AIRAC (Nav Data) Update Suggestion

[Blocker226]

Hello DTG,

I fly on the simulator frequently and love doing airline runs. However, when I tried to use a flightplan generated, I found out after attempting to punch data into the FMC (of a addon aircraft) that I'm actually using nav data 9 years ahead of FSX's current default setup, resulting in issues like several VORs in the flightplan not existing, for example. While I'd much like to download a addon pack to update the nav aids, I depend on FSX's map system a lot and installing said addon pack would cause issues with the map. Would it be possible if you could, in the next update or so, update the nav data to a much more recent AIRAC cycle that works in FSX's map/flight planning system? Thanks.

Also, for anyone who doesn't know what AIRAC stands for ; its a reference number to when the flight data was most recently updated with new VORS, ILSs, NDBs and general navigation aids. FSX's current AIRAC cycle is 9 years behind.

[ScruffyDuck]

Unfortunately that would involve editing and recompiling all the NVX Bgl files in FSX and I suspect that DTG has no rights to do that. There is available a tool referenced in another thread that will update these files by replacing them with newer ones. However that does mean replacing stock files in stock folders and some folks think that is a bad thing to do. It might cause problems if, at some time, you need to have Steam check the integrity of your installation or perhaps there is a new update from DTG that includes the stock files again.

However in the end it is a personal choice and may be the answer for you. Just be absolutely sure that any tool does back up the stock data (that is the 9 year old stuff) just in case something does go wrong.

Jon
ScruffyDuck Software
Microsoft MVP

[Blocker226]

I think I've seen that tool before, and according to some folks, that tool's responsible for causing said problems with the map and flight planner, which I'd like to keep intact. I think I'll keep those 2 features (At least the map because I probably won't be using the flight planner for long).

With that said, I've also heard of Navigraph's FMS Data payware, but I'm not sure exactly how it works. Does it just update the AIRAC cycle for onboard FMCs or does it actually work across the whole of FSX without causing possible map crashes?

If DTG really can't do anything about the nav data, it's a real shame. To be honest, I think Microsoft should've done something before FSX's 2006 release, knowing precisely that nav data can become outdated over time.

Oh well, I'll have to set the AIRAC cycles of those online flightplan generators to 06-something.

[ScruffyDuck]

I don't have enough knowledge of third party FMCs to say but I suspect that it updates the FMC and not the stock data.

There are ways to add new Navaids and we can do some minor adjustment of existing ones without trouble. However MS did freeze navaid and other data and did not provide a way to update it properly. I wonder if they intended to provide the tools via the SDK but never got round to it. We did talk the the ACES guys about it quite a lot before they were canned but never got far.

We have ways to exclude stock airports and so on so that addons will work. What MS did not do is give us a way to exclude stock navaids and fixes. We have found through painful experience that it is possible to move them a bit and to edit some of the data but FSX can do odd things like duplicating the navaid or ingoring our changes if we get too far out of line.

Another issue with replacing stock is that the approach code using those navaids may need updating as well.

Of course the individual updating and adding of navaids without replacing stock data is a long job.

Jon
ScruffyDuck Software
Microsoft MVP

[Blocker226]

Sigh. If so, guess I'll have to get used to having to find AIRAC cycles 9 years old for flight planning. Thanks for the information!

[barnstormer1]

Цитата допису BulletStrike70:

Sigh. If so, guess I'll have to get used to having to find AIRAC cycles 9 years old for flight planning. Thanks for the information!

Alternative is addon aircraft using current real world data.

[Blocker226]

Цитата допису barnstormer1:

Цитата допису BulletStrike70:

Sigh. If so, guess I'll have to get used to having to find AIRAC cycles 9 years old for flight planning. Thanks for the information!

Alternative is addon aircraft using current real world data.

Well...I have the PMDG 737-800NGX installed...

Could you explain further? Is it built into the FMC or something?

[barnstormer1]

The PMDG uses RW Navdata in the FMC. navdata is Updatable through Navagraph or Aerosoft. Aside fro Runway ILS frequencies, you don't need any default FSX navdata when using the PMDG FMC..or many other addon aircraft. I havnt even touched FSX default flight planner or used its navdata in years. I have updated vor's etc using the mention aero updater for radio nav.

[Blocker226]

So I could update the nav data through Navagraph, and use flight plans generated online to fly to the supposed area the current waypoints are? Does it work if I was flying with FSX's IFR ATC?

[barnstormer1]

Цитата допису BulletStrike70:

So I could update the nav data through Navagraph, and use flight plans generated online to fly to the supposed area the current waypoints are? Does it work if I was flying with FSX's IFR ATC?

Yes, Absolutely! RW current procedure, RNAV etc. The default ATC is the problem, it never figured out what a procedure is. So. unless you export the FMC flight plan into FSX default. ATC will be no help at all. Its dumb. There are addon ATC programs that are way better than the Default FSX ATC, but not perfect.

[Blocker226]

Dang, because I really liked the immersion offered by the ATC system, and I don't want to have to talk to real controllers either.

And because of the waypoint additions I don't think FSX's default flight planning system would enjoy it at all. Bummer.

[barnstormer1]

You wont learn much if anything using default ATC. It was made to direct dumbies from point A to B without getting lost.. Its been know to fly one into terrain and other aircraft. :)

[ScruffyDuck]

There is another thread about third party ATC such as Radar Contact 4 Pro ATC and Vox ATC. There are also third party Flight Planners that can use real data. ProATC has a flight planner and ATC and can import flight plans. A bit of googling might find you an answer that will give you what you want including better ATC. I did a test run against three of the ATC addons and finally went with Radar Contact 4 because I am a GA pilot and it seems to support uncontrolled and part controlled fields better.

Have a look at ProATC for airliner work

Jon
ScruffyDuck Software
Microsoft MVP

[Blocker226]

Hmm, alright, I'll look at using both Navigraph FMS data AND some of those ATC addons you suggested, thanks a bunch for the help!

[barnstormer1]

Have fun

[yellowjacket]

Цитата допису barnstormer1:

You wont learn much if anything using default ATC. It was made to direct dumbies from point A to B without getting lost.. Its been know to fly one into terrain and other aircraft. :)

All the ATC FSX controllers are blind. All the AI aircraft pilots are blind but the controllers somehow can get all those blind AI plane pilots from one airport to another. In FS you the pilot are the only one that has eyes that can see.

There are 2 ATC systems in FS. One is called the ATC novice system and is a hand holding type ATC for those new pilots that need a helping hand to find the airport and get additional help aligning with the actve runway. The stock Heathrow (EGLL) has 4 novice approaches.

The other ATC system in FS is not hand holding and you the Pilot tell ATC what you want to do. This system is for the more advanced pilot that knows how to read the charts that include Airport taxi procedures, SID's, Enroute, STAR's, Transitions which include DmeArc's, Inital Fix (IF for all 11 type approaches ATC can assign), Final Approach Fix (FAF) altitude, minimums and published missed approach procedures.

The stock Heathrow (EGLL) has 30 default ATC advance approaches

FSX does not use AIRAC cycles. FSX is coded using the ARINC 424 specification document which is a standard used in navigation databases and flight management systems from many companies such as Jeppesen and Rockwell.

Learn how to use the advanced ATC system in FSX so you won't fly into terrain or fly into another airplane.