Aircraft & Avionics Update 02 released for MSFS with massive upgrades for the Boeing 747 and 787

The Microsoft Flight Simulator team has just released the highly-awaited Aircraft & Avionics Update 2, delivering a comprehensive set of improvements that target aircraft avionics, flight models, and more. This update, version 1.33.8.0, addresses several bugs and enhances the simulation’s overall quality, focusing heavily on aircraft updates thanks to the talent of the Working Title team.

Aircraft Updates

The aircraft updates form the centerpiece of this release. The Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner and 747-8 Intercontinental have received significant upgrades, including brand-new highly detailed avionics, updated flight models, comprehensive systems, and more. This includes a comprehensive visual overhaul of avionics for accurate font, symbology, look, operation, and feel. The updates to these aircraft extend to advanced flight plan support, including arcs, radius-to-fix, intercepts, holds, procedure turns, and missed approaches. Notably, both aircraft now feature integrated avionics checklists on the MFD, among other advancements.

The Cessna Citation CJ4/WT21 and Cessna Citation Longitude have also received a series of updates and bug fixes. For instance, in the CJ4/WT21, there has been a fix on the wind indicator direction, and the autopilot/flight director LOC mode deactivation bug has been resolved. As for the Cessna Citation Longitude, a plethora of changes has been implemented, such as fixing thrust reverser animations and improving the autothrottle’s airspeed-tracking behavior.

Further, the Daher TBM 930 has also seen improvements, notably the correction of the minimums alerter when using radio minimums.

General Bug Fixes

The new update introduces general bug fixes aimed at improving the overall gameplay experience. For example, the autopilot/flight director HDG mode has been enhanced for a more realistic simulation, and errors related to turn anticipation calculation around AF/RF legs and backcourse localizers have been fixed. Additionally, some error message boxes have been transformed into notifications to make them less intrusive.

Glass Cockpits

The Garmin G3000/G5000, G1000 Nxi, and GNS430W/GNS530W have all received a series of improvements and bug fixes. This includes fixes for edge cases, improvement on VNAV profiles, and additions like the support for third-party developers to provide global plugins for the NXi.

The KAP140 also received a correction to an issue in the default KAP140 template that caused the 100s’ knob animation to be applied to both the 100s’ knob, and the 1000s’.

The full release notes are available below for your convenience.

Working Title has also provided new PDF manuals for the Boeing 747-8i and 787-10 Dreamliner that will be of great help for simmers to get familiar with the much more complex and capable airplanes. Check them out here.

RELEASE NOTES 1.33.8.0

General Bug Fixes

The autopilot/flight director HDG mode now only reverses turn direction if the selected heading is turned past the airplane’s current heading in the direction of the turn reversal (NXI, G3000, GNS, WT21)
Improved the behavior of turn anticipation calculation around AF/RF legs whose start and end points are slightly offset from the arc (NXI, G3000, GNS, WT21)

Fixed an issue where backcourse localizers are not being flown correctly (NXI, G3000, GNS, WT21)
Some error message boxes have been changed into notifications to make them less intrusive.

Glass Cockpits

Garmin G3000 / G5000

Fixed some edge cases where VPATH was not properly disarmed/deactivated after a change to the VNAV state made it so that there was no path to track

Fixed various cases where the VNAV profile would sometimes display incorrect information near the end of an approach depending on if the missed approach was activated
Fixed a bug where the autopilot/flight director would not deactivate LOC mode during ILS/LOC approaches after the active nav source was switched to FMS
Fixed a bug where certain intersections would not be displayed on the map or the GTC Nearest Intersections page

Fixed a bug where removing the traffic and relative terrain indicators from the navigation map would leave behind an empty but visible container
Fixed a bug where TAWS touchdown callouts were not using nearest runway elevation
Fixed a small inaccuracy in the lateral deviation scale above the PFD HSI Map

The autopilot/flight director HDG mode now only reverses turn direction if the selected heading is turned past 330 degrees away from the airplane’s current heading
Fixed a bug where sometimes re-opening a GTC popup using the Back button would cause elements below it to not be correctly hidden or darkened
Fixed a bug where the VNAV profile was not displaying time to TOD when still in the departure segment even if the airplane has reached cruise altitude and sequenced all climb constraints

Reduced the delay of TAWS touchdown callouts when using radio altitude

G1000 Nxi

Added support for third-party developers to provide global plugins for the NXi
Extended MFD rotary knob menu to allow customization by avionics plugins

Fixed a bug where certain intersections would not be displayed on the map or the Nearest Intersections page
Fixed a bug where the autopilot/flight director would not deactivate LOC mode during ILS/LOC approaches after the active nav source was switched to FMS
Fixed B key not syncing barometer to actual pressure

Garmin GNS430W / GNS530W

Fixed some page navigation issues where the right knob push would not close dialogs
Added confirmation dialog for Activate Leg flight plan menu item
Added support for double direct-to on an existing waypoint to activate the leg

Fixed a bug where certain intersections would not be displayed on the map or the Nearest Intersections page
Fixed a bug that could cause the lists in the Nearest pages to become corrupted
Fixed a bug where the autopilot/flight director would not deactivate LOC mode during ILS/LOC approaches after the active nav source was switched to FMS

Fixed an issue that could cause the 430 to not load correctly when hot-swapped in from being inactive
Fixed some page navigation issues where the right knob push would not close dialogs
Fixed bug causing time zone offset to always be treated as positive

KAP140

Corrected an issue in the default KAP140 template that caused the 100s’ knob animation to be applied to both the 100s’ knob, and the 1000s’

Aircraft

Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner / Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental

The Boeing 787-10 and 747-8i have received significant upgrades, with brand new highly detailed avionics, updated flight models, comprehensive systems, and more:

Comprehensive visual overhaul of the avionics for accurate font, symbology, look, operation, and feel

Visually accurate PFD supporting rising runway indication, ILS symbology, FPV and much more
Independent MFD/ND/CDU Screens supporting view pane system management
Full MFD synoptics pages indicating status of their respective systems

Integrated avionics checklists on the MFD
EICAS supporting full engine indication display and a whole suite of CAS messages
CDU supporting advanced flight plan management and performance initialization features

Advanced flight plan support, including arcs, radius-to-fix, intercepts, holds, procedure turns, and missed approaches
Alternate diversions with customizable profiles for the predictions of ETA, distance and fuel remaining to multiple airports
More in-depth Speedbrakes logic (rejected takeoff, arm, reversers, auto down behavior)

Performance based VNAV with idle descent capabilities considering aircraft state, temperature and wind forecast
Advanced VNAV configuration with ECON/selected modes, configuration of speed restrictions and speed transitions
Fully featured autothrottle system with correct AT modes/functionality and communication to and from the FMS

Thrust management system supporting cost index, thrust limitation and assumed temperature derate
Fully featured autopilot including AUTOLAND, FLARE and ROLLOUT modes
Integrated Approach Navigation (IAN) functionality and indications for straight-in non-precision approaches

RNP/ANP indications
TCAS II system supporting traffic advisories and RA indications on the ND
Revised Engine and Flight Model bringing many values closer to book, fuel consumption, engine power settings, climb rates, speeds, and attitudes

Fuel System overhaul supporting correct automation and warning logic
Support for Hydraulic Demand pumps and automation
Air conditioning and basic duct pressure simulation

Pressurization system with FMS (AUTO) and MAN landing altitude capabilities and automatic VNAV based altitude scheduling
Electrical systems with correct bus connection logic and adjusted power consumption
Functional GPS and IRS navigation systems

Adding more functionality to the overhead panels with accurate indications on the electrics, hydraulics, fuel and ECS panels
Adjusted overhead panels logic and lighting accordingly
Extended ingame checklists for both planes which are mostly autocompletetable

787: Revision of the plane’s soundscape
787: Overhauled HUD supporting nearly all real-world symbology, including both Full and Decluttered modes, runway edge lines, FPV acceleration and speed error indications, TOGA and G/S reference lines, and unusual attitudes
787: New fly-by-wire system simulating the authentic C*U law with trim speed unique to Boeing aircraft

787: Flaps system comes with “Load Relief” and “Auto-gap” functionality

Cessna Citation CJ4 / WT21

PFD: Fixed an issue where the wind indicator would spin to the wrong direction
FMS: Fix edge case when inserting waypoint at end of flight plan

FMS: Fix default hold inbound course to match previous leg outbound course
Fixed a bug where the autopilot/flight director would not deactivate LOC mode during ILS/LOC approaches after the active nav source was switched to FMS

Cessna Citation Longitude

The PFD roll indicator is now rendered using the correct “sky pointer” configuration

Fixed thrust reverser animations so that the buckets are only shown as deployed when reverse thrust is actually engaged
Added mitigation to prevent the engine and APU graphics on the Fuel, Hydraulics, ECS, and Anti-Ice Synoptic Panes from rendering incorrectly
The rudder can now be powered by both the A and B hydraulic systems and no longer requires the left engine to be running

Bearing Pointer information is no longer missing when the PFD is in Split mode
Fixed improper placement of the NAV/DME information banner when the PFD was in Split mode
Fixed a bug where Bearing Pointer 2 information was displayed in the incorrect location when Bearing Pointer 1 was turned off

Changing the selected airspeed while autothrottle is on no longer causes the autothrottle to command sudden changes in throttle lever position
Added support for the dual-cue flight director format
The roll spoilers (mid- and outboard) can no longer be extended without hydraulic system pressure

Improved the autothrottle’s airspeed-tracking behavior and improved the responsiveness of the autothrottle when envelope speed protection is active
Reduced the sensitivity of the autothrottle to sudden changes in airspeed
The PFD roll indicator no longer renders the roll scale arc