Update today. 

Captains,

Now that 77W beginning to settle in with wide use, we are beginning to expand our attention outside the 777 circle in order to get caught up on a few other product lines that have been starved of attention while we went through the full-team effort to get 777 into your hangars. We have also just pushed another update for 777 that I will detail at the bottom of this post, but first lets get you up to date on a few other news items for your weekend!

PMDG DC-6 Cloudmaster for MSFS:
Next week we anticipate bringing to you a small udpate to the DC-6 that will improve texture clarity on gauges/dials and on many of the placards and indicators throughout the flight deck. This change flows from some techniques we developed while working on other projects, and we found they worked really well, and when we applied it to DC-6 experimentally, the outcome was impressive, so we thought we would roll that out to you.

PMDG 737 for MSFS:
As we were approaching release of the 777, MSFS SU15 arrived, which included some platform changes that unmasked a couple of problems that would cause the aircraft to become unresponsive, even though the simulator remained running. A simple way to describe this is that there were a number of changes on the platform-side that increased the platform's sensitivity to certain C++ code issues that other compilers didn't stumble on. We saw these problems appear magically in both the 777 and 737 simultaneously, so we kept our focus on finding/fixing them on the 777 in order to get maximum benefit from the effort- and with today's 777 update we are pretty certain we have knocked down the known triggers.

While working on 777, we have been applying these same cures to 737, and in a few hours we will be pushing updates for the entire fleet of 737s off to the beta team to validate so that we can issue new updates to the 737 series next week. This should cure all known "freeze" behaviors in the 737, including the long-sought-after cure for the TCAS RA freeze that we have been chasing for the better part of 2024. (That one appeared after SU11, i think? But was so obscure it took until we saw a mass proliferation of trouble with SU15 for us to be able to find it!)

Look for these updates to roll out in the first half of next week.

PMDG 777-300ER for MSFS:
With this week's update, we have a few more fixes to the "freeze" issues that we have been chasing since release. We are confident that with this third update to 777, we have given her a proper level of stability and protection from freezes that were unmasked with the SU15 release. The good news here is that as we have found the root causes of each one, we have been able to evaluate the code methodology throughout the entire product to ensure we find all cases of "that" problem. Our guard is still up and we are still evaluating reports that come in- so if we find others we will continue to roll fixes to you as quickly as we can.

With this update, we begin a more normal shift toward fixing various bits and bobs throughout the airplane as well. You will notice that the change list for this update is longer than the previous two, as we are now into the normal meat of each post release cycle where we go after items that get reported by users and beta testers in the post release phase of the product cycle.

You can obtain this update via the PMDG Operations Center only at this time. Simply run the OC, then go to the updates page. (You might need to hit CHECK NOW to refresh the data.) Let the OC download and install this update and you are off and running with the very latest!

The change list for this week is listed below, but we are also already at work on a significant update for next week that we anticipate will include a fix for the long-file-names problem that affects some users. We are also testing changes that will allow Navigraph Navdata to be updated via the Universal Flight Tablet. There are a number of other fixes pending as well and we'll detail those for you next week.

Change list for THIS weeks update is as follows:

PMDG 777 for MSFS - 2.00.0037 MICRO
Released 2024-07-11

14362: [General - Flight Model] Relax FBW Envelope Protection (emvaos)
14439: [General - Flight Model] Relax Bank Angle protection (BAP) (emvaos)
14535: [FMS/AFDS - VNAV] Protecting TRANS/REST SPD ALT restriction in CLB page from offpath flying (emvaos)
14281: [ACARS - CPDLC] When can we expect is not a "request" into Hoppie (rmiroszewski)
13792: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] KLM Cabin partitions (psterling)
13806: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] KLM: seatback IFE (psterling)
14505: [External Model - Geometry] Hole on galley ceiling (jbrown)
14525: [ACARS - CPDLC] Extraneous character spilling out of CPDLC message window EICAS (hvanrensburg)
14380: [ACARS - CPDLC] CPDLC ACPT of FL change does not reach controller (hvanrensburg)
14334: [Sounds - External] Engine sounds in mid-power range adjustment needed. (jdoorman)
14500: [Sounds - External] Hydraulic ADP sounds too soft in external view (jdoorman)
14501: [Sounds - Internal/Cockpit] Slat/Flap sound needs geometric bounding (jdoorman)
14251: [Systems - Lighting - VC/2D] Rotary knobs for Instrument lighting no longer turns smoothing holding the mouse button? (abashkatov)
14284: [General - Unsure] Cabin lights staying on lower % undr certain conditions (rsrandazzo)
14450: [General - Unsure] Cabin lights remain on (rsrandazzo)
14528: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Dead pixel in MCP ALT window (vscimone)
13977: [FREEZES - All Types] Freeze cancelling CPDLC message (abashkatov)
14545: [External Model - Geometry] Texture inverted in the last row of the first business class cabin (jbrown)
13288: [Sounds - Internal/Cockpit] Engine sounds at high power settings (internal & external) (jdoorman)
14254: [Sounds - Internal/Cockpit] Engine sound on approach too loud (jdoorman)
14498: [Sounds - Internal/Cockpit] Cabin Sound looping (jdoorman)
14337: [Sounds - Internal/Cockpit] A/B switch does not make any sound when clicking on Disarm (hvanrensburg)
14310: [ACARS - Datalink/Connectivity] Vatsim D-ATIS only ARR (hvanrensburg)
13139: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] Flap lever moving very quickly (hvanrensburg)
14494: [Systems - Flight Controls] Key Binding for incremental Speedbrakes does not work (rsrandazzo)
14519: [ACARS - Weather Related Functions] TWIP send button is not operational (hvanrensburg)
14432: [ACARS - CPDLC] Plane freezes on accepting new ATIS message (hvanrensburg)
14422: [FREEZES - All Types] WASM failure in cruise appearing to be related to a PMDG uplink sever response failure. (hvanrensburg)
14514: [Apps - LightsNSwitches] Analog standby instruments do not dim (abashkatov)
14456: [External Model - Geometry] Door emergency lights ON even with emergency ligths not ON (jbrown)
14507: [External Model - Geometry] IFE sticks out (jbrown)
14523: [External Model - Geometry] IFE Visible in exterior model when off (jbrown)
14491: [Systems - Pressurization] sliding window lock handle (hvanrensburg)
14503: [External Model - Geometry] Hole/missing texture on Cabin ceiling (jbrown)
14512: [Systems - Lighting - VC/2D] Aft Galley lighting inop (jbrown)
14495: [Main Panel - Standby Gauges] Jitter in ISFD indicated airspeed (abashkatov)
14522: [External Model - Geometry] Cabin Lights; quality (jbrown)
14306: [ACARS - CPDLC] CPDLC message formatting (hvanrensburg)
14282: [ACARS - CPDLC] Voice contact request didn't make it to HOPPIE (hvanrensburg)
14295: [ACARS - Datalink/Connectivity] FLIGHT INFORMATION COMM page ATIS functionality (hvanrensburg)
14408: [ACARS - CPDLC] COMM ATC Messages not reading correctly (hvanrensburg)
14488: [ACARS - CPDLC] Long free text bugged (hvanrensburg)
14486: [Virtual Cockpit - Geometry/Textures] Black space around knobs in Captain EFIS panel (vscimone)
14497: [External Model - Geometry] Engine Rivets (jbrown)
14472: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] control wheel jittery movement (hvanrensburg)
14440: [General - Flight Model] Small adjustements to FLCH gains for deceleration in descent (emvaos)
14461: [General - Flight Model] Minimum maneuvering speed amber band model adjusted (in a turn) (emvaos)
14360: [Sounds - External] pack/hydraulics sounds play in drone but not spot views (jdoorman)
14350: [Sounds - External] APU sound to low. (jdoorman)
13564: [Sounds - Internal/Cockpit] Packs on Hydraulic Pressurisation (jdoorman)
14326: [Sounds - Internal/Cockpit] The flaps audio doesn't fade out and cuts out abruptly... (jdoorman)
14485: [FMS - Setup/Options Pages] Doors 5L/R cannot be opened from CDU Doors page after Disarming All (hvanrensburg)
14365: [Sounds - Internal/Cockpit] AI traffic noise in the cockpit (jdoorman)
14469: [External Model - Geometry] Fan blades smaller than engine cowling (jbrown)
14473: [External Model - Geometry] Aircon connections not correctly placed (jbrown)
14378: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] no knobs acceleration with wheel mouse up/down (abashkatov)
14460: [Systems - Lighting - Exterior] Wing Light too dim at night from Cabin (jbrown)
14323: [ACARS - Datalink/Connectivity] Can’t send requests on COMM (hvanrensburg)
14276: [Sounds - Internal/Cockpit] Window closing sound timing (jdoorman)
14358: [Virtual Cockpit - Functionality/Click-Spots] Emergency Lights Switch Mousewheel Request (hvanrensburg)
14367: [ACARS - CPDLC] Unable to insert COMM system text entries from FO side CDU (hvanrensburg)
13853: [External Model - Liveries] Livery - QATAR A7-BEH 2023 (psterling)
13867: [External Model - Liveries] Livery: British Airways (G-STBC) (psterling)
13931: [External Model - Liveries] UAL N2251U Has 2151 Tail Nr (psterling)
13962: [External Model - Liveries] Livery: American (psterling)
14258: [External Model - Liveries] United (Evo Blue) Tail Number Font Inaccuracy (psterling)
13761: [External Model - Liveries] Thrust reverser actuator access mispelled on liveries (psterling)
13772: [External Model - Liveries] UAL N2251U Landing Lights Not Illuminated (psterling)

68 issues

As always- thank you for your continued enthusiasm for our products. As you can see by the broad range of fixes across a spectrum of product lines, our goal is to ensure that you derive long term value from your purchase of a PMDG product.

Enjoy your weekend flying- and keep sharing your videos and images of your adventures. We love seeing them- as it tells us that you are having fun!

(I think I'm gonna run my own long-haul weekend, seeing as it is supposed to be raining... Perhaps KIAD-RJAA... Hmmmmm..... )

https://forum.pmdg.com/forum/main-forum/general-discussion-news-and-announcements/318364-11jul24-777-300er-updated-to-v2-00-0037-via-operations-center-and-some-737-and-dc-6-news-bits

Sounds are definitely improved, although the strange whistle/high pitch sound is still not completely gone... from the name in the fixlist, they seem to have a new sound engineer.

The display is not correct. The captain side has got no gap but the first officer side has a slight gap. 

https://ibb.co/x8w3XzP

4 minutes ago, Mo45 said:

The display is not correct. The captain side has got no gap but the first officer side has a slight gap. 

https://ibb.co/x8w3XzP

I guess you never worked on Avionics. 

10 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

I guess you never worked on Avionics. 

Take a look at 777-300 cockpit. Gap 

https://ibb.co/nrd60Hz

Edited July 11, 20241 yr by DEN45

24 minutes ago, thepilot said:

Sounds are definitely improved, although the strange whistle/high pitch sound is still not completely gone... from the name in the fixlist, they seem to have a new sound engineer.

Definitely a huge change in the sounds. The "grumble" has arrived on takeoff roll. I personally wasn't really hearing the high pitch sound this time around but I only did a quick test at the gate. Don't have time for a real flight right now but interested to see how they sound on approach too where it was really bad before.

 

As for the sound engineer, this gentlemen was credited in the 777 manual on initial release so he's been around for a while. Possibly one of the "new hires" from last year? Seems the old guy is still around as well as he is also credited.

Edited July 11, 20241 yr by Andrew2448

58 minutes ago, Bobsk8 said:

I guess you never worked on Avionics. 

I did! There should not be a gap! Nowdyays panels are made by laser cut - very precise and no gaps!

Here is an example

 

Did a flight after the update (LIPZ-LYTV), all good. That’s quite the changelog!

Edited July 12, 20241 yr by Cpt_Piett

4 hours ago, Bobsk8 said:

I guess you never worked on Avionics. 

This needs more clarification: What does "you never worked on Avionics" have to do with fixing a bug?

LYTV on 777?

8 hours ago, Bobsk8 said:

I guess you never worked on Avionics. 

Do you actually have some knowledge to add in terms of the 777's panels or was that just another weird dismissive post? 

9 hours ago, Bobsk8 said:

I guess you never worked on Avionics. 

Please, try to go a day without being an absolute doorknob.

When there's nothing else to pick on, let's pick on panel gaps. For God's sake!

Go discuss this with Tesla, and people still buy their cars!

What a great plane, people can say what they want about PMDG but this is such a stable product.
Something what we miss a lot nowadays with almost everything early acces and a lot of annoying bugs.

 

Edited July 12, 20241 yr by rob0203