Building Airports In Simcity: A Comprehensive Guide

Building an airport in SimCity is a challenging task that requires careful planning and strategy. The airport is a crucial transportation structure in the game, facilitating regional connections and boosting tourism and commercial demand. To build an efficient airport, players must consider factors such as size restrictions, power and water supply, and the impact of tall buildings on runways. Additionally, managing cargo shipments and addressing issues like high pollution and crime rates are essential for optimising the airport's functionality. The process of constructing an airport involves zoning airport tiles, ensuring flat and contiguous land, and following specific rules set by the SimFAA. With dedication and attention to detail, players can successfully develop a thriving airport in their SimCity game.

Zoning and growth

Firstly, it is important to understand the zoning requirements for an airport in SimCity. In SimCity 2000, the airport zone must be a minimum of 2x6 tiles in size. Each tile represents an area of land, and the airport needs a significant amount of space to accommodate runways and other infrastructure. Runways, in particular, require a specific amount of space to be built and function properly. It is also important to note that demolishing even a single runway tile will result in the destruction of all connected runway tiles.

In SimCity 3000, the zoning requirements are slightly different, with a minimum zone size of 3x5 tiles. These tiles must be on flat, contiguous land and have access to power and water. The airport zone should also be located within a certain distance of a road to ensure accessibility.

When it comes to growth, there are a few factors to consider. Firstly, it is important to ensure that your airport has room to expand. As your city grows, you may need to increase the number of runways and terminal buildings to accommodate higher air traffic demand. Therefore, zoning beyond the minimum required size can be beneficial in the long run. Additionally, try to avoid tall buildings in close proximity to the airport, as they can obstruct flight paths and pose safety risks.

Another factor influencing the growth of your airport is the number of runways. In SimCity 3000, the number of runways is directly proportional to the amount of airport zoning. By zoning more tiles for your airport, you will be able to construct additional runways, which will increase airport traffic and capacity.

Lastly, keep in mind that airports generate high levels of pollution. It is advisable to keep them at a distance from commercial and residential zones, as Sims tend to dislike the loud airplane noise, jet fuel, and other pollutants associated with airports. By carefully considering the zoning and growth of your airport, you can ensure its efficient development and minimise any negative impacts on your city.

Runway and taxiway construction

First and foremost, ensure that you have sufficient space for your airport. Airports require a large land area, and the runway itself needs enough space to accommodate aircraft take-offs and landings. In SimCity 2000, the minimum size restriction is 2x6 tiles. Each runway will require a taxiway parallel to it, one tile away, with two tiles connecting the runway and taxiway at each end.

When planning your runway and taxiway layout, keep in mind that the runway length will depend on the size of the aircraft you want to accommodate. Shorter runways can only handle smaller airplanes, while longer runways are needed for larger airplanes. The runway length can vary from 5 to 10 tiles long, depending on your configuration and available space.

To construct the runway and taxiway, follow these steps:

• Ensure your airport zone is at least 3x5 tiles in size, with all tiles on flat, contiguous land.
• Provide power and water to the zone.
• Make sure the airport zone is within 3 tiles of a road.
• Consider rotating the zone 90 degrees if your airport is not growing as expected, and ensure no tall buildings are in the flight path.
• Construct the runway and its parallel taxiway, following the size and spacing guidelines mentioned earlier.
• Add terminal buildings along the taxiway, ensuring there is enough room for them.
• Include auxiliary buildings, such as towers, hangars, tarmacs, and radar facilities, within a certain radius of the runway (typically around 4 squares away).

Remember, airport traffic will depend on the number of runways you build. More runways will result in higher traffic capacity. Additionally, airports generate significant pollution, so it's best to keep them away from commercial and residential zones to avoid annoying your Sims with loud airplane noise and jet fuel emissions.

Terminal buildings

It is important to note that auxiliary buildings will only build within a certain radius (about 4 squares away) of the runway squares. As you build, keep in mind that it is helpful not to have any tall buildings in front of the runways. This is because, as in real life, airplanes run the risk of crashing into tall buildings. While usually minor, such crashes have the potential to develop into serious problems like massive fires.

Pollution and noise

In SimCity, airports are a significant source of pollution and noise, which are crucial factors to consider when building one. Here's a detailed guide on managing pollution and noise when constructing an airport in SimCity:

Pollution:

Pollution is a significant issue associated with airports in SimCity. Airports contribute to air pollution, which has several negative consequences. Air pollution is caused by various factors, including dirty and manufacturing industries, certain power plants, traffic, and the airport itself. The pollution lowers the desirability of the surrounding area, leading to potential abandonment. Sims will struggle to breathe in highly polluted areas and will avoid developing or building in these zones. Therefore, it is essential to manage air pollution effectively.

To prevent air pollution from reaching hazardous levels, there are several strategies you can employ. Firstly, activate city ordinances such as the Clean Air Act in SimCity 4 to reduce air pollution and decrease the demand for dirty industries. Secondly, focus on reducing traffic congestion as traffic also contributes to air pollution. Routing traffic through commercial areas can help, as they benefit from high traffic. Additionally, consider the terrain when placing polluting industries. For example, building industries behind a mountain range can contain the polluted air. Trees and parks can also help reduce air pollution, improving the air quality for your Sims.

Water pollution, while not as prominent as air pollution, can also be an issue. It is caused by industries, power plants, and seaports. If water pollution levels are too high near water towers or pumps, they may be shut down, so ensure you build them away from polluted water sources. To combat water pollution, you can build a water treatment plant, but keep in mind that they have high costs and low capacity.

Noise:

While not specifically mentioned as a separate type of pollution in SimCity, traffic noise or noise pollution can also have negative effects. Reducing car traffic is an effective way to lower traffic noise. Additionally, routing traffic through commercial areas can help as they are positively affected by high traffic.

In summary, when building an airport in SimCity, be mindful of the pollution and noise it generates. Use strategies such as city ordinances, traffic management, and terrain placement to minimize air pollution. Address water pollution by carefully positioning water towers and pumps and consider building water treatment plants. Finally, reduce noise pollution by decreasing car traffic and directing it through commercial areas.

Cargo shipments

In SimCity, airports are transportation structures that allow for regional transportation between different cities, boosting tourism and demand for commercial services. They are also one of the structures that cover the most land area, which can make them difficult to build in well-developed cities.

The Municipal Airport is a ploppable building that will transport medium and high-wealth citizens, as well as cargo. It can be upgraded with additional runways and cargo or passenger terminals. The International Airport, on the other hand, is a great work that provides a boost in tourism and cargo capacity.

To build an airport, you need to reach a population of 120,000. Once you meet this requirement, you can construct the airport for 80,000 Simoleons and wait for 1 day and 7 hours for it to be built. This construction time can be reduced by spending Simcash.

To ensure efficient freight shipping, it is important to consider the placement of freight-accepting buildings, such as commercial buildings, trade depots, trade ports, and service buildings. Additionally, managing traffic flow is crucial to prevent delays in deliveries.

Frequently asked questions