Skip to content

OSM Offshore Oil Rigs

OSM Offshore Oil Rigs is a scenery package for X-Plane that places offshore oil platforms as heliports in oceans and seas worldwide. All position data is derived from the OpenStreetMap (OSM) database using the man_made=offshore_platform tag. The package uses X-Plane 12's built-in oil rig models — no custom 3D assets are included.

Background

  • Type: Scenery package (no plugin dependency)
  • Developer: Saar Snagar (snagar.dev)
  • Distribution: x-plane.to (Freeware)
  • Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux (standard scenery folder, platform-independent)
  • Compatibility: X-Plane 12

The package is script-generated using the author's open-source osm_to_xplane_dist Python tool. At only 298 KB, it consists entirely of apt.dat heliport definitions and DSF references — each oil rig is registered as a heliport with coordinates, heading, and helipad dimensions derived from OSM.

Technical Background: apt.dat Heliport Format

X-Plane represents heliports in apt.dat files using Row Code 17 (heliport header) and Row Code 102 (helipad definition). Each helipad entry specifies latitude and longitude (8 decimal places), true heading, dimensions in meters, and surface type. The format supports an is_oilrig metadata key (Row Code 1302) to identify oil platform heliports specifically. The generation script extracts OSM nodes tagged man_made=offshore_platform, converts their coordinates, and filters against existing X-Plane oil rig positions to minimize overlaps.

Features

  • Worldwide coverage — oil platforms placed wherever OSM contains man_made=offshore_platform entries
  • OSM-based positioning — real-world coordinates from the OpenStreetMap database
  • Mission-X integration — oil rigs serve as helicopter mission targets for the Mission-X plugin (same author), enabling random cargo, medevac, and helicopter supply missions to offshore platforms
  • Minimal footprint — 298 KB total, no custom 3D models, no plugin dependency

OSM Data Coverage

OpenStreetMap coverage for offshore platforms varies by region. The North Sea (UK, Norway) and Gulf of Mexico are well-mapped due to active communities and public government data (e.g., the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement). Other regions — Persian Gulf, Southeast Asia, West Africa — have fewer entries despite high real-world platform density.

Value in Flight Simulation

X-Plane's default scenery includes only a limited number of offshore oil platforms. For helicopter pilots, realistic offshore operations require destinations at real-world positions — oil rigs as approach targets for supply, crew transfer, and emergency missions. This package fills the gap by placing heliports at OSM-documented platform locations worldwide. Combined with Mission-X, it enables procedural helicopter missions to offshore targets. On Linux, the package installs as a standard scenery folder without plugin dependencies.

Installation

Download: x-plane.to

  1. Extract the contents into X-Plane 12/Custom Scenery/
  2. Launch and quit X-Plane to register the scenery in scenery_packs.ini
  3. For manual ordering, place the entry below GLOBAL_AIRPORTS to avoid overriding higher-quality airport scenery

Mission-X users: After installation, run APT Data Optimization from the Mission-X Setup screen to index the new heliports for mission generation.

Overlap Handling

The generation script filters against existing X-Plane oil rig positions, but some overlaps may remain. The author accepts reports of duplicate positions via the distribution page.

Further Reading

Topic Page Focus
Scenery Components How X-Plane Builds the World scenery_packs.ini load order and layer interaction
Scenery Sources Sources Overview of scenery providers and databases

Sources