If your simulator flying involves online ATC or following real-world IFR charts and procedures, navdata is an important consideration for you. Navdata broadly consists of the waypoints, navigational aids (VORs, NDBs, ILSs, etc.), frequencies, and even airport information in your simulator.
In real life, navdata is related to Aeronautical Information Regulation And Control, abbreviated AIRAC. AIRAC is an international standard for common dates and navdata to be provided for navigation around the world. Established in 1964, AIRAC creates a 28-day cycle for navdata updates. In other words, every 28 days (and always on a Thursday), a new update is released simultaneously, around the world, with navdata. If you fly using a real-world IFR-certified GPS, you’ll be familiar with updating the navdata on the GPS every four weeks.
If you fly Prepar3D or X-Plane, the navdata included with your simulator generally reflects the world as it was when the simulator was built (using the current AIRAC cycle at that time). But, of course, real-world navigation is always changing. Ground-based navigation aids are being removed and replaced by RNAV waypoints, new SIDs and STARs are published, and airports construct new instrument approach procedures. Provided you routinely access charts in your flying, you’ll also want to keep navdata up-to-date. By doing so, you’ll have the ability to program and fly the same routes and procedures that are available in real life.
At the time of writing, AIRAC cycle 2403 (March 2024) was active. At KBOS, the primary southwestern arrival was the ROBUC3. However, the Boeing 737 pilot has not updated their navdata. As a result, although current charts list the ROBUC3, the pilot only has the outdated ROBUC1 arrival in their FMS.
How you keep your navdata current to the real-world AIRAC is based on the simulator you’re flying. For most sims, there are both free and paid subscription services available.
Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS)
Microsoft Flight Simulator has partnered with real-world navigation provider NAVBLUE to supply data for the simulator and keep it current. This makes MSFS the only simulator that has promised to keep navdata up-to-date for each AIRAC cycle.
However, users have reported several navigational inconsistencies in MSFS, including missing airports, procedures, and navaids. Plus, the navigation data isn’t updated as frequently as it is in real life.
One of the most common providers of navdata for the flight simulation community is Navigraph. They provide improved navigation data and charts sourced from Jeppesen, a professional navdata provider for major airlines worldwide. Offered via a paid subscription, Navigraph's service keeps flight simulation navigation data current, in line with the real-world 28-day AIRAC updates. This includes updating over 70,000 waypoints, adding missing airports, and even redrawing some of the visual scenery around more than 18,600 airports. In addition to supporting MSFS, they offer solutions for X-Plane and Prepar3D.
For more information on Navigraph’s navdata solutions, visit their website.
X-Plane
In X-Plane, one single database defines the navdata for the simulator, and it reflects the AIRAC cycle when the simulator was released.
X-Plane allows users to update navdata for the entire simulator (instead of for specific aircraft), and these updates are then reflected in your aircraft’s FMS. (There are some exceptions.) Subscription products from both Navigraph and Keyvan provide everything you need to keep your aircraft and simulator updated.
If you primarily fly in the United States, there is a way to keep some of X-Plane’s navdata up-to-date at no charge. The FAA publishes navaids around airport areas as well as some airport data, and this free file can be imported into X-Plane. This won't be as seamless as using a paid subscription service because the FAA's data only cover airport areas (not enroute data) and are limited to the United States. The X-Plane website has more information for how to install the file into your simulator (scroll down to "The updated approaches - what we get from the FAA for free").