Hello,

I have recently switched to MSFS from XP 11 where I subscribed to Navigraph data approximately every 6 months.  I am considering doing the same with MSFS. 

Before re-subscribing, I would appreciate any comments / feedback regarding the following:

1) Is native MSFS 2024 Nav data inferior to Navigraph's data?  My understanding is that MSFS 2024 Nav data is updated fairly regularly.

2) Can MSFS 2024 Nav data be re-selected after utilizing a purchased Navigraph AIRAC cycle?  Additionally, assuming that Navigraph data will overwrite the native MSFS nav data, will the LIDO & FAA charts still be available to view in the MSFS 2024 EFB after the Navigraph AIRAC cycle expires? 

3) I have not previously used Simbrief, however my understanding was that your Simbrief AIRAC cycle for generating flight plans would coincide with your last purchased Navigraph AIRAC cycle.  My last purchased Navigraph AIRAC cycle was 2507 however when signing into SImbrief the current AIRAC cycle available for planning is only 2403.  

Thank you very much.

 

1 hour ago, hitter439 said:

Is native MSFS 2024 Nav data inferior to Navigraph's data?  My understanding is that MSFS 2024 Nav data is updated fairly regularly.

Not at all.

1 hour ago, hitter439 said:

an MSFS 2024 Nav data be re-selected after utilizing a purchased Navigraph AIRAC cycle?  Additionally, assuming that Navigraph data will overwrite the native MSFS nav data, will the LIDO & FAA charts still be available to view in the MSFS 2024 EFB after the Navigraph AIRAC cycle expires? 

Yes to all.

 

1 hour ago, hitter439 said:

I have not previously used Simbrief, however my understanding was that your Simbrief AIRAC cycle for generating flight plans would coincide with your last purchased Navigraph AIRAC cycle.

That is correct. 

2 hours ago, hitter439 said:

My understanding is that MSFS 2024 Nav data is updated fairly regularly.

Yes, the default data is usually updated the same day as the AIRAC cycle goes live.

I think the cost of a Navigraph subscription is well worth the money.  Data is up to date, SimBrief is a breeze to use and the PMDG products that I have, thrive on the data.

Thank you very much Farlis, Tuskin38 and jmdriskell for your responses!  Most appreciated!

I am finding that certain MSFS addons I would like to purchase most optimally utilize Navigraph data vs MSFS 2024 native data...so that certainly is an important consideration.  Will reach out to Navigraph / Simbrief as to why my current Simbrief AIRAC cycle indicates 2403 when my last purchased AIRAC cycle was 2507.  

If I could ask another question... if I continue the practice of purchasing a Navigraph subscription every 6 months or so, would like to confirm that the nav data used by the simulator will remain as the last purchased Navigraph AIRAC cycle until I either purchase a new AIRAC cycle or restore the then current MSFS 2024 nav data.  Further, if my understanding is correct, when the 1 month Navigraph subscription expires the in-sim EFB flight planner will continue to display current LIDO and FAA charts (Jeppesen charts are great but will disappear with an expired subscription, I am fine using the LIDO & FAA charts).

Thank you again very much.

The navigraph data is being installed via a software hub. So whenever you decide to drop out of a current subscription this will remain at whatever date it was when you were last subscribed and you won't get further updates. To get to the most recent navdata you then only have to deinstall it when the next AIRAC gets released and you will then revert to the default LIDO AIRAC.

The charts in the sim remain unaffacted by all of this. You can use the Jeppesen Charts by Navigraph in tandem with the LIDO charts of the sim. I do that because Jeppesen is for all types of aircraft, whereas LIDO is for airliners only. So the minima on them are for Category C and D and above.

Another intersting fact is that LIDO's minima are always rounded up to the next 10 wheras the ones on Jeppesen are more granular. For example on Jeppesen it might say 326 feet on the LIDO chart it will then say 330ft.

 

Basically at this point a Navigraph subscription is good for getting AIRAC's for add on aircraft and the Jeppesen charts (and a plethora of great chart solutions for their Chart App, like FAA Sectionals, IFR Charts, and VFR Charts for Europe that include Jeppesen Charts for GA Fields including the Pattern Charts). To get a base sim update for the navdata it is no longer necessary.

Edited March 21Mar 21 by Farlis

Hi Farlis,

Thank you so much for your explanations and help!  It is really very much appreciated.  I am considering purchasing the Fenix A320 and the TDSGTNxi for GA so a Navigraph subscription would probably be best for those addons.  Very interesting the differences you identified between Jeppesen and LIDO approach charts.  

Thank you so much again for your knowledge and assistance.

Like the OP I too would get a Navigraph sub once/twice a year. My experience was that it was great for a couple of months ie Sim Brief, LNM, FS24 and hence the A/C navigation DB were all in sync in respect of the flight plan, however after a while when flight plans were transferred via FS EFB into the A/C nav equipment there would be mis-matches usually around arrivals/approaches in the plan which could not be found in the A/C nav database (which I assume feeds off FS2024 nav data). So I wonder if the FS up-to-date airac cycle automatically supersedes an out-of-date Navigraph airac in the sim (in respect of GA aircraft) Can anybody confirm or explain please?

 

Regards Brian

12 minutes ago, Space Monkey said:

Like the OP I too would get a Navigraph sub once/twice a year. My experience was that it was great for a couple of months ie Sim Brief, LNM, FS24 and hence the A/C navigation DB were all in sync in respect of the flight plan, however after a while when flight plans were transferred via FS EFB into the A/C nav equipment there would be mis-matches usually around arrivals/approaches in the plan which could not be found in the A/C nav database (which I assume feeds off FS2024 nav data). So I wonder if the FS up-to-date airac cycle automatically supersedes an out-of-date Navigraph airac in the sim (in respect of GA aircraft) Can anybody confirm or explain please?

 

Regards Brian

If your are selecting Navigraph Navdata for MSFS you get the Navdata (sub) cycle your paid for.

Edited April 18Apr 18 by vonmar

8 minutes ago, Space Monkey said:

So I wonder if the FS up-to-date airac cycle automatically supersedes an out-of-date Navigraph airac in the sim (in respect of GA aircraft) Can anybody confirm or explain please?

If you're talking about something like Navigraph data used in the TDS GTNxi (or anything else which uses only Navigraph), then the answer is no.  Your GTN will have the older outdated data AND outdated charts, while the sim itself will have the latest data and the charts in the MSFS planner.

 

Scott

21 hours ago, vonmar said:

If your are selecting Navigraph Navdata for MSFS you get the Navdata (sub) cycle your paid for.

Thanks for your reply. What do you mean by "selecting Navigraph" I'm not aware of a selection option. Just to be clear my (now outdated) Navigraph cycle was installed thru the Navi-Hub into the community folder. I'm also using GA aircraft which don't require navigraph to be specifically installed say like the Fenix A/C. 

Regards

21 hours ago, tttocs said:

If you're talking about something like Navigraph data used in the TDS GTNxi (or anything else which uses only Navigraph), then the answer is no.  Your GTN will have the older outdated data AND outdated charts, while the sim itself will have the latest data and the charts in the MSFS planner.

 

Scott

Thanks, that's what I thought but I feel there is a mis-match of the nav cycles somewhere along the line, Typically I would create a flight in Simbrief (shows my outdated airac cycle) then use LNM to import directly from Simbrief then export the flight plan from LNM into FS2024 format for use in the FS24 EFB. A bit convoluted I admit.  When it happens again I trace the plane thru the various stages. Thanks 

23 minutes ago, Space Monkey said:

Thanks for your reply. What do you mean by "selecting Navigraph" I'm not aware of a selection option.

You are welcome.

Remove your old Navigraph cycle (your mismatch problem) to use the default MSFS data:

 

 

Just to say I got the latest cycle of navigraph and did a full install across my my apps and thought that's the end of my problem

However the first flight hit a problem flying into EIDL Donegal, the approach was not listed in the GNS530.

So the root cause is that some airports are in need of an update to the runway idents, due to mag deviation, otherwise the approach is not found in navigraph DB.

 

Regards

1 hour ago, Space Monkey said:

the approach was not listed in the GNS530.

Which GNS530 aircraft are you using with Navigraph (AIRAC cycle) Navdata download support?

Edited May 1May 1 by vonmar