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These contribution docs are a draft and still in progress. The V2 contribution system is not yet enabled, and contributions cannot be submitted at this time. This documentation is incomplete and may contain placeholder content or outdated information. All content is subject to change before the official release.

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What are Contributions?

The BARS Contribution System allow anyone to help expand compatible airport support across the globe. By contributing scenery packages for specific airports, you directly increase the number of compatible airports available to pilots using BARS. Each contribution adds support for a specific simulator scenery package, enabling real-time airport lighting at that airport for pilots using that scenery. Your contributions help:
  • Expand global airport coverage - Add lighting support for airports worldwide
  • Support multiple scenery packages - Increase compatibility with both default and third-party simulator scenery
BARS Contribution at YSCB

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How It Works

The contribution process is straightforward. Divisions provide airport lighting data, including all metadata for each lighting object. Each object receives a unique BARS_ID that contains all relevant metadata. As a contributor, you create scenery polygons in your simulator and name them after these BARS IDs. The system then generates the correct lighting behaviour automatically - no manual lighting configuration required.
1

Set up your environment

Enable developer mode in MSFS 2020/2024 and spawn at your desired airport.
2

Map lighting polygons

Use the interactive airport map on the Contribution Dashboard to access BARS IDs, then create scenery polygons in your simulator, naming each polygon after the corresponding BARS ID.
3

Add remove areas

Add removal areas to prevent duplicate lighting between default lights and BARS lights.
4

Test your contribution

Export your scenery XML and upload it to the Contribution Tester for testing and visual preview.
5

Submit for review

Enter your scenery package details and submit. The BARS Team will review and approve your contribution, making it available to all.

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Get Started

The contribution process is simple to follow and open to anyone, get started today.

Getting Started

Set up your environment and prepare to make your first contribution.

Discord

Need support getting started? Join our Discord server for help.