I have taken the plunge and purchased the above which is an alternative to Navigraph AirRac cycles.

 

Based on the LIDO dataset compiled by Lufthansa but used by 180 airlines it is said to be 100% compatible with Navigraph but offers more in the way of data (airports covered/SIDS STARS/procedures)

 

Airport charts are NOT provided.

 

Observations ... application interface is intuitive and the update is much simpler. My aircraft and utilities are supported with one glaring exception ... AirSimmer. Possibility this may be covered in the future.

 

I have yet to fly so this post is merely a heads-up not an unqualified recommendation.

I'm interested to see how this develops. I believe that fair competition in the market is good for us all. At the moment though, I'm waiting to see what I get from Aerosoft that I don't get from Navigraph and await comments from those wiser than me - ie most people here ;-) If Ian and Rafal switch, I'll follow - though with no Airsimmer I see no Rafal.

Aerosoft have released R1.2 to overcome some issues with PMDG data.

 

My experience so far is excellent insofar as there appears no compatibility issues (as advertised). BTW folks FSNavigator IS supported .

 

My reason for acquiring NavDataPro was simply, and coincidentally, my annual Navigraph Airac subscription had expired. I still use Navigraph's nDac 3 for charts ...taken a bit of a hammering lately with the release of all those FS9 airports.

is it only for one add on?

 

No Jon. Like Navigraph's cycles the NavDataPro datasets apply to all its supported add-ons including those you are interested in.

No Jon. Like Navigraph's cycles the NavDataPro datasets apply to all its supported add-ons including those you are interested in.

 

Well keep us up to date on what you think of this addon.

I'm already committed to Navigraph for a year of updates. If you like this, I might switch over when my subscription runs out.

BTW folks FSNavigator IS supported .

 

If this can be confirmed by anyone else I might have a go with it but its not listed as supported in the product page

 

Thnx

After Gavin's kind (and not really deserved) compliment above, I have to confess that this is an aspect of FS I have never addressed. Up to now I have not subscribed to any kind of update service. My big question is - is there a downside to this? For example, if the data for an airport is changed, such as the added third runway at KSEA, but I'm using the FlyTampa KSEA with only the two original runways, does that kind of thing create problems for default ATC etc?

 

I'm definitely interested in giving this a go, but just wanted to know if there are issues I need to be aware of.

Hi Ian.

 

This is really a case of "your dam'd if you do and dam'd if you don't."

 

The FS9 database is 9 years old, if we're charitable, and well and truly outdated compared to the real world now. That is why Navigraph, and now Aerosoft, provide up-to-date nav for those of us 'serious' simmers who fly predominately FMC equipped tubeliners.

 

As I alluded to in one of my posts above updated charts are the other side of the coin. Most freeware and payware developers who provide charts with their airports never update them so their 'currency' is limited.

 

You are right, of course, that sometimes developers do not update their airports ... as you mentioned FlyTampa's KSEA. Some do like Aerosoft's interim amendment to cater for EDDF's new runway

 

So, to summarise:

Fly GA using FS9's native ATC and plain, vanilla scenery ... perfect.

 

Fly IFR, using add-on ATC, MCE/FS2Crew, many add-on sceneries, upgraded nav and charts ... almost perfect.

 

But then it follows you will need to consider Real time, Mag variations, Weather, Realistic planning tools (Topcat, PFPX etc.etc.) RAAS et al ... getting closer to perfection. Fair dinkum its getting more like work rather than a hobby.

 

Then one starts building a cockpit .. but based on WHICH aircraft one owns and actually flies?

 

Its enough to drive one to drink.

 

Ian, where do YOU draw the line eh?

 

:australia-flag:

When it comes to being driven to drink mate - my line expires each day around 4 pm. As for the eternal search for FS perfection - I have no idea where that line gets drawn, other than by my bank account.

:rolleyes:

AIRACs account for new airports and obsolete airports (including "moved" airports where the ICAO code is kept from the obsolete airport), not just changed runway data. For example, what about the recent thread on Bangkok scenery. If you had an AIRAC from 2006-2007 VTBD was temorarily closed. Those that wish to use Berlin-Tempelhof which closed in 2008 will miss that in current AIRACs. Then there are those aficionados of Kai Tak who add that scenery back not realistic but want the challenge.

 

I can't recall right now where I reworked some data on a moved or replacement airport.

 

Then there is navdata. You can not delete in FS9 without the hazardous (IMHO) modification of the default APxxxx.bgl files as some developers do a LOC/ILS or modify its identification. Some apps use the navaid data including some planners. What about the auto NAVAID tuning in the B747.

 

If you update scenery adding or modifying airports then AIRACs can be a good idea providing your planner and navigation gear can be synchronized.

 

There are tricks that can be used to recall deleted airports (if you have an old AIRAC that covers them) for text based AIRAC data in the formats that you use but then every time you update AIRACs you have to again modify the data to include desired obsolete airports.

 

A bit off topic but regarding FS9 ATC is that New and modified airports need to have the approach layer data modified by appropriate airport editors such as ADE. AFCAD2 will not do this. It has to do with synced waypoints on the way in. One effect for example is an AFCAD added ILS is only seen by user aircraft and not ai, nor will these show on an FS internal map. If in IFR conditions ai might take a different conflicting pattern due to runway selection by navaid choice.

 

Another problem is ICAO change that does not track installed scenery. Here is an RC4 thread regarding an illustration in this problem that could affect FS9 ATC as well:

http://forum.avsim.net/topic/385842-start-rc-my-aircraft-gets-moved-halfway-around-the-globe/

and how the AIRAC will not sync with the default scenery.

 

I have the ISG instrument suite, FSBuildv4, and the PMDG B737NGs all of which are supported by the navigraph and Aerosoft products so I plan to do an update maybe annually with the one-time Aerosoft subscription when I might update airport scenery. Most of my flying is Europe and the US so I do not get hit by airport moves and new airports too much.

Then there is navdata. You can not delete in FS9 without the hazardous (IMHO) modification of the default APxxxx.bgl files as some developers do a LOC/ILS or modify its identification.

 

That's exactly the problem. With my beloved propliner I like to use NDB's and VOR's. The navdata from actual AIRAC doesn't fit with FS2004 database at many places I like to fly, and I haven't the knowledge to edit it. What we needed is a service which updates the FS2004 database according to real world development regularly - I would not hesitate to conscript...

 

Regards! Harald

Guys I'm pretty sure there is a link to a file that will update the default FS9/FSX VOR's and NDB's

 

Have a look at the pinned topics at the PMDG general forum.

When it comes to being driven to drink mate - my line expires each day around 4 pm. As for the eternal search for FS perfection - I have no idea where that line gets drawn, other than by my bank account.

:rolleyes:

 

I am with you on that Ian... I finally gave in after 10 years of simming and spent the money on a PC that runs everything top notch... It all starts over again... "Check wallet" light is on steady... So many airac's and airports and planes to buy now!

Yes there is as well as added waypoints somewhere. Navaid idents can not be changed unless the APxxxx.bgl files are modified. New idents are OK.

 

Waypoints I'm not sure other than additions.

 

Guys I'm pretty sure there is a link to a file that will update the default FS9/FSX VOR's and NDB's

 

Have a look at the pinned topics at the PMDG general forum.

That's exactly the problem. With my beloved propliner I like to use NDB's and VOR's. The navdata from actual AIRAC doesn't fit with FS2004 database at many places I like to fly, and I haven't the knowledge to edit it.

 

What we needed is a service which updates the FS2004 database according to real world development regularly - I would not hesitate to conscript...

 

http://www.aero.sors.fr/navaids2.html

 

Monthly, and it is all for free.....