Because that's not how PMDG generally works...

And I already hear something about "but the 747-8 was just a visual extension..." coming. Indeed it was, but it won't be in the next release.

In the real world, EFBs were first developed in the early 1990's. Prior to that, pilots carried hard copy charts with them for their flights, and relied upon dispatchers for performance data.

 

I think that this discussion can go back and forth on this forever on whether PMDG should or should not include it in their VC. But in the interim, I think we can either buy the EFB, or go online and download charts, etc that is available and have them on hand when we fly, just like it used to be in real world.

 

Rob

If it's not illegal, what would stop PMDG to do the same?

 

It's a very labor intensive process.  See how long it's taken TOPCAT and the rest of the developers?  If all of them are adding it to their own programs - regardless of cost - why duplicate efforts, particularly when it takes forever to do so.

The work involved isn't impossibly great. A lot of it is trial and error and reverse engineering. I think it's a principle PMDG appear to have stuck to. For example, the iFly 737NG has all the different CFM56 thrust ratings selectable for use in the FMC. On the NGX there's just one, the one they have accurate performance data for. PMDG could surely do what iFly did, but they choose not to. It's been left to third parties (notably some enthusiasts in this forum) to come up with performance calculators and spreadsheets that do a fantastic job. Certainly good enough for sim use.

 

If someone packaged those calculations into an application designed with the look and feel of the 777 EFB I'm sure it would be a very popular download. Especially if it could also be linked to a PDF viewer.

 

 

The work involved isn't impossibly great.

 

Definitely not impossible, no.  As I mentioned, it's how Aurasim and TOPCAT do it (and what I've had to do to get a J41 PFPX profile created - ugh), but it's a lot of work compared to someone handing you the data.  It's possible, but I'd argue it's better for them to keep doing what they do best with the data they have available, and let the others do what they do.