Runway XML Properties

This page lists the different elements and attributes required to generate properly formed XML for runways. The information on this page is used along with the information for creating an Airport - since you can’t have a runway without first having an airport - which can be found here:

Airport XML Properties

The <Runway> element would go inside of the <Airport> element, and you can define multiple runways in a single airport, but you can’t define an airport without at least one runway. Most of the XML shown is created for you when you use The Scenery Editor tool - included as part of the Developer Mode toolset within Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. As such, we recommend that you use that tool instead of trying to create your own XML from scratch, and use this page as a reference if you need to edit the files the Scenery Editor creates.

<Runway>

The <Runway> element is a modular element used to represent the variety of runways that might be encountered in the world. It is a sub-element of and in its minimal configuration, it is necessary to have two <RunwayStart /> elements for it to be usable. Even though a runway is considered a single item, it has two distinct ends that are referenced as PRIMARY or SECONDARY in many of the sub-elements required to define the runway. The PRIMARY one is the one that is referenced by the attributes number and designator of the <Runway>. Note that you can use the “WATER” designator for the runway surface if the runway is a seaplane landing area.

This element is allowed to contain the following sub-elements, which must occur in the following order:

<RunwayDeformation /><RunwayColoration /><Coloration /><Markings /><Lights /><OffsetThreshold /><BlastPad /><Overrun /><ApproachLights /><Vasi /><Ils><IlsReference /><RunwayStart /><Material />

A <Runway> has the following attributes :

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`displayName`	The display name for the object in the Scenery Editor. NOTE: this is only used for ordering in the The Scenery Contents List	String	No
`parentGroupID`	The ID of the parent group this object belongs to. NOTE: this is only used for ordering in the The Scenery Contents List	Integer	No
`groupIndex`	The group index of the object. NOTE: this is only used for ordering in the The Scenery Contents List	Integer	No
`lat`	Latitude of the center point of the runway, in degrees between -90.0° and 90.0°.		Yes
`lon`	Longitude of the center point of the runway, in degrees between -180.0° and 180.0°.	Float	Yes
`alt`	Altitude of the center point of the runway, in meters. You may add the "F" suffix to convert the value to feet, for example: "13.0F".	Float	Yes
`altType`	This is used to determine the referential for the `alt` field.	Enum: GEOID ELLIPSOID	No
`surface`	The name of the surface material to use.	String	Yes
`transparent`	Make the runway surface transparent (TRUE) or not (FALSE).	Boolean	No
`heading`	The heading of the runway, relative to True North, from 0.0° to 360.0°.	Float	Yes
`length`	Length of the runway, in meters, but you can suffix the value with "F" for feet, eg: "2000F".	Float	Yes
`width`	Width of the runway, in meters, but you can suffix the value with "F" for feet, eg: "200F".	Float	Yes
`number`	Number of the runway being added. Note that you do not suffix the designator onto this value, but instead define it separately in the `designator` attribute.	Integer: 1 - 36 or Enum: EAST NORTH NORTHEAST NORTHWEST SOUTH SOUTHEAST SOUTHWEST WEST	Yes
`designator`	Designator of the runway being added.	Enum: NONE C CENTER L LEFT R RIGHT W WATER A B E N NE NW S SE SW W	No
`primaryDesignator`	The primary designator for the runway.	Enum: See the `designator` attribute, above.	No
`secondaryDesignator`	The secondary designator for the runway.	Enum: See the `designator` attribute, above.	No
`patternAltitude`	Relative altitude to the runway at which traffic patterns are done, in meters. You may add the “F” suffix to convert the value to feet, for example: “1800.0F”.	Float	No
`falloff`	Defines the range affected by the flattening of the runway, higher value meaning an increase range.	Float	No
`primaryTakeoff`	Defines if aircraft can takeoff from the `PRIMARY` end of the runway (TRUE) or not (FALSE).	Boolean	No
`primaryLanding`	Defines if aircraft can land on the `PRIMARY` end of the runway (TRUE) or not (FALSE).	Boolean	No
`secondaryTakeoff`	Defines if aircraft can takeoff from the `SECONDARY` end of the runway (TRUE) or not (FALSE).	Boolean	No
`secondaryLanding`	Defines if aircraft can land on the `SECONDARY` end of the runway (TRUE) or not (FALSE).	Boolean	No
`primaryPattern`	Side for traffic patterns taking of in the `PRIMARY` end of the runway. Can be either `“LEFT”` or `“RIGHT”.`	Enum: LEFT RIGHT	No
`secondaryPattern`	Side for traffic patterns taking of in the `SECONDARY` end of the runway. Can be either `“LEFT”` or `“RIGHT”.`	Enum: LEFT RIGHT	No
`primaryMarkingBias`	Offset from the end of the runway for the marking on the `PRIMARY` half, in meters. You can suffix the value with “F” for feet, eg: “350F”.	Float	No
`secondaryMarkingBias`	Offset from the end of the runway for the marking on the `SECONDARY` half, in meters. You can suffix the value with “F” for feet, eg: “350F”.	Float	No
`groundMerging`	Adds detail from the ground beneath the runway to the runway material (TRUE) or not (FALSE).	Boolean	No
`excludeVegetationAround`	Exclude any vegetation from the surrounding area for the runway (TRUE) or not (FALSE).	Boolean	No
`excludeBuildingAround`	Exclude any auto-generated (except OSM buildings) from the surrounding area for the runway (TRUE) or not (FALSE).	Boolean	No

The rest of the elements listed below are all sub-elements of the main <Runway> element.

<RunwayDeformation />

This sub-element of <Runway> is used to add some deformation to an airport runway (or a <Rectangle> object), and you can call this sub-element multiple times to define different deformations. Note that this is a self-closing element and has the following attributes:

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`ratio`	Ratio along the runway at which the other attributes are applied, where 0.0 corresponds to the `PRIMARY` end and 1.0 to the `SECONDARY` end.	Float	Yes
`alt`	Altitude for the runway at the position corresponding to the ratio distance, in meters. You may add the "F" suffix to convert the value to feet, for example: "13.0F"	Float	Yes
`altType`	This is used to determine the referential for the `alt` field.	Enum: GEOID ELLIPSOID	No
`controlPointBefore`	Determine the shape of the flattening before the point. 0.0 meaning that it should be flat, while positive (+) values indicate a bump and negative (-) values indicate a crease.	Float	No
`controlPointAfter`	Determine the shape of the flattening after the point. 0.0 meaning that it should be flat, positive values (+) indicate a bump and negative (-) values indicate a crease	Float	No

Please note that this element can also be used as part of a general Scenery Object file as a sub element of the <Rectangle> element. In these cases it is used exactly the same way only to deform a rectangular surface area rather than a runway. You can see an example of it being used for this purpose here: Runway Objects.

<RunwayColoration />

This sub-element of <Runway> is used to change the color blending for the runway. Note that this is a self-closing element and has the following attributes:

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`red`	Red component of the coloration (between 0 and 255).	Integer	Yes
`green`	Green component of the coloration (between 0 and 255).	Integer	Yes
`blue`	Blue component of the coloration (between 0 and 255).	Integer	Yes
`alpha`	Alpha component of the coloration (between 0 and 255).	Integer	Yes

<Markings />

This sub-element of <Runway> is used to add markings to an airport runway. Note that this is a self-closing element and has the following attributes:

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`alternateThreshold`	Set to TRUE to indicate international rather than US Threshold markings.	Boolean	No
`alternateTouchdown`	Set to TRUE to indicate international rather than US Touchdown markings.	Boolean	No
`alternateFixedDistance`	Set to TRUE to indicate international rather than US Fixed Distance markings.	Boolean	No
`alternatePrecision`	Set to TRUE to indicate international rather than US Precision markings.	Boolean	No
`leadingZeroIdent`	Set to TRUE to indicate runway numbers have a leading zero (for runway numbers 0 to 9).	Boolean	No
`noThresholdEndArrows`	Set to TRUE to ignore Threshold End Arrows.	Boolean	No
`edges`	Runway has edge lines or not.	Boolean	No
`threshold`	Runway has threshold marks or not.	Boolean	No
`fixedDistance`	Runway has fixed distance marks or not.	Boolean	No
`dashes`	Runway has dashed line down center or not.	Boolean	No
`ident`	Runway has number and designator or not.	Boolean	No
`primaryClosed`	Primary end is closed with "X" or not.	Boolean	No
`secondaryClosed`	Secondary is closed with "X" or not.	Boolean	No
`touchdown`	Runway has touchdown marks or not.	Boolean	No
`precision`	Runway has precision markings or not. NOTE: When this is set to "True", it will also activate the yellow light at the end of the runway. These lights will follow the FAA reglementation for their length.	Boolean	No
`edgePavement`	Runway has pavement past edge lines or not.	Boolean	No
`singleEnd`	Runway is single-ended with no markings on secondary end or not.	Boolean	No
`primaryStol`	Primary end STOL or not.	Boolean	No
`secondaryStol`	Secondary end STOL or not.	Boolean	No

<Lights />

This sub-element of <Runway> is used to add lights to an airport runway. Note that this is a self-closing element and has the following attributes:

Attribute Description Type Required

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`edge`	Edge runway lights	Enum: NONE (default) LOW MEDIUM HIGH	No
`center`	Center runway lights	Enum: NONE (default) LOW MEDIUM HIGH	No
`centerRed`	Boolean indicating that the last part of the center line lights are RED/WHITE and then RED	Boolean	No

edge

Edge runway lights

Enum:

NONE (default)
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH

center

Center runway lights

Enum:

NONE (default)
LOW
MEDIUM
HIGH

centerRed Boolean indicating that the last part of the center line lights are RED/WHITE and then RED Boolean No

<OffsetThreshold />

This sub-element of <Runway> is used to add an offset threshold to an airport runway. Note that this is a self-closing element and has the following attributes:

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`end`	Which end of the runway that the offset threshold applies to.	Enum: PRIMARY SECONDARY	Yes
`length`	Length of pavement. This length is included in the main runway length and is in meters, but you can suffix the value with "F" for feet, eg: "2000F".	Float	Yes
`width`	Width of pavement (if different from runway), in meters, but you can suffix the value with "F" for feet, eg: "200F".	Float	No
`surface`	Surface type for the pavement.		No

<BlastPad />

This sub-element of <Runway> is used to add a blast pad to an airport runway. Note that this is a self-closing element and has the following attributes:

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`end`	Which end of the runway that the blast pad applies to.	Enum: PRIMARY SECONDARY	Yes
`length`	Length of blast pad. This value is added to main runway length and is in meters, but you can suffix the value with "F" for feet, eg: "200F".	Float	Yes
`width`	Width of blast pad (if different from runway), in meters, but you can suffix the value with "F" for feet, eg: "200F".	Float	No
`surface`	Surface of the blast pad if different from the runway.		No

<Overrun />

This sub-element of <Runway> is used to add an overrun to an airport runway. Note that this is a self-closing element and has the following attributes:

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`end`	Which end of the runway that the overrun applies to.	Enum: PRIMARY SECONDARY	Yes
`length`	Length of overrun. This value is added to main runway length and is in meters, but you can suffix the value with "F" for feet, eg: "200F".	Float	Yes
`width`	Width of overrun (if different from runway), in meters, but you can suffix the value with "F" for feet, eg: "200F".	Float	No
`surface`	Surface of the overrun if different from the runway.		No

<ApproachLights />

This sub-element of <Runway> is used to add approach lights to an airport runway. Note that this is a self-closing element and has the following attributes:

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`end`	Which end of the runway that the lights are for.	Enum: PRIMARY SECONDARY	Yes
`system`	Type of approach light system.	Enum: NONE ALSF1 ALSF2 CALVERT CALVERT2 MALS MALSF MALSR ODALS RAIL SALS SALSF SSALF SSALR SSALS	No
`reil`	Boolean indicating that the runway has runway end identifier lights.	Boolean	No
`strobes`	Number of sequenced strobes.	Positive Integer	No
`endLights`	Boolean indicating that runway has end lights.	Boolean	No
`touchdown`	Boolean indicating that runway has touchdown lights.	Boolean	No
`snapToGround`	Indicates if the lights should be snapped to fit the ground terrain or not.	Boolean	No
`spacing`	The spacing between the lights, in meters. You can suffix the value with “F” for feet, eg: “10F”.	Float	No
`offset`	The offset for the lights, in meters. You can suffix the value with “F” for feet, eg: “20F”.	Float	No
`slope`	Angle in degrees for the light slope, between -360.0° and 360.0°	Float	No

<Vasi />

This sub-element of <Runway> is used to add a VASI to an airport runway. Note that this is a self-closing element and has the following attributes:

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`end`	End of runway that the VASI is for.	Enum: PRIMARY SECONDARY	Yes
`type`	Type of VASI being used.	Enum: PAPI2 - 2 light PAPI PAPI4 - 4 light PAPI PVASI - Pulsating VASI TRICOLOR - Tri Color VASI TVASI - colored VASI in a shared-"T" shape VASI21 - 2 rows, 1 box/row VASI22 - 2 rows, 2 boxes/row VASI23 - 2 rows, 3 boxes/row VASI31 - 3 rows, 1 box/row VASI32 - 3 rows, 2 boxes/row VASI33 - 3 rows, 3 boxes/row (far row has only two boxes, 8 light system) BALL - presently remapped to PVASI APAP - panels PANELS - presently remapped to PAPI2	Yes
`side`	Side of runway that the lights are on.	Enum: LEFT RIGHT	Yes
`biasX`	Distance from the runway center-line across the runway width to the reference point of the VASI, in meters. You can suffix the value with "F" for feet, eg: "50F", if required.	Float	Yes
`biasZ`	Distance along the runway from the runway center point to the VASI reference point, in meters. You can suffix the value with "F" for feet, eg: "50F", if required.	Float	Yes
`spacing`	Distance between light rows, in meters. You can suffix the value with "F" for feet, eg: "10F". Note that this is only applicable to the following types: `VASI21`, `VASI31`, `VASI22`, `VASI32`, `VASI23`, `VASI33`, and `TVASI`.	Float	Yes
`pitch`	Approach angle in degrees. A value from 0.0 to 10.0.	Float	Yes

<IlsReference />

This sub-element of <Runway> is used to reference one or more existing ILS - using the ICAO code - for the runway (you can call this element multiple times). Generally this is used when there is ILS created in the <Airport> element and none in the <Runway>. Note that this is a self-closing element and has the following attributes:

Attribute Description Type Required

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`end`	Which end of the runway the ILS being defined goes at.	Enum: PRIMARY SECONDARY	Yes
`ident`	The ICAO code identity for the ILS (maximum 8 characters)	String	Yes

end

Which end of the runway the ILS being defined goes at.

Enum:

PRIMARY
SECONDARY

Yes

ident

The ICAO code identity for the ILS (maximum 8 characters)

String

Yes

<RunwayStart />

This sub-element of <Runway> is used to add a start location for a runway, and you can call this element twice per runway if required (once to define the PRIMARY start position and once for the SECONDARY start position). Note that this is a self-closing element and has the following attributes:

Attribute	Description	Type	Required
`end`	Which end of the runway to flag as the starting point. When selecting the end on the world map for the start of the flight, the plane will be place at the (`lat`, `lon`) coordinates.	Enum: PRIMARY SECONDARY	No
`lat`	Latitude of the starting point, in degrees between -90.0° and 90.0°.	Float	Yes
`lon`	Longitude of the starting point, in degrees between -180.0° and 180.0°.	Float	Yes
`alt`	Altitude of the starting point, in meters. You may add the "F" suffix to convert the value to feet, for example: "13.0F".	Float	Yes
`altType`	This is used to determine the referential for the `alt` field.	Enum: GEOID ELLIPSOID	No
`heading`	Angle relative to true north towards which the plane will face when starting, measured in degrees between 0.0° and 360.0°.	Float	Yes

Approach, Arrival, And Departure XML Properties

Taxiway XML Properties

Flighting

SDK Documentation

Runway XML Properties

<Runway>

<RunwayDeformation />

<RunwayColoration />

<Markings />

<Lights />

<OffsetThreshold />

<BlastPad />

<Overrun />

<ApproachLights />

<Vasi />

<IlsReference />

<RunwayStart />

Runway XML Properties

<Runway>#

<RunwayDeformation />#

<RunwayColoration />#

<Markings />#

<Lights />#

<OffsetThreshold />#

<BlastPad />#

<Overrun />#

<ApproachLights />#

<Vasi />#

<IlsReference />#

<RunwayStart />#

<Runway>

<RunwayDeformation />

<RunwayColoration />

<Markings />

<Lights />

<OffsetThreshold />

<BlastPad />

<Overrun />

<ApproachLights />

<Vasi />

<IlsReference />

<RunwayStart />