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Is there a way to utilize MSFS NAV database?

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good morning to all,

I don't have a NaviGraph subscription and I get this message (nav data base out of date or something like that in MCDU), if MSFS is updating their nav data base frequently, is there a third party App/Mod to utilize that for third party airplanes like PMDG and FENIX?

 

Best regards.

Ali A.

MSFS on PC: I9-13900KS | ASUS ROG STRIX Z790 MB | 64GB DDR5/6000MHz RAM | ASUS TUF RTX4090 OCE | 1TB M.2 Samsung 990 Pro (Windows) +2TB Samsung 990 Pro for MSFS + 2TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD for DATA | EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB CPU cooler.

HP Reverb G2 VR (occasional use) | LG-45GX950A-B 5K 5120X2160 monitor | Tobii Eye tracker 5 | Logitech sound system 7.1 | VIRPIL Controls (Joystick + thrust levers + rudder pedals) | Windows 11 Pro.

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2 hours ago, polosim said:

many thanks for your reply, however I mentioned that I don't have a navigraph subscription and looking to utilize MSFS free nav data AIRAC.

Ali A.

MSFS on PC: I9-13900KS | ASUS ROG STRIX Z790 MB | 64GB DDR5/6000MHz RAM | ASUS TUF RTX4090 OCE | 1TB M.2 Samsung 990 Pro (Windows) +2TB Samsung 990 Pro for MSFS + 2TB Samsung 860 EVO SSD for DATA | EK-Nucleus AIO CR360 Lux D-RGB CPU cooler.

HP Reverb G2 VR (occasional use) | LG-45GX950A-B 5K 5120X2160 monitor | Tobii Eye tracker 5 | Logitech sound system 7.1 | VIRPIL Controls (Joystick + thrust levers + rudder pedals) | Windows 11 Pro.

Some aircraft use the builtin MSFS navdata, but some, such as the Fenix and PMDG, use their own navdata format, and for these, Navigraph is the only way to update the navdata. 

  • Commercial Member
2 hours ago, penta_a said:

free nav data AIRAC.

I missed the free part, in that case, in some updates PMDG or FENIX include the a most recent AIRAC NavData as part of the update, otherwise I think there is no other way to get it for free.

The only update that I would like at the moment for my PMDG 737-600 is at EIDW Dublin. The NavData included with the product does not recognise the new runway at this airport.

Christopher Low

AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU / 64GB DDR5-6000 RAM / 12GB Nvidia RTX 4070 Super GPU / Gigabyte X870E Aorus Elite Wifi 7 / 1+2TB Samsung Evo Plus M2 Nvme

UK2000 Beta Tester

21 minutes ago, Christopher Low said:

The only update that I would like at the moment for my PMDG 737-600 is at EIDW Dublin. The NavData included with the product does not recognise the new runway at this airport.

I think the most realistic option is to start a monthly Navigraph subscription, then immediately cancel it. The monthly fee is about 11 Euros. You'd probably want to make a backup of the file somewhere.

Alternatively, I think PMDG still uses a text-based navdata format. If you're so inclined, you could try to add the necessary data to the file yourself, making a best guess at the format from what you see for other airports. 

2 hours ago, penta_a said:

many thanks for your reply, however I mentioned that I don't have a navigraph subscription and looking to utilize MSFS free nav data AIRAC.

You can't. The MSFS navdata format in insufficient (i.e. missing runways and stuff) for study level airliners and therefore they use Navigraph.

For transparency: I'm a community mentor at the BATC discord. However, I do not get paid for it in any way.

29 minutes ago, Fiorentoni said:

You can't. The MSFS navdata format in insufficient (i.e. missing runways and stuff) for study level airliners and therefore they use Navigraph.

Are you sure it's because the MSFS navdata format isn't up to the task? The WT G1000 uses it, and that supports some pretty advanced features, including RF legs:

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/flying-the-dca-rnp-19-in-the-new-working-title-g1000-nxi/425492

I suspect the main reason why some addons use their own navdata format is that the MSFS API for querying navdata is a JavaScript API, and it's hard to access that from an addon written in a different language (and possibly even running outside the simulator).

  • Commercial Member
12 minutes ago, martinboehme said:

Are you sure it's because the MSFS navdata format isn't up to the task?

Hi, Martin. As @Fiorentoni said, the MSFS Navdatabase is incomplete, so there is an add on like Navigraph to reduce that gap.

Here are some examples of the improvements you will see updating the Microsoft Flight Simulator navigation database:

* Missing airports are added

* Missing runways are added

* Missing navaids are added

* Ranges of navaids are modeled correctly

* Widths and ranges of ILS feathers are modeled correctly

* ILS/LOC, LDA, IGS, and SDF course accuracy is improved

* ILS back courses are modeled correctly

* Missing PAPI and VASI lights are added

* Glide slopes are modeled correctly to match the runway touchdown zone and PAPI lights

* FIR/UIR boundaries are updated

* VORTAC/TACAN support

https://navigraph.com/products/navigation-data/simulator-updates

 

16 minutes ago, martinboehme said:

Are you sure it's because the MSFS navdata format isn't up to the task? The WT G1000 uses it, and that supports some pretty advanced features, including RF legs:

https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/flying-the-dca-rnp-19-in-the-new-working-title-g1000-nxi/425492

I suspect the main reason why some addons use their own navdata format is that the MSFS API for querying navdata is a JavaScript API, and it's hard to access that from an addon written in a different language (and possibly even running outside the simulator).

It literally misses entire runways if the runway designator in the navdata is different from the one in the scenery (e.g. after the designator changed due to magnetic shift). I'd call that "not up to the task".

For transparency: I'm a community mentor at the BATC discord. However, I do not get paid for it in any way.

2 minutes ago, polosim said:

Hi, Martin. As @Fiorentoni said, the MSFS Navdatabase is incomplete, so there is an add on like Navigraph to reduce that gap.

Here are some examples of the improvements you will see updating the Microsoft Flight Simulator navigation database:

* Missing airports are added

* Missing runways are added

* Missing navaids are added

* Ranges of navaids are modeled correctly

* Widths and ranges of ILS feathers are modeled correctly

* ILS/LOC, LDA, IGS, and SDF course accuracy is improved

* ILS back courses are modeled correctly

* Missing PAPI and VASI lights are added

* Glide slopes are modeled correctly to match the runway touchdown zone and PAPI lights

* FIR/UIR boundaries are updated

* VORTAC/TACAN support

https://navigraph.com/products/navigation-data/simulator-updates

 

To add to that: You get charts. Hard to fly a procedure without charts.

For transparency: I'm a community mentor at the BATC discord. However, I do not get paid for it in any way.

  • Commercial Member
1 minute ago, Fiorentoni said:

You get charts.

I’m afraid charts is included in a different product.

https://navigraph.com/products/charts

12 minutes ago, polosim said:

Here are some examples of the improvements you will see updating the Microsoft Flight Simulator navigation database:

This answers the question "why should I update my MSFS navdata with Navigraph", not "why do many addons use their own navdata format" (which is what I was commenting on).

9 minutes ago, Fiorentoni said:

To add to that: You get charts. Hard to fly a procedure without charts.

Again, this is a really good reason to get a Navigraph subscription, but it doesn't explain why some addons use their own navdata format instead of MSFS's.

To be clear: I have a Navigraph subscription, and I wouldn't be without it, but others might be content with the navdata included in MSFS - except that not all addons can use it. 

Edited by martinboehme

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