- Must you have a Navigraph subscription to have the latest AIRAC cycle in MSFS, or does Microsoft update in the simulator on their own.
- Is there a way to know which AIRAC cycle you are using in MSFS?
Thanks!
Moved to ATC, Traffic & NAVAIDs
The built-in Navdata in the sim is supplied by Navblue (Airbus) and is updated on the standard 28-day AIRAC global cycle - you’ll see it as minor updates to the sim on that frequency. It’s supplemented by FAA data to make it robust for Continental US air operations. That comes at no cost to current FS owners.
Navigraph’s Navdata is supplied by Jeppensen and requires a paid subscription. While Navblue + FAA Supplement brings mostly a parity between the two datasets in CONUS, Jeppensen is much more comprehensive, accurate and up to date for navigation data across the rest of the world. Not to mention their Charts and integrated IFR/VFR planning tools, including Weather information.
If you’re not a Navigraph subscriber, then you can safely assume you’re using Navblue and are up to date unless there’s a really strange situation where your FS installation is not current.
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Yes.
e.g.
Select Asobo A320neo > departure > fly.
click DATA > A/C STATUS
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So is there an advantage/benefit to purchasing a subscription to Navigraph data only (without Charts) if MSFS is updated automatically each month?
Many third-party aircraft and add-ons may rely on Navigraph data.
Subscribing to Navigraph ensures that your simulator and add-ons are compatible with the latest data.
Some complex aircraft in MSFS use FMS (Flight Management System) data and Navigraph provides updated FMS data for these aircraft.
This is crucial for realistic navigation.
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If you fly outside Continental US, Jeppensen data is much more accurate, esp with regards to Instrument Approach Procedures - i.e., RNAV, ILS.
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Thanks! That really helps.
Thank you! I will definitely check that out.
My experience is that while the default NavBlue data does eventually get updated - it is rarely done in a timely fashion - often not happening for many days (or even weeks) after a new cycle starts.
The latest AIRAC cycle is 2401 which took effect January 25th (last Thursday). Navigraph had the new update for all their supported products (including MSFS) available right on the 25th. I launched the sim both Friday and Saturday, and there was no sim file update either day, so I assume that NavBlue cycle 2401 is not yet available for MSFS.
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Can anyone clarify why the PMDG 737 shows AIRAC 2204 for April 21 to May 19/2022? What should be the default AIRAC cycle in a default, unmodified simulator at this time? And if it is incorrect, how can I force update to a more recent AIRAC cycle?
PMDG does not use the sim’s default nav data. They have their own custom nav data which requires a Navigraph subscription to update it.
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Thank you. So I guess I have nothing to update in the default state sim…