# Aerial Advertising<no value>
In the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 career mode, one of the challenges that a user can take is to perform aerial advertising flybys. If you wish your aircraft to be used on this kind of activity you will need a **preset** that has been appropriately set up as part of the [Modular SimObject,](../modular-simobjects/modular-simobjects/) as explained below.

{{< image-center
    src="images/5_Content_Config/Careers/Advertising/navgraph_ads_4_example.png"
    alt="Example Of An Aircraft On An Aerial Advertising Activity" >}}

 

For more information on the various other career activities and how to prepare your aircraft, please see here:

-   [Career Activities](career-activities/)

 

 

### Aerial Advertising Constraints

When it comes to setting up planes for the available advertising activities, there are a few requirements that must be fulfilled:

 

-   The plane will need to have the `navigation_graph_pilot.cfg` (as explained [here](general-career-information/spawn-pilot-transversal/)).
-   The aircraft will need to have the `Apron.flt` and `ApronWithoutCovers.flt` files (as explained [below](#flt_files)).
-   The `targeted_specializations` must include the `AAD-PLN` dressing code.
-   The `object_class` must be "*Airplane*".
-   The `operating_status` must be either "*in\_service*" or "*experimental*".
-   The plane *cannot* be flagged as [military](../cfg-files/aircraft.cfg/#military).
-   The plane *cannot* be flagged as [premium](../cfg-files/aircraft.cfg/#premium).
-   The plane `ui_max_range` must be greater than 1.
-   The plane *must* be a light aircraft with either a **piston** or **turboprop** `engine_type`. This is then used in conjunction with either the `max_rated_hp` (piston) or `rated_shaft_hp` (turboprop) to determine what length of banner the aircraft can tow. As such all three of these parameters should be set up correctly.
-   The plane *can* have **wheels** or **[big wheels](general-career-information/career-additional-information/#big-wheels)**, for landing gear.
-   The plane *cannot* have **skis** or **floats** for landing gear.
-   The plane *model* must accurately show the hook and pole assembly which will be used to attach the advertising banner, and there must be a "helper" node in the [glTF](cargo-transport/#) called `AD_ROPE_ATTACH`. This should be placed at the point on the hook assembly where the rope for the advertising banner would be attached and **should be present in *all* LODs**. Note that if you are using the [Included Attachments](../modular-simobjects/simattachments/included-attachments/included-attachments/) instead of modeling your own hook assembly, this constraint can be ignored as the included attachments will have this node included already.
-   The cockpit model will require a **winch** **pole** control, and a **Banner Release** lever.
-   The power-to-weight ratio must be over 0.113 (see below for details)

 

The last item listed above - the **power-to-weight ratio** - is calculated as follows:

-   *If the Empty Weight == 0, then the power-to-weight ratio is automatically set to 0 as well (to avoid a division by 0 errors in the calculations)*
-   *If the Empty Weight is &gt; 0 then the power-to-weight ratio uses the following calculation:*  
    $$PowerToWeight = {power \times 0.746 \\over EmptyWeight}$$  
    Where:
    -   \(power\) is the `max_rated_hp` (piston) or `rated_shaft_hp` (turboprop) value multiplied by the engine count.
    -   \(0.746\) is used to convert the power from {{< glossterm >}}hp{{< /glossterm >}} into Kilowatt
    -   \(EmptyWeight\) is the `empty_weight` value in kg.

 

Following these constraints will give the aircraft the `AAD_Cabin` type. See here for more information:

-   [Note On Cabin Codes](general-career-information/career-additional-information/#cabin-codes)

 

 

### Mission Flow

The flow for an **aerial advertising** mission is as follows:

{{< image-center
    src="images/5_Content_Config/Careers/Guidelines/career_flowchart_3_advertising.png"
    alt="Mission Flow Chart" >}}

This flow will also require the aircraft to be setup for - and follow - the [General Career Mode Requirements](general-career-information/general-career-mode-requirements/).

 

 

### SimVars

The SimVars given below are those that will be used and checked to ensure that the aerial advertising mission is performed correctly. If you are setting up your own hook and pole attachments then these SimVars will need to be used (for further SimVars related to this kind of mission please see here: [Tow Cable / Hook](../../programming-apis/simvars/aircraft-simvars/aircraft-system-variables/#TowCable)).

 

{{< table-wrapper >}}

| SimVar             | Description                                     |
|--------------------|-------------------------------------------------|
| `GRAPPLE HOOK SET` | Check if the hook is open 1 or closed 0.        |
| `LEAD POLE SET`    | Check if the pole is extended 1 or retracted 0. |

{{< /table-wrapper >}}


 

 

### Included SimAttachments

To make things simpler when creating your aircraft, all the components required for aerial advertising are available as [Included Attachments](../modular-simobjects/simattachments/included-attachments/included-attachments/) for you to use. These are:

 

-   #### Asobo\_Banner\_Hook

    This is the pole and hook that goes under the aircraft fuselage and that will be used to hook the aerial advert onto the aircraft. This SimObject already contains the `AD_ROPE_ATTACH` helper node and all the model behaviors required to make it work.  

{{< image-center
    src="images/5_Content_Config/Careers/Advertising/navgraph_ads_5_hook.png"
    alt="The Hook Included Attachment" >}}

 

-   #### Asobo\_Lever\_BannerRelease

    This is the banner release lever that should be placed in the interior cockpit model of the aircraft. The lever SimObject already contains everything necessary for the release mechanism to work.

 

-   #### Asobo\_Winch\_Pole

    This is the winch control for the advertising pole hook and is used to pull the advertising banner close to the plane. The winch pole SimObject contains all that is needed to use the winch control.

 

You can find out how to set these up from the following page:

-   [Using Included SimAttachments](general-career-information/using-included-simattachments/)

 

 

### FLT Files

When a user starts an advertising activity they will be going through the usual [Preflight checks](general-career-information/preflight/), and so they will need to have the `Apron.flt` setup in the activity preset as follows:

 

-   Section `[SimVars.0]` must have the parameter `SimOnGround` set to `true`.
-   All *defined* `[Covers]` need to be set to `true` (see [here](general-career-information/general-career-mode-requirements/#general-flt-file-requirements) for more information).
-   Section `[Controls.0]` must have the parameter `ParkingBrake` set to 100.00 (if the aircraft has a parking brake).
-   Aircraft electrics and engines must be turned off.
-   The aircraft flight parameters (trim, flaps, etc...) should be set for a **cold** and **idle** aircraft.

 

An additional FLT file is required - the `ApronWithoutCovers.flt` file - for those occasions when the user may skip the preflight phase and there is an RTC event, or when something causes a [Back On Track](../flt-files/back-on-track/) event after preflight. This file should be set up like a regular apron FLT file, however you should ensure that these changes are made:

 

-   All *defined* `[Covers]` need to be set to `false` (see [here](general-career-information/general-career-mode-requirements/#general-flt-file-requirements) for more information).