Beginner’s Guide: Creating an Airport Scenery for MSFS

We recommend studying our Performance Boost Tricks for MSFS guide to unlock smoother performance and a more immersive flying experience.

Creating your own airport scenery for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, aka MSFS 2024, is one of the most rewarding ways to personalize the simulator. You can recreate your local airfield, improve an existing airport, or design a fictional one from scratch. Even as a beginner, MSFS 2024 provides powerful built‑in tools that make scenery creation accessible without deep programming knowledge. This guide walks you step‑by‑step through the entire process—from setup to in‑sim testing—using simple language and beginner‑friendly methods.

Step 1: Install and Set Up Developer Mode

Launch Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Go to Options → General Options → Developers

Turn Developer Mode = ON

A developer toolbar will appear at the top of the screen

This toolbar gives you access to all scenery and airport creation tools.

Step 2: Open the Scenery Editor

From the Developer toolbar:

Click Tools → Scenery Editor

The Scenery Editor is your main workspace. It allows you to:

Create airports

Place runways

Add buildings

Insert lights, signs, and objects

Modify terrain

Step 3: Create a New Project

Click Project Editor in the Developer toolbar

Select New Project

Choose a folder (e.g. Documents/MSFSProjects/)

Enter:

Project Name: MyFirstAirport

Package Name: myfirstairport-package

Click Create Project

This creates the folder structure MSFS uses to store your scenery.

Step 4: Create a New Airport

In the Scenery Editor, click Create New Airport

Fill in the basic data:

ICAO Code (e.g. ZZZZ for custom)

Airport Name

City

Country

Click Create

Your empty airport now exists in the simulator world.

Step 5: Add Runways

Select your airport in the left panel

Click Add → Runway

Set properties:

Length

Width

Surface type (asphalt, concrete, grass)

Runway numbers (e.g. 09 / 27)

You can rotate and move the runway using the transform tools.

Step 6: Add Taxiways and Aprons

Taxiways

Click Add → Taxiway Path

Draw lines connecting runway to parking areas

Aprons

Click Add → Apron

Draw the apron area

Choose surface material

This forms the ground layout of your airport.

Step 7: Place Parking Spots

Click Add → Parking

Choose type:

Gate

Ramp GA

Cargo

Set aircraft size (Small, Medium, Heavy)

These determine where aircraft spawn.

Step 8: Add Buildings and Objects

Open the Object Library and search…