I’m just glad people are talking about it 
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So what’s the best way to get some form of in game ATC with the 737, I don’t really want to spend ages having to input the flight plan into the world map just for ATC.
Could I just add the origin and destination so that I can at least get some form of taxi to runway and clearance and hear other aircraft atc noise along my flight?
At the present time it is not possible to “subscribe” to a newer Navigraph database on XBox. If it does become possible, it would require Navigraph to sell it on the official MSFS Marketplace, because (AFAIK) that is the only way that Microsoft allows XB content to be updated.
I don’t know if Navigraph has plans to do that, but assuming they do, what advantage would there be (to Navigraph) to give away the latest database for free (via the PMDG 737 installer)?
Simple. If the PMDG 737 has an outdated AIRAC, I’m not gonna be a Navigraph subscriber because I won’t be able to use their charts and latest AIRAC cycle anyway. I’d be better off using the free version of Simbrief and looking for charts online, as I do right now.
If they provide up to date nav data for the 737, then the premium features that they sell (latest AIRAC and charts) suddenly become useful to me. I’d subscribe for sure.
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Could Microsoft’s agreement with the company that provides the current navdata database for MSFS jeopardize the arrival of navigraph in the marketplace?
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^This is the important question. Unfortunately, I think the answer is probably yes.
People subscribing to Navigraph surely?
I think the airac updates should come in the form of a monthly update to the PMDG aircraft. I would definitely subscribe to navigraph if the link was fully functional. Heck, I would even subscribe to navigraph if they allowed us to select old airacs (so we can match it to the 737 or use the latest with other aircraft). At the moment it is lose lose for them (for xbox users).
I think the answer to all this will be from Microsoft. After all, PMDG will not take a bigger step if Microsoft does not allow that step to be taken. For now we are calm and tolerant of the current AIRAC in PMDG. As the lag begins to hinder our routes and procedures, the stress level of the community will increase and I imagine that Microsoft does not want that. There must be some objection or middle ground regarding this current navdata agreement.
I understand the issues and reasons. Has anyone contacted Navigraph to see if there is anything on the horizon for Xboxers? I don’t think it’s a PMDG thing other than they should have explainers about the limitation. It’s also probably why the CRJ hasn’t made it to XBox yet as it’s the same for it and I believe the Fenix.
I don’t think so. If Navigraph were to sell database updates specifically for the XB version of the PMDG 737 via the Marketplace, it would be to update custom content on a third party add-on aircraft. It would have no effect on the default MSFS nav data provided by NavBlue, because PMDG does not use that data in any case.
In world map, add in
- departure airport
- sid
- arrival airport
- star
- cruise alt
and you will have ATC that will only be inaccurate between end of SID and start of STAR. For short flights you may not even notice the difference between world map version and simbrief version which may only have one or two waypoints missing.
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The Fenix A320 will never be available on XBox, because it requires external software (ProSim) to run.
true, and it’s also quite system resource heavy (from what I’ve read - I don’t own it).
Awesome thanks, SID and STAR are the options in the drop down boxes correct?
Sorry im still learning all this stuff.
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I’m currently instructing simbrief to use 2203 airac and inputting the data from that. Does anyone know if 2203 will always be available or will it eventually drop off??
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I am sure you are right but never available on XBOX has been a constant refrain that we have heard from the start of the sim. PMDG was also never to work on console but they made it work as it made sense to them to sell something that works on console too and sell many more planes than they would have was it PC only. I wonder if Fenix one day will reconsider or if the external software you mention will one day be able to work within the console too. For sure on console we need to be patient!
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Yes. I’d plan/generate the flightplan on simbrief, and the SID and STAR will be listed on it. They should be selectable on the world map planner.
So for example my simbrief flightplan this morning EIDW->EGLC said
EIDW/10L N0412F310 PESI2Q PESIT DCT BAKUR DCT KAWGE DCT DAVAZ DCT AVZAC DCT ICOSA DCT RUHUN DCT YORQI DCT CAWZE/N0425F230 P2 SIRIC SIRI1C EGLC/09
So in theory on world map you would choose
Departure
- EIDW
- 10L
- PESI2Q (SID)
Arrival
- EGLC
- SIRI1C (STAR)
- arrival : (leave automatic as, ATC will assign you to an approach)
Altitude
- enter cruise altitude (FL) in the world map planner (is it under profile or someplace? I forget!)
The waypoints inbetween that simbrief chooses and world planner chooses may be different, but everything from runway->end of SID and start of STAR to end of flight should be fine from ATC POV.
The alternative is to do all planning in world map and manually enter the world map flightplan in the 737 FMC, which will match ATC to world map FP 100%, but by not using simbrief means you will lack the perf data and fuel loads etc for the FMS perf pages. Swings and roundabouts.
*disclaimer: this was my only flight plan on hand. I realise you can’t depart 10L in EIDW yet on xbox!
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Brilliant thanks for this detailed explanation.
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Navigraph was the key for me to get to grips with all this stuff. People often think it’s just good for reference (and it is), but as a learning tool for airliner route planning and visualisation it’s indespensible. I realise that littlenavmap has this too to an extent, and some online sites do have the data too, but navigraph have really made it seemless and easy. They have also upgraded the interface so much in last few months making it very intuitive.
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