2 is a cumulative upgrade and renders all previously published free upgrades obsolete and unnecessary. It is not necessary to remove previously installed upgrades.

BluePrint Simulations version of KLAX is by far the most detailed and accurate rendition ever attempted for this important airport. Being our home airport, we spared no effort to achieve the highest level of detail possible. All nine terminals and the west remote gates are depicted exactly as they exist today. Version 1.4 adds the American Eagle remote terminal and an updated, highly accurate rendition of the Tom Bradley International Terminal new concourse. The new concourse is due to enter operations in late 2013. The air traffic control tower, the iconic LAX theme building and the old tower (now the airport’s administration building) are rendered at the highest level of detail possible as well. Ultrahigh resolution textures are used throughout the terminal complex to enhance the sharpness of the details.

The scenery also depicts other structures located within the terminal complex such as numerous parking structures and elevated roads as well as most of the general aviation facilities located within the airfield boundaries. There are three general aviation areas at LAX. West of the terminal complex there are maintenance facilities for American, Continental (United), US Airways, Qantas and FedEx. The fuel storage facility and the brand new fire station are also located in this area. The area just east of the main terminal complex includes Delta and United maintenance facilities as well as numerous airfreight and service buildings. The main airfreight complex, a FedEx package handling facility, two general aviation terminals and many other airfreight and general aviation buildings are located along the southern edge of the airfield. In addition, the scenery includes numerous buildings located outside the airport boundaries (along Century Boulevard) that are essential components of the environment encountered during final approach to LAX from the east.

The runways and taxiways are configured and labeled according to current official airport diagrams incorporating the numerous changes that have taken place over the last few months. New or modified components include the relocated runway 7R/25L; taxiway H added between the two south runways; taxiway R linking the north and south areas of the field; and a long-term parking ramp located along taxiway R. Other recent changes to the taxiway layout include extensive modifications to the taxiways near the departure end of runway 24L, the extension of taxiway D toward the west and, of course, the removal of taxiways S and Q in order to accommodate the new TBIT concourse.

KLAX version 2 Changes

KLAX version 2 is a significant re-work of BluePrint Simulations’ Los Angeles Intl. airport scenery published in 2011 and depicts our home airport as it exists in the spring of 2015. KLAX v2 is only available to owners of our KLAX v1 scenery as a free upgrade. The upgrade installer is available for download directly from our web site. Please note that KLAX v1.1.1 for FS2004 can only be upgraded to KLAX v2.1.1 for FS2004 and KLAX v1.1.2 for FSX can only be upgraded to KLAX v2.1.2 for FSX. This upgrade is cumulative and renders all previous upgrades obsolete and unnecessary. It is not necessary to remove previously installed upgrades.

Since the publication of our scenery, KLAX underwent several major changes and improvements, the most important being the new concourse of the Tom Bradley International terminal (TBIT or terminal B). The new concourse began operations in early September 2013 with 8 gates, 7 of them designed specifically to accommodate the Airbus A380. Over the following months, the old concourse was removed and 7 new gates were added on the east side of the new one. (Please note that the original A380 gate located at the northernmost end of the concourse will not be removed and will remain operational for the foreseeable future.) Completion of the new concourse brought the total number of A380-capable gates at LAX to 9. In the spring of 2015, LAX sees the largest number of A380 operations of any airport that is not a hub for an A380-equipped airline. Airlines offering daily A380 service into LAX include: Qantas (x2), Singapore, Korean (x2), Air France, China Southern, British Airways (x2), Asiana, Emirates and Lufthansa.

In the spring of 2015, site preparation for the construction of a new TBIT midfield concourse is well underway. Major changes associates with this project include the addition of two taxiways linking the north and south runways (taxiways T and R) and the removal of various maintenance hangars in the area between the new taxiways. The new midfield concourse will be built in stages with the northern half due to be completed within the next two years. In addition, construction of a new aircraft maintenance complex needed to accommodate the American Airlines and Qantas facilities being displaced by the new concourse is well underway at the southwest corner of the field. Other changes include the addition a long-term parking ramp and a fire station on the west side of taxiway R. Finally, the terminal complex is undergoing a major modernization project that includes full renovation of three terminals (1, 2 and 5), the construction of a secure connector between terminals 4 and the TBIT, cleanup of the common areas and access roads as well as the refurbishment of various service facilities.

Airline gate usage has also changed over the last few years. Significant changes include:

• Southwest Airlines took over all gates at Terminal 1
• With the exception of Virgin Atlantic and Air China, the international carriers operating wide-body aircraft that used terminal 2 moved to the new TBIT
• In addition to Virgin America, all domestic airlines with smaller operations at LAX including JetBlue, Spirit, Frontier and Allegiant now use terminal 3.
• Most American Airlines international arrivals now use the TBIT.
• American took over four gates at terminal 6, Alaska being the primary operator of the remaining gates. A few wide-body Delta and United fights as well as COPA international departures still use terminal 6.

BluePrint’s KLAX version 2 incorporates all changes listed above. In addition, numerous fixes and improvements are implemented as follows:

• A 100% new, built from scratch 3D model of the TBIT and its new concourse. The new model accurately depicts the terminal and features increased level of three-dimensional detail and improved texturing with transparency and reflection effects throughout
• A 100% new, built from scratch 3D model for the remote regional terminal (formerly American Eagle)
• Improved model featuring increased accuracy and level of three-dimensional detail for terminal 3
• 100% new jetways and improved ramp markings and illumination effects throughout the terminal complex
• 100% new 3D models for all maintenance and general aviation facilities west of the terminal complex including the new fire station
• New AI traffic mapping (AFCAD) files reflecting current airline gate usage for all the terminals. Updated airline gate assignments are provided bellow
• New, more realistic runway distance markers and taxiway signs
• For the FSX version, 100% new, high-resolution ground textures depicting seasonal changes and carefully blended with the surrounding terrain

Design Considerations:

• A few of the structures located along the south boundary of the field including the old terminal building located just east of the FedEx facility were omitted and there are no plans to add them in the near future.
• The inability to manipulate the terrain elevation at the required level of detail prevented us from accurately depicting the Sepulveda Blvd underpass.

• Custom-made, optimised Gmax models of the entire facility including: ten distinct terminals; the parking structures and elevated access roads located between the terminals; the air traffic control tower and the iconic LAX theme building; numerous buildings and landmarks located along Century and Lincoln Blvd; and a significant fraction of the general aviation, aircraft maintenance and cargo facilities within the field’s boundary.
• Custom-made, high-resolution textures for all Gmax generated models including transparency effects.
• Custom-made, high-resolution photo real ground textures depicting seasonal changes and carefully blended with the surrounding terrain.
• Accurate runway and taxiway layout, including detailed markings and signs.
• Realistic taxiway and ramp markings and ramp illumination effects
• Two levels of scenery complexity and detail:
  • NORMAL complexity includes terrain texturing, autogen vegetation, airport layout with taxiway signs and basic navigation equipment models (actual localizer and glide slope radio signals are available regardless of the scenery complexity setting), most buildings within the field’s boundaries including the terminals, the air traffic control tower and cargo and maintenance facilities.
  • VERY DENSE complexity adds detailed instrument approach lighting system models, animated runway intersection lighting, static ramp vehicles (optional), and numerous landmarks adjacent to the airport.
• Advanced, custom-made AI mapping file including realistic gate and parking spot layout as well as airline gate assignments. A basic AI mapping file without gate assignments is also available as an option
• BluePrint Simulations sceneries are not compatible with FSX default animated service vehicles

Software Compatibility:

FS2004 (FS9) and all versions of Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8 (All Versions)

Hardware Requirements:

For FS2004 (FS9)

• Intel Core Quad CPU or better (Q9300 @ 2.50 GHz fully tested)
• 4 GB RAM (fully tested)
• nVidia 9000 series video processor with 256-bit memory interface and 512 MB dedicated video memory or better (nVidia GeForce 9800 GT fully tested)

* BluePrint Simulations sceneries are designed and tested using nVidia GPU’s exclusively. For Current generation video card specifications visit nVidia.com. For ATI video card specifications visit ati.com

Attempting to use Blueprint Simulations KLAX, Los Angeles Intl Airport scenery with hardware that does not meet the specifications listed above is not recommended. We will offer limited technical support for frame-rate performance related issues if the minimum hardware specifications listed above are not met.

Airport Diagram and Approach Charts:

Approach charts for this airport can be found at: http://www.faa.gov
(Note: follow the link to “Free Online Products” and “digital – TPP/Airport Diagrams)