DCS AOC Tools now provides more flexible DEPLOC and ARRLOC handling in ATO generation, with improved Task Unit ICAO fallback and waypoint identification for 6ROUTE.
Improved DEPLOC and ARRLOC Handling in ATO Generation
The DCS AOC Tools ATO generation process has been updated to provide more flexible handling of DEPLOC and ARRLOC data, while also improving the fallback logic used when departure and arrival locations are not explicitly specified.
When a departure or arrival location is explicitly defined in a waypoint name using the DEP: or ARR: prefix, the text specified after the prefix is now used directly in the generated ATO. Previously, the value was required to be a valid ICAO code.
This allows waypoint-defined DEPLOC and ARRLOC values to be used even when they do not follow the standard four-letter ICAO format.
Task Unit ICAO Fallback
When DEP: and ARR: are not used to explicitly define the departure and arrival locations, the ICAO code of the Task Unit associated with the mission is now used as the fallback value for both DEPLOC and ARRLOC.
Previously, this fallback behavior was already available for DEPLOC, but ARRLOC did not use the Task Unit ICAO code when an arrival location was not explicitly defined. The behavior is now consistent for both fields.
6ROUTE Takeoff and Landing Identification
The identification of takeoff and landing waypoints for the 6ROUTE block remains unchanged.
A waypoint must still be identified in its name using either TAKEOFF or DEP: for the takeoff point, and either LANDING or ARR: for the landing point.
This explicit identification remains necessary because the first waypoint in a mission cannot always be assumed to be the actual takeoff point. Mission planners may use different waypoint structures, making explicit waypoint identification necessary for reliable ATO generation.
These changes provide more flexible DEPLOC and ARRLOC handling while maintaining explicit waypoint identification requirements where the ATO structure depends on distinguishing takeoff and landing points.
The DCS AOC Tools Wiki documentation will also be updated to reflect the new behavior and configuration requirements.
