Hi. The INIT page of the FMC (737 NGX) says that the nav data is out of date (24 Aug 2011).  Does this get updated periodically and if so how do I obtain the update?

 

Thanks

 

Trevor Simpson

You have to get more recent data to fly with a reasonable degree of realism. I use Navigraph, you get worldwide charts in your ipad and all the current AIRAC cycles.

 

Alternatively you can use other sources for free with slightly outdated data. If you dont mind flying with older data.....

 

Freenavdb comes to mind I think.

Check the Introduction document, frequently asked questions pg 43.  This actually is a useful document.

 

Same as Alberto, I've used Navigraph for years but only for the FMS data. Most charts I need are available free from multiple sources.  If you don't want updated data the Introduction instructs you how to eliminate the message.

Hello Dan, not advertising anything but try Navigraph´s chart cloud on a mini ipad or full ipad. It has multiple tabs below and you can consistently dowload the ground charts, parking, sids, stars, approaches and have them all in there. It takes me about a minute to load all of the necessary airport charts for a given departure or arrival and with one touch I can switch between any of them. Some of these LIDO charts used by Lufthansa have some very neat features like a box in green with all the pertaining frequencies to that chart. It is sort of like an electronic flight bag, is not messy, and yo don´t have to print charts all the time.

 

 

don´t have to print charts all the time

 

Thanks for the tip but I never print charts.  Right now I'm enroute KIAH-EHAM and having just added EHAM airport to my scenery library I got all the charts from eurocontrol free as pdf files. The only thing I need is adobe reader, also free.  The other day I was using some old VHHH charts cause nothing current can be found and I thought of Navigraph charts, but not for long.

For about $6 you can go to Navigraph and get current, your FMC will match up with airnav.com charts.

 

I'm not sure your experience level, but mine is about 2 months with the NGX and seriously planning the route as close to real world as possible. Perhaps the next paragraph might help.

 

Website resources (free)

 

flightaware.com [live flight tracking tab-IFR route analyzer]

     Enter departure & arrival airports and get real world routes

airnav.com

     Get airport charts, SIDS, STARS, diagrams... everything airport related

 

if you don't update your FMC database, it is certain that many of the routes, sids & stars will not match up and it will confuse you greatly

 

If you get the $6 one time update, everything matches up perfectly and it is very easy to get the hang of route planning.

 

Other tip I picked up was once you have a route programmed into the FMC you click to the route page and change your map EFIS display to PLN, you'll see a step function appear on the lower right of the FMC, click it and you can step through the route to make sure everything is gravy.

If you get the $6 one time update, everything matches up perfectly and it is very easy to get the hang of route planning.

 

One time update, if you consider "one time" as 13/year :smile: . Navigation data changes in 13 cycles per year. So, sure, it's a one time update from 2011 to current, but it's recurring after that if you want to remain current (though buying in bulk on their site carries a discount).

 

All the same, if you wanted to, you could "one time" update, and then use the access code to "one time" update SimBrief. From there, both your nav data and flight planning sites would be on the same data, which would allow you to remain "frozen in time" to a certain degree, without having to update much (SimBrief won't plan routes for you, though you can pull other people's routes, but I forget if those routes are for your data cycle or just commonly filed overall).

Thanks for your help.  It sounds as if you are saying that Navigraph is a good source of up to date nav data and charts. The issue though is that its no good using up to date charts if new  airways, waypoints, nav radio frequencies etc. are not recognised in the FMC.

 

So just to be quite clear on this, does Navigraph actually put the current database into the PMDG 737 FMC ? I assumed any updates would have to come from PMDG.

 

Trevor Simpson 

Navigraph was a piece of cake. I don't have a ton of third party stuff... as far as planes only the PMDG 737, but at navigraph you pay for the subscription, and if I remember, you then get a password or code or something.

 

You then download the navigraph EXE (self running and independent program) onto your desktop. Run it and it's smart enough to find everything it needs and update everything. One or two clicks... extremely easy, cheap and completely effective with no issues.

 

If you have tons of crazy third party pirated and hacked planes I'm not sure how well it will work updating your fleet, but if everything is legit and simple (as in my case) it was a piece of cake.

So just to be quite clear on this, does Navigraph actually put the current database into the PMDG 737 FMC ? I assumed any updates would have to come from PMDG.

PMDG themselves do not create nav data. In fact, the 2011 nav database that was included with the 737 NGX was produced by Navigraph.

 

Navigraph provides monthly updates of nav data, and also is a provider of aeronautical approach and enroute charts for flight sim use. You can subscribe to a full year of nav data updates, or if you want to save some money, you can purchase just a one-time update of nav data for the current cycle. Subscription to the charts is not required to obtain nav data.

 

When you purchase a nav data update - either one cycle, or a whole year's worth - it entitles you to download files for dozens of different add-ons, not just PMDG. Navigraph provides FMS data for the Aerosoft Airbus series, FeelThere regional jets, Magestic Q400, Eaglesoft biz jets, just to name a few, as well as updates for utility programs like PFPX and FSCommander. They also produce updates for X-Plane add-ons.

 

Aerosoft has a similar service called NavData Pro, which is comparably priced, and which also offers yearly or one-time subscriptions. The Aerosoft service is only for FMS nav data - they do not offer charts.

 

 

Does this get updated periodically and if so how do I obtain the update?

I find Navigraph Ultimate to be the best solution - https://www.navigraph.com/Subscription.aspx.

For one year you receive all of AIRAC cycles and enroute and airport charts. No searching the Internet for charts which may or may not be out of date. 

I have taken another look at the introduction document as Dan suggested, and sure enough it explains clearly that the FMS data comes from Navigraph. I went to the Navigraph site, signed up and purchased a 30 day update just to try it out. Installing it with the software provided was very easy, so I am now up and running with current nav data.

 

I did read the introduction when I first purchased the PMDG 737, but I had forgotten the bit about the nav data. Well you know what it's like when you are a newbie; you just want to dive in and get flying and what you read in the documentation is soon forgotten.

 

Thanks again for your help.

 

Trevor Simpson 

 

 

so I am now up and running with current nav data.

For the next 28 days.

My NGX Navdata displays as 'Out of date even though the dates shown on the display are current.

 

Is there a 'fix' for this please?

53 minutes ago, G7USL said:

My NGX Navdata displays as 'Out of date even though the dates shown on the display are current.

 

Is there a 'fix' for this please?

I believe this a a problem with the time setting on your sim. You either need to use real world time or disable real world time. I can't remember which off-hand.