Now includes 'Guest' Logos and Flags
NOTAMS
06 February 2011:- Five Logo Folders were updated + one folder added
August 2010:- Guest Logos were added
August 2010:- PlanePlotter Charts were added (see Sidebar Menu)
Introduction
What are Operator Logos?
Anmer explains:
What you get out of the box is a receiver (the SBS-1) and application software (Basestation). The software uses a number of essential files, one of which is the database of aircraft (basestation.sqb). And another bit of software, Reporter, lets us view and edit the basestation.sqb file.
You can use Basestation out-of-the-box, but it can be greatly improved by additional features, mostly free.
Bones' Users Guide, sbs-1 Explained and his Basestation Utilities are essential reading.
The data that the SBS-1 receives and records in the sqb file is raw data, principally a ModeS record (unique to an aircraft) and when it was received. There is more data but it doesn't tell us the type of aircraft or who is operating it.
For example I can see ModeS 400AFE descending at this time, heading 145 degrees, just north of Birmingham, call sign SHT7S.
In fact, it is a British Airways A321, registration G-EUXF, probably operating a Glasgow to Heathrow flight. However, I only know this because I have personalised the raw ModeS record using Gatwick Aviation Society's (GAS) SBSPopulate. I have also used Allan Bird's Flight Display 7 to look up the flight routing.
GAS also offer a commercial product ActiveDisplay which is well worth considering.
There is a British Airways logo in my aircraft list and in my redesigned popup Aircraft Details window (see this forum thread), courtesy of Jack Ford's Operator Logos. I've also added an aircraft silhouette to the Aircraft Details window using Ian Kirby's silhouettes.
To add the operator logo I had to download the bmp image files from Jack's website and store them in the OperatorFlags folder (note the annoying naming convention, or lack of one). But to use them, I have to ensure that there is a matching Operator Flag Code (BAW in my example) in the sqb database. I can add these codes manually but SBSPopulate can do this for us.
The key thing is to download the operator logos from either Jack's or Bones' websites (there are alternative sources) and store them in the OperatorFlags folder (Program Files/Kinetic/Basestation/OperatorFlags) AND ensure there is an Operator Flag Code in your basestation.sqb file for the relevant ModeS record. Selecting Edit Details from the Aircraft Details popup window is a quick route to view and edit an sqb record.
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Jack's Operator Logos Specific:
Military logos reflect, where known, squadron colours / tail flash and ID and use principally Squadron names (NOT the Wings) in their file name. See the 'How do I know which Logo to use' section below. That said USAF Air Refueling Wings with more than one Squadron don't assign their aircraft to one squadron.
For civilian operators I have used ICAO codes where I can but have chosen to separate cargo aircraft from pax so have used a 'C' suffix where appropriate to a given airline . e.g. LAN (pax) LANC (cargo).
For some 'carriers' I provide more than one option to cover livery variations, for you that's not compulsory but it will certainly brighten up your screen. Occasionally I have used a full name or aircraft registration where ICAO either isn't used or found.
A number of logos are by other authors, with their permission.
This is not a complete set. As aircraft appear on my box I either tweak originals or add new as appropriate. Even these will be improved over time. I strongly recommend the bones' ICAO based set as your starting point supplemented by Ian's Silhouettes and then mine as an option
updated December 2008
Gallery Notes
When you get to the Gallery Pages you'll see that the logos are arranged into albums:
| GOV | Government or Contracted to Government |
| ICAO | Companies with ICAO codes |
| NON ICAO | Companies without ICAO codes |
| ODDSODS | Logos that don't fit anywhere else |
| OTHERMIL | Non UK or US Military |
| POLAMBCG | Police Ambulance Coast Guard |
| UKMIL | UK Military |
| USMIL | US Military |
Guest Albums |
|
| Various | Album cover describes type of Logo therein |
The default gallery setting (for all albums/categories) is alphabetical. Left clicking an individual gallery icon takes you into that gallery where you'll find all the current logos in that category.
At the top and bottom of each page you'll find page navigation arrows for moving around within that album/category.
Left clicking a logo takes you to its own page.To the left of the screen you'll find a 'View Latest Updates' link this will create a dynamic album showing just those logos uploaded/updated recently. The current setting is for a logo to be classed as 'NEW' for three days of its upload date (this can be changed).
New logos and galleries containing new logos will show a 'NEW' indicator box. If you use the 'View Latest Updates' function from within the main Gallery page the results will show new additions (i.e. uploaded within the last 7 days - currently set at 50 logos max) in all or any of the Albums. If you use it from within any individual album the results will be just for that album.
The 'Search the Gallery' function does just that. It accepts part names so for example if you are looking for logos for the 99AS, input that and press return. The results page will bring up (currently) 3 results with an option to show more, clicking this will give you all logos containing 99AS as part of their file name. There is also an 'Advanced Search' which currently has limited use but works. Note that with the addition of over 3000 'Guest' logos which I don't have time to add additional search criteria to you will need to be imaginative in what you search on. Anything in the file name will work fine, a generic term such as 'Belgian Air Force' will only bring up my logos, BAF will improve the results. Aircraft registration/serials and military units also work well.
N.B. Remember that all thumbnails are in jpg format so to download individual bmps you should left click individual logos to get to the bmp version.
Guest Albums indicate type of logo if different from 'tails' style and the author.
Current zips
The current complete set (to the shown date) will always be available from the link below and more will be added frequently :
| Jack's Logos | 26/08/20109 | |
| IanK's Logos | 06/02/2011 | |
| IanK's Manufacturers Logos | 21/01/2011 | |
| s92driver's Logos | 06/11/2010 | |
| Paulm's Logos | 15/01/2011 | |
| moonie31's Logos | 30/09/2010 | |
| pforkes's Logos | 17/08/2010 | |
| MUSTANG51's Logos | 07/11/2010 | |
| CloudWarrior's Logos | 22/10/2010 | |
| Terry Blackband 's Logos | 24/01/2011 | |
| Chaddy's Logos | 19/08/2010 | |
| Chris Alder's Logos | 28/12/2010 | |
| Simon Brooke 's Logos | 02/10/2010 | |
| Kevin Strickson 's Logos | 27/12/2010 | |
Older style logos are available (i.e. mostly pre tails) here |
How Do I Know Which Logo to Use?
A Good question:
Well leaving aside the livery variations etc. mentioned above knowing the ICAO code for civilian operators is a good starting point -
ICAO Airline Code Look-up
Here you can search by a number of criteria and having identified the correct ICAO code for your aircraft then identify the correct logo to use from my Logo Gallery.
Don't forget to check for aircraft specific liveries (usually by registration and or an ICAO code with a suffix).
For military aircraft this is slightly harder but squadron names and in the case of USMil the relationship between Squadrons and Wings is useful. There are a number of options but my preference (for flexibility of search criteria) is -
Military Aircraft look-up
N.B.
When entering a US squadron or wing leave a space between the number and the letters.
e.g. 172 AW not 172ndAW or 172AW
For German Air Force you must include the + between the two numbers.
e.g. 12+04 not 1204
There may be other idiosyncrasies but you'll soon work it out.
I also like to check recent photographs and a Google Image search by aircraft serial number ususally finds a few useful links.