Does anyone have information about outstanding issues with PMDG airplanes, specifically the MSFS2020 737's A/P, FD functionality, and interface with LNAV/VNAV?

They have been claiming it's a work in progress for 10 years now and still not properly fixed.

Despite all the claims and little adjustments, we still have issues before and after waypoint transitions where the airplane will bank left/right in such a manner that is not real, with unrealistic oscillations from one side to the other before settling down on course. During every turn, the airplane will still bounce left/right, also in VNAV after the WPT passage it can be noticed that the airplane will go below/above the path resulting in unrealistic speed variations. 

All this has nothing to do with the old/new nav data, it's just their coding and interface.

 

I was searching on their forum and there are some statements from PMDG

October 2013, PMDG CEO Robert Randazzo stated that "LNAV, VNAV, and autopilot are all on the list of things to be fixed, but they're not high priorities right now."

Finally, in a forum post from January 2014, Randazzo stated that "LNAV, VNAV, and autopilot are now fixed and will be included in the next update."

 

None of that happened, a few months ago we had a micro update for the MSFS2020, unfortunately, it didn't do much and we still have the issues I mentioned above. 

 

At least for me, this issue is very disappointing and doesn't give me any confidence to buy any other PMDG product unless I see these long-lasting problems fixed. 

I fly the 737-800 all the time, and frankly, I don't see any really bothersome issues with the way it flies, and all I fly is IFR flights with Sids and Stars 95% of the time.

Edited October 7, 20232 yr by Bobsk8

Their LNAV and VNAV seems to work fine for me.   Why are you going on with this again? 

Yes we know you don't like PMDG.  Next...

12 minutes ago, Mace said:

Their LNAV and VNAV seems to work fine for me.   Why are you going on with this again? 

Yes we know you don't like PMDG.  Next...

It's obvious that you are not familiar with the correct functionality, but please don't take it the wrong way. I truly appreciate the work done by PMDG. However, I must point out that the issue at hand has nothing to do with my personal preferences towards PMDG. It's simply about proper functionality and addressing an obvious problem that has been overlooked for over a decade. I believe it's not too much to ask for a proper fix after waiting for so long.  Many of us are eagerly anticipating this fix.

 

 

The reason they haven't fully fixed LNAV, or added RF legs, is because they think their userbase doesn't care. Or see them as issues. 

E.g.,

20 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

I fly the 737-800 all the time, and frankly, I don't see any really bothersome issues with the way it flies, and all I fly is IFR flights with Sids and Stars 95% of the time.

and

15 minutes ago, Mace said:

Their LNAV and VNAV seems to work fine for me.   Why are you going on with this again? 

Yes we know you don't like PMDG.  Next...

 

13 minutes ago, chapstick said:

The reason they haven't fully fixed LNAV, or added RF legs, is because they think their userbase doesn't care. Or see them as issues. 

E.g.,

and

 

Many people are unaware, but for some, this is a significant issue. We find it unprofessional when businesses make promises they don't keep.

After this last update, My TM Airbus quadrant is totally borked,I did a total reinstall of PMDG 600,700,800 and 900,no fix.

58 minutes ago, LRBS said:

Does anyone have information about outstanding issues with PMDG airplanes, specifically the MSFS2020 737's A/P, FD functionality, and interface with LNAV/VNAV?

They have been claiming it's a work in progress for 10 years now and still not properly fixed.

Despite all the claims and little adjustments, we still have issues before and after waypoint transitions where the airplane will bank left/right in such a manner that is not real, with unrealistic oscillations from one side to the other before settling down on course. During every turn, the airplane will still bounce left/right, also in VNAV after the WPT passage it can be noticed that the airplane will go below/above the path resulting in unrealistic speed variations. 

All this has nothing to do with the old/new nav data, it's just their coding and interface.

 

I was searching on their forum and there are some statements from PMDG

October 2013, PMDG CEO Robert Randazzo stated that "LNAV, VNAV, and autopilot are all on the list of things to be fixed, but they're not high priorities right now."

Finally, in a forum post from January 2014, Randazzo stated that "LNAV, VNAV, and autopilot are now fixed and will be included in the next update."

 

None of that happened, a few months ago we had a micro update for the MSFS2020, unfortunately, it didn't do much and we still have the issues I mentioned above. 

 

At least for me, this issue is very disappointing and doesn't give me any confidence to buy any other PMDG product unless I see these long-lasting problems fixed. 

I fly the 700 and 900 often. The VNAV and obviously LNAV work. I use a combination of simbrief/navigraph (with the downloader) and/or pilot2atc. No issues setting up a flight or loading it. I usually prefer manually placing the waypoints in but the simbrief method works and the plane follows it nicely.

Neither of these planes "bounce" left or right.

If I experience something that isn't right (like a speed restriction during a SID/STAR) then I usually put the speed in there manually.

 

What version are you running? How are you loading the plans into the sim?

You are mentioning things from 2013 and 2014 that have nothing to do with the current simulator.

1 hour ago, LRBS said:

It's obvious that you are not familiar with the correct functionality, but please don't take it the wrong way. I truly appreciate the work done by PMDG. However, I must point out that the issue at hand has nothing to do with my personal preferences towards PMDG. It's simply about proper functionality and addressing an obvious problem that has been overlooked for over a decade. I believe it's not too much to ask for a proper fix after waiting for so long.  Many of us are eagerly anticipating this fix.

 

 

No, actually I am aware of the issues, but as I stated, it works fine for me.  If I encounter a problem, I do what any pilot would do...

1 hour ago, Bobsk8 said:

I fly the 737-800 all the time, and frankly, I don't see any really bothersome issues with the way it flies, and all I fly is IFR flights with Sids and Stars 95% of the time.

Only thing i hate is the abruptness of the turns on AP, they are not smooth at all which they have acknowledged and hopefully fix soon.  

1 hour ago, chapstick said:

The reason they haven't fully fixed LNAV, or added RF legs, is because they think their userbase doesn't care. Or see them as issues. 

E.g.,

and

 

Actually, we see them as issues.  But way to go, completely stereotyping me.

Edited October 7, 20232 yr by Mace

2 minutes ago, Mace said:

No, actually I am aware of the issues, but as I stated, it works fine for me.  If I encounter a problem, I do what any pilot would do...

and  whats  that fly  the plane  🙂

2 hours ago, LRBS said:

Does anyone have information about outstanding issues with PMDG airplanes, specifically the MSFS2020 737's A/P, FD functionality, and interface with LNAV/VNAV?

They have been claiming it's a work in progress for 10 years now and still not properly fixed.

Despite all the claims and little adjustments, we still have issues before and after waypoint transitions where the airplane will bank left/right in such a manner that is not real, with unrealistic oscillations from one side to the other before settling down on course. During every turn, the airplane will still bounce left/right, also in VNAV after the WPT passage it can be noticed that the airplane will go below/above the path resulting in unrealistic speed variations. 

All this has nothing to do with the old/new nav data, it's just their coding and interface.

 

I was searching on their forum and there are some statements from PMDG

October 2013, PMDG CEO Robert Randazzo stated that "LNAV, VNAV, and autopilot are all on the list of things to be fixed, but they're not high priorities right now."

Finally, in a forum post from January 2014, Randazzo stated that "LNAV, VNAV, and autopilot are now fixed and will be included in the next update."

 

None of that happened, a few months ago we had a micro update for the MSFS2020, unfortunately, it didn't do much and we still have the issues I mentioned above. 

 

At least for me, this issue is very disappointing and doesn't give me any confidence to buy any other PMDG product unless I see these long-lasting problems fixed. 

Posting your issues on this forum, won't get you anywhere, so what's the point?

Just now, pete_auau said:

and  whats  that fly  the plane  🙂

Yes EXACTLY.   But nooooo, I must be a pollyanna-type of flyer, according the Chapstick and LRBS.  Maybe it's they who cannot improvise and solve a problem in-flight, and not me.  

I want the LNAV stuff fixed too, just like anyone else.

2 hours ago, Sonosusto said:

What version are you running? How are you loading the plans into the sim?

You are mentioning things from 2013 and 2014 that have nothing to do with the current simulator.

It has a lot to do with 2013/2014. All of the problems that were supposed to be resolved previously were carried over to the new platform of MSFS2020 to an even greater extent. Actually, in P3D, all these issues were less pronounced and easier to overlook. All this version, or how you load the FPL has nothing to do with bad coding.