FSX & P3D NAVAIDS UPDATE WITH INSTALLER

Installer Version 8.00

Flying the simulator with a high degree of realism requires that the navigation data are up-to-
date. The provided world package is based on the latest available aeronautical information; it
includes a collection of modified BGL files that will update VORs and NDBs, affecting
instrument readings as well as map and GPS displays. A dedicated installer is provided so
as to select the regions to be updated, move the necessary files to their FSX/P3D locations,
backup the original files and restore them if needed. ILS data, runway identifiers,
approach lighting, PAPIs, enroute intersections and airways are also corrected in the
Europe area. In other regions only VORs and NDBs are corrected; correction of ILSs and
runway identifiers (as well as PAPIs and lighting systems in the US) will require you also
install my ILS/Rwy regional updates.

1 METHODS

All changes were performed by decompiling, correcting and recompiling stock BGL files that
contain the navaid data. In the Europe region, ILS, runway data, approach lighting systems
PAPIs, en route intersections and airways are also updated by correcting the corresponding
ATX/APX*.BGL files.

2 PACKAGE CONTENT

Decompress the FSXP3D_WorldNavaids package (.zip) in any temporary folder of your

choice but outside the sim folder and check that the following files have been extracted:
A) In the root directory
FSXP3DNavaids_Installer.exe: the program that will automate the install/uninstall process,
FSXP3DNavaidsUpdate.pdf: this file,
World_Regions.jpg: an image file detailing the geographical delimitation of the selectable
regions.
B) FSXP3DFiles subfolder: contains all the new BGL files, as well as a text file indicating
the current AIRAC cycle and an internal list the program makes use of.
C) EuropeAltFiles subfolder: contains another set of airport BGL files for the Europe region
that will be used instead if the corresponding option is selected. See Chapter 4 for a
description of the differences between the normal set and this modified one.
D) MilitaryFiles subfolder: contains files for military use (TACANs providing azimuth).
After you performed the update, the provided package is not needed anymore and can be
deleted (unless you want to uninstall the updates). Each new AIRAC cycle will include a full
package as well as the installer.
3 INSTALL, UNINSTALL and PROGRAM OPTIONS

The FSXP3DNavaids_Installer.exe program automatically checks the available simulator

versions (a choice will be proposed if several are detected), then installs or uninstalls the
necessary BGL files for it. When installing, only more recent BGL files than the current ones
are replaced in the regions that have been selected. All default sim files are saved with a
[.raxini] (FSX) or [.p3dini] (P3D) extension in their initial directory. These backup files are
necessary for uninstalling the package. So, DO NOT delete them.

The FSXP3DNavaids_Installer executable is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, Windows

7, Windows 8/8.1 and Windows 10. For Vista and above, a pop up warning message will be
displayed if you didnt disable the Program Compatibility Assistant feature. In such a case,
just select This program installed correctly.

Note that update will not be possible if FSX/P3D is installed in a protected folder (e.g.
Program Files (x86)) unless user account has administrative rights (administrator account or
run as administrator option and UAC is fully disabled (Vista & Windows 7; for Windows 8/10
see here) or modify/write allow permissions have been properly set for the FSX/P3D
directory and its folders (see here).
3.1 - Installer Options
- Update magvar table: will update magdec.bgl file (grayed if already set to latest version),
- Use alternate airport files: will select for the Europe region, another set of files (see Chapter
4 for differences between these normal and alternate sets),
- Set military TACANs azimuth: will replace TACAN DME only data (civilian use) with
VORTAC information (military).
3.2 Missing BGL files
Some 3rd party add-ons or other update programs may deactivate or replace some stock
BGL files. In such a case, the installer will first display a list of missing files and call for an
action. It is recommended you cancel the update and restore first the default files so as
to avoid a mix that could result in unpredictable results. In case you accept to continue,
missing files will be restored with those provided in the present package.
3.3 Conflicts
It may happen that 3rd party add-ons or AFCAD/ADE BGL files - that are installed in the
Addon Scenery folder or any other custom folder - have a higher priority than the modified
sim files containing new navaid definitions. In such a case, they will conflict with the present
update and the new navaids in the stock sim files will be inactive. If such conflicts are
detected, a list of affected navaids will be displayed by clicking the [Conflicts] button.

4 LIMITATIONS and ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Replacing BGL files within the simulator cannot be done if the simulator is active. The
installation program will look at it and warn you accordingly.
The program automatically detects FSX/P3D installation directories. Sometimes, this process
may fail. In such a case, it is recommended you repair the Windows registry data. A registry
repair tool is available on the Flight1 software site.
The update will replace stock BGL files. Therefore, any additional scenery will have the
same priority as it had before by reference to the default scenery files.

For the Europe region an alternative set of airport BGL files is proposed. Its main advantage
is that most terminal fixes will also be properly updated for the corresponding region giving a
clean and up to date GPS and map displays. However, the following limitations will apply: all
GPS approaches will be deactivated (anyway, note that most of them are outdated). Navaid
and other updates will be identical to those implemented in the normal set.

5 KNOWN PROBLEMS

Replacement of stock navaids BGL files may have side effects on generated flight plans,
map display and possibly AI traffic.
Due to the fact the BGLs that contain airway definitions (not updated by this project except
for Europe) may still contain invalid references to nonexistent VORs or NDBs, flight planning
usually fails outside the Europe region and may result in crashing the simulator. Loading a
sim-generated saved PLN file may have similar effects as well as switching to map view in
some areas. GPS display is not affected. Also note that, starting with AIRAC1613, this
problem will not occur in the Europe region where all airways are corrected
Even if default flight planning is often impossible outside Europe after updating navigational
aids, it is anyway unreliable since many airways, navaids and intersections have changed
(FSX and P3D information date back several years).
Indeed, most serious simmers are more searching for an up-to-date definition of navigation
aids so as to use conventional instruments and/or GPS information from current AIPs; they
also perform flight planning either from charts or using 3rd party tools that already include up-
to-date aeronautical information. They do not use the integrated flight planner and seldom
make use of map viewing. Loading PLN files that have been generated by any other mean
than the simulator itself is not a problem as far you do not intend to view or edit it. Such users
will not have any problem with the provided package.
For those who still wish to use the integrated flight planner editor and/or map screen or
encounter problems when loading a flight plan, avoiding simulator crash can usually be
achieved by deactivating airway depiction and intersections on the flight planner and map
screens.

1 Before loading a flight plan, disable the drawing of Victor and Jet airways in the Edit
menu (the V and J buttons should now be red in FSX or disabled in P3D; the below flight
plan and map pictures refer to FSX settings; P3D settings are similar). In some areas you will
also have to deactivate the drawing of intersections (the triangle),

2 Also deactivate airways drawing (and possibly intersections) in the Map view
If you cannot open the flight planner and/or map screens because of a crash, you will have to
modify the following lines of the FSX.cfg (FSX) or UISettings.xml (P3D) file before
launching the simulator:
FSX P3D
In the [MAPVIEW_MAP] section In all sections
SHOW_VICTOR=0 <VictorAirway>false</VictorAirway>
SHOW_JET=0 <JetAirway>false</JetAirway>
SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=0 <AirwayIntersection>false</AirwayIntersection>
In the [FlightPlanMap] section
SHOW_VICTOR=0
SHOW_JET=0
SHOW_INTERSECTIONS=0

3 If you are still unable to load an already existing flight plan without crashing the simulator,
first locate your aircraft in another area, load your flight plan and then relocate your aircraft at
the intended departing airport.

6 HOW TO CHECK FOR A POSSIBLE NAVAID ANOMALY

If you think that, after applying the Navaids Update, some data are erroneous or not properly
corrected, please first carry out the following checks:

1 In the World / Scenery Library menu, first disable all third party sceneries as well as
the Addon Scenery area. Click on the OK button and relaunch the simulator,
2 Then check again the dysfunctional navaid.

Know that most problems come from installed 3rd party add-on sceneries whose
priority is higher than default sceneries. Also be aware that, except for the Europe region,
a few NDBs may not be corrected by the present update (those that are contained in
untouched airport BGL files).

3 If there is still a problem, make use of my BGL Facility Scanner to check the navaid and
provide me either a screen shot of the search results or the created log file (preferred).
Please feel free to email me in case you detect an error so as I correct it as soon as possible.

7 PROGRAM FAILURES

In case the program warns you about corrupted files or is unable to install or uninstall some
of the provided BGL files for whatever reason, a message will warn you and a
Navaids_Installer.log file will be created in the application directory. In such a case, close the
program without performing any further action and provide me the following information:
operating system, version of the simulator and install folder, installer program version, user
privileges (standard user or administrator), User Account Control settings (for Vista and
above) and attach to your message the Navaids_Installer log file.

8 COPYRIGHT and REDISTRIBUTION

1 Usage and distribution

This package and the accompanying installer software are released as donationware. As so,
permission is granted to distribute it unchanged on any free media and on any mailbox or
network that does not have a per-file download charge. If you want to include parts of it to
your own program, package or on your web site, please ask me.

2 Limitation of warranty
This software and package are provided "as-is" without any express or implied warranty. In
no event shall the author be held liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary
or consequential damages (including but not limited to loss of data or profits) arising from the
use of this software even if advised of the possibility of such damage.

Herv Sors
5-Dec-2016
Documentation version 8.00
hsors@hotmail.com
http://www.aero.sors.fr