This is a rant disguised as a bug report.
As someone who has thousands of sim hours in FSX, XP, and P3D, using instruments in MSFS is one of the most frustrating experiences I have encountered. The G1000 is unable to perform a basic RNAV approach, or reliably accept any sort of modification to the flight plan. For example, I just tried to load an RNAV approach using a published IF/IAF. I chose this IF/IAF because the other two IAFs were not listed as options but that’s another topic. So I choose the IF and LOAD the approach. The G1000 automatically activates it even though I’ve barely left my originating airport. But it doesn’t even give me a DCT to the IF, it skips the IF and gives me a DCT to the next waypoint in the approach. I then try to manually DCT-TO the IF and it accepts my waypoint but immediately discards it, returns my destination to the approach path waypoint mentioned above, and just for good measure it actually steers me towards the destination AIRPORT instead of any of these other waypoints (but doesn’t indicate that’s where it’s steering me). So the GPS CDI is engaged, NAV AP is engaged, my XTRK error is huge, the HSI indicates I should be steering way off to the right, but we’re just chugging along in our own little navigation world.
Six months after release and these are basic RNAV procedures that I can enter in my sleep in any other simulator but MSFS can’t handle them. This simulator is great for flying VFR in the Cub, but anything more complex than that is nothing but frustration.
Have you tried the Working Title G1000? It will not resolve some of the complaints you raised, but it brings the Nav Unit closer to a real-life expectation.
The good news is the Working Title team bravely quit their day jobs to form a Partnership company with MS-Asobo to full-time improve the Nav Units among other things. It will get better, but not right away.
Notably, some of the things you’re also seeing is that the AIRAC data may be up to date, but individual airfields will need to be modified to reflect missing approaches, etc.
Lots of work, but we’re on a ten year journey (Product Vision) and as you pointed out, we’re not even a year old. To expect this product to be at the same maturity level of FSX (which only received two major Service Packs in the ten year life cycle, and would be a former shadow of itself if it were not for the collective efforts of the entire Third-Party ecosystem during that time) in less than a year is tough to reconcile.
2 Likes
I did try the Working Title mod and really enjoyed it but it caused more problems than it fixed. I think this was pretty recently after a sim update so I’ll go back and try it again, hopefully it’s more stable for me. I’m also glad to hear they’re going to partner with Asobo.
I’m all on board for the ten-year journey, but my expectation as a customer is that if you’re charging me full price (especially for a premium edition) then you need to match the features of your competition to give a similar value. I don’t expect every bell and whistle but I do expect basic functionality.
I kind of wish that Asobo would have just created a subscription add-on to XP and P3D that would have given us the awesome scenery and left the flight engine to the existing products. I’m not nearly as excited about the product if I have to wait until 2030 to get a simulator with 2020 features plus good visuals.
3 Likes
The G1000 set from WT hasn’t been updated for 1.14.5.0 yet. But there is good news, since MS/Asobo have actually formed an official partnership, so I’m hoping for some major improvements to all of the Garmin sets.
Just did a VFR run using WT G1000 v0.4.0 Beta, some really neat features implemented in the PFD - those signposts for nearest airports helps SA for certain.
Do you have a link to that? I don’t see it on GitHub.
Hi @tclayton2k - it’s on the Working Title Discord.
Go to the #garmin channel on the server, then click on the Pinned Messages in the upper right of the room. You’ll see all the Betas there including the G1000.
I guess I’ll have to wait. When I click the link to their discord in another thread, it says my email is taken and I can’t log in. When I try to log in on the main page via the “Sign in” link, it just takes me to the “Submit a request” page.
Discord has a central authentication scheme. I would try resetting your account at Discord. If you can get that working, you should be able to connect to the WT Discord.
I had to jump through about eleventeen hoops to get in. It’s no wonder I don’t go there often…
