Navigation Data
How to Ensure your Waypoints and Navaids are Current
Introduction
If your virtual flying involves online ATC or following real-world IFR charts and procedures, having current and accurate navigation data (navdata) is an important consideration. 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 governed by Aeronautical Information Regulation And Control (AIRAC), which is an international standard that defines how navdata will be provided worldwide. 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. If you fly in the real-world using IFR-certified GPS, you’ll be familiar with needing to update the navdata in the GPS every four weeks.
Keeping NavData Current
Provided you routinely access airport and navigation charts in your flying, you’ll want to keep your simulator's navdata current with the latest 28-day cycle. By doing so, you’ll have the ability to easily fly the same routes and procedures that are available in real life.
At the time of writing, AIRAC cycle 2403 (March 2024) was active. In that cycle, the primary southwestern arrival at Boston Logan Airport (KBOS) was the ROBUC3. The aircraft in the example screenshot does not have updated navdata, and as a result, cannot fly the ROBUC3 arrival. It only has the outdated ROBUC1 procedure available in it's FMS.
With the exception of Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS), the navdata in your simulator is not updated on a regular basis (and even MSFS' built-in updates aren't perfect, as discussed below). Instead, the navdata is static and only reflects the world as it was when the simulator was built, using the current AIRAC cycle at that time. Because real-world navigation is always changing, your simulator's navdata will become out of date unless action is taken.
How to keep navdata current depends on the simulator you’re flying. Various free and paid options are discussed below. If you opt for a paid solution, FSA Member discounts are available for both providers.
Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS)
MSFS has partnered with real-world navigation provider NAVBLUE to supply updates to the simulator on a regular basis. This feature makes MSFS the only simulator with a built-in mechanism to update navdata.
However, users have reported several navigational inconsistencies in MSFS, including missing airports, procedures, and navaids. Additionally, 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.
X-Plane
In X-Plane, one single database defines the navdata for the entire 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 each aircraft’s flight management system (there are some exceptions.) Subscription products from Navigraph or 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 a free data file that contains limited navaid and airport data, and this file can be imported into X-Plane. This solution won't be as seamless as using a paid subscription service because the FAA's data only covers certain airport areas (not enroute data) and is limited to the United States. The X-Plane website has more information for how to install the file into your simulator.