The source of the charts doesn't matter. It's making the charts move with an airplane icon indicating our position on the chart that is the difficult part. I would say that it's impossible to make (with real charts)

I may be wrong, but I don't think the real EFB has a moving map feature for charts. It does have a moving map for ground positional awareness, and data for that could presumably be obtained on the fly from the AFCAD for the scenery.

 

My understanding from one of RSR's interviews was that PMDG plan to release EFB functionality separately so it will work in any compatible PMDG sim. That raises the question will it have specific performance data installed.

 

The "other" 777 has a dumb EFB which displays graphical images of charts, but at least you can load it with the charts you need. Basic but functional.

I may be wrong, but I don't think the real EFB has a moving map feature for charts.

 

From what I understand, depending on who the data/program provider is, the function of moving map is optional.

 

Kinda like ForeFlight for me. The option for geo-referenced approach plates is in there, but I didn't pay for it, ergo my EFB (my iPad) doesn't have it.

I don't think the real EFB has a moving map feature for charts. It does have a moving map for ground positional awareness, and data for that could presumably be obtained on the fly from the AFCAD for the scenery.

(This picture below is not mine)

 

 

I would buy EFB for iPad or for Windows that will be able to communicate with PMDG 777. The most important things are performance calculations and capability to transfer them to PMDG 777 FMC.

Too bad it does not exist!

 

I don't care about moving maps, I just want a fully functional performance calculator on the EFB.

Lionel, that's not a moving map for charts, but the ground situational awareness map. Just like Kevin said.

Yeppers. "AIRPORT MAP" application on the EFB.

"TERMINAL CHARTS" is a separate application, I would think it just provides an interface to document reader, but I cant say I know one way or the other.

I reccon the performance calculator would be both useful and feasable to impliment to a high standard. Topcat already does a performance calculation, and it does it without directly interfacing with the aircraft. Having one included directly in the aircraft would be very nice indeed.

 

PDF reader in VC might be harder, and a bit of a hit on FPS without much benifit (looking at a tiny zoomed-out PDF at an odd and constantly changing angle off the side isn't that useful).

 

A Ground awareness thing might work by reading the airport afcad (so will change it's information when you install addon scenery and generally always match what you see outside.) - not sure how pretty it would be though, or what other issues there might be from that kind of thing, but it could work. (scenery editors have pretty convincing layouts... however getting gate numbers to show up might be harder.

 

 

Video? Sure. Tail view. Don't get me started on the cabin views...
 

 

Video isn't implemented in the real 777's EFB's, they actually show on the MFD's (PFD) when selected and are really only useful on the ground. (and in fact more useful than a PFD when taxying.)

 

Tail view with the taxi/turning markings. and maybe the other 2 cameras that show the position of the main landing gear. VRS's F/A-18 Tac pac with it's FLIR is a good demonstration of the type of thing that is possible in this regard.

 

Cabin view video feed would be just a useless lol, Implementable as a jpg image  that is displayed on the lower ECIAS screen. It's use would be limited to... pretty much nothing. If it were implimented I would suggest a jpg image with nobody standing up in the galley or near the cockpit door. 

PMDG should incoorperate some sort of upload/save view later system. You upload a file (pdf) from any site. It can be a plate or just a random PDF, then you can save it in the EFB by a new name so you can access it later. This would be terrific if you have ETOPS charts, Approach Plates, Checklists, etc... I would really love that!!

 

PMDG if you are reading this, this is what is nice:
1. open the EFB and have a tab to upload PDF

2. View PDF in the EFB and zoom in out and so on.

3. Add an invert colors night colors tweek to the PDF in the EFB so we can see the charts nicely at night

4. Have an option to save the PDF in the EFB by unique name to view later.

5. Copy paste the PDF in a temp PMDG folder.

 

I believe this is the best way to use the EFB for charts and other necessary documents on board.

 

For Moving map, they should create (if there is time) a way to download and install maps into the EFB like they do for liverys. On the PMDG site, they should create a new tab under downloads to place map files. This way we can download the maps and they will start to work as soon as we enter the airport (we downloaded) airspace!

 

 

The EFB is handy and I really believe PMDG should incorporated it with these ideas! It is simple and efficient! 

Can someone tell me about the tail camera views in the gauges? I want to know if PMDG will do that or make a dummy model for it!

 

 

Thanks,

 

Rohan Patel

 

PMDG if you are reading this, this is what is nice:

1. open the EFB and have a tab to upload PDF

2. View PDF in the EFB and zoom in out and so on.

3. Add an invert colors night colors tweek to the PDF in the EFB so we can see the charts nicely at night

4. Have an option to save the PDF in the EFB by unique name to view later.

5. Copy paste the PDF in a temp PMDG folder.

 

.

 

Yes Rohan Yes...  That would be awsome

One of the challenges for devs creating a moving map function is you either have to:

 

a ) Tie it to a paid subscription that is likely to be significantly more expensive than the add-on itself or;

 

b ) Recreate all of that work yourself in your own proprietary format.

 

Personally I think a smart way to approach this is to create the means to display the moving map, add in a selection of airports as a starter, then make the map editing tool available to the customers to create and share their own maps. Very quickly the major ports that handle 777's will be recreated by the user community and - if you set up a ranking system on the download page - the best quality maps will thrive.

 

This is typical of the challenges devs face as they model increasingly data/information-rich airplanes. Data is either expensive, or recreating it in-house is a mammoth task. Not to mention that respectable devs like PMDG will want to avoid situations where their product can be used in conjunction with proprietary data/maps that have been illegitimately sourced.

 

I note a CPDLC discussion is currently also underway, and one could argue that a similar approach be taken there too. Make the interface available for the VATSIM/IVAO community to use as they see fit.

 

Edit: This should go without saying, but to be 100% clear I don't have any privileged information about if/how PMDG plans to incorporate these features.

For those looking for current maps for ios you might want to consider circle to land. 5 dollars on the App Store.

For Moving map, they should create (if there is time) a way to download and install maps into the EFB like they do for liverys. On the PMDG site, they should create a new tab under downloads to place map files. This way we can download the maps and they will start to work as soon as we enter the airport (we downloaded) airspace!

No need for map downloads.  FSX already contains the topography of all airports, runways, taxiways and stands it models in scenery files, AFCAD, etc.  You could generate a ground map from that data within the EFB, just as Aivlasoft generate very realistic looking charts for their EFB addon.