Just a heads-up for those who may be interested.

 

Many of you may be familiar with Hervé Sors, who provides monthly updates to upgrade the default FSX database of VORs, NDBs, etc at his web site http://www.aero.sors.fr/navaids3.html

 

He also provides two versions of updated Magnetic Declination files for FSX. These updates have been invaluable for those of us who like to fly with current real-world procedures. Pretty frustrating to tune a VOR marked on a current chart, only to find that it won't work in FSX OR P3D, Because the present-day frequency has changed from the original 2006 default data in FSX/P3D

 

For several months now, the monthly navaid updates have also provided the ability to update airport ILS frequencies, and courses for airports in Europe. Again, this is invaluable as ILSs change even more often than VORs - and these updates also correct many long-standing outright errors in the ILSs at many airports.

 

Hervé has just made available a complete set of updates for all default ILSs for the USA, southern Canada and northern Mexico, all based on current, published data from Jeppesen!

 

Unlike the worldwide nav data updater, the US ILS database updates have to be installed manually. They are supplied in a zip file. These are all bgl files in the form APX(5-digit numer).bgl and go into the various numbered folders in the default FSX Scenery folder. Though these files were produced for FSX, they should work fine in P3D as well, as it uses the same default database of navaids as FSX. I just installed the updates in my new copy of P3D 2.5, and they work great!

 

Since these updates are installed at a very low level in the FSX scenery system, they will not affect or interfere with add-on airports that also provide updated or corrected ILSs.

 

For those who want to try it, it is very important to follow the instructions in the README file in the zip archive regarding backing up the original default APX files, in case you want to later revert the changes.

 

He also intends to make updates for all ILSs in Africa and Asia in the near future.

 

All of the various tools and navaid updates Hervé provides are free. He does have an option to make a PayPal donation if you wish to support his work, which I have done gladly, as these updates are highly useful, and I appreciate the effort that went into producing them!

Hello,

 

Have others made use of these updates?  If so, what are the pros and cons of doing this.  On face, it sounds like a good idea. 

 

Regards, Gerry

I always thought changing these files caused some things to break?

The concern has always been that the available "decompilers" have mainly been designed to extract airport data with a view of creating airport-specific "afcad" files (compiled airports using the MS SDK bglcomp compiler or similar).  As such, the decompilers weren't designed or tested to fully decompile an entire AFX file.  Of course, that doesn't mean they can't, or that such a decompiler couldn't be written.  I think it was stated by ACES that bglcomp was used to create the default files, but there was always suspicion about that.  IIRC, the main concern was that summary data was contained in the file (presumably used to create the scenery database during the scenery scan).  At any rate, make sure you back up your default AFX files and then give it a go and see what happens.  Worst case I can see is you simply restore your backup.

 

scott s.

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Hi Scott

 

Except for some Europe files, the proposed updates did not make use of any decompiler. There were build by direct changes to the relevant BGL sections (and there's quite a lot when building or correcting an ILS or a runway identifier taking into account all necessary changes including several indexes, some scenery ojects, etc) but nothing else is changed. But of course, backup oif original files is anyway mandatory.

 

Hervé

Would this change the ILS Course Info in the Default World Map?  I was landing at Palma LEPA last night and my World Map said Course 240 and my FMC said Course 239 - I choose 240 and ended up parked on the grass next to the runway on full CATIII Autoland

LEPA ILS magnetic course (both 24R and 24L) is indeed 239°. After checking the last update I provided for LEPA, ILS magnetic heading is 238.52. Since ILS magnetic variation is defined to 0°E (real actual value), world map will indicate 239° (and it is what I have on my FSX map). So I suspect (i) either you didn't install airport updates (APX48170 should be dated 18-Sep-2014) (ii) or you have an addon scenery that incorrectly defines these data.

Anyway, ILS following should be independant since it uses what FSX provides and not any panel or FMC setting. Feel free to email me directly if you like we investigate the problem further on

 

Regards

 

Hervé