MSFS 2024
PMDG 737-800 for MSFS 2024 Enters Beta with UFT Integration and New LNAV
By Rachel Morrison · · 2 min read
PMDG has released the first beta build of its 737-800 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, introducing a rebuilt LNAV, integrated UFT, and full SimBrief/Navigraph compatibility. The update also brings performance optimizations for the new sim's atmospheric engine.
PMDG has quietly pushed the first beta build of its Boeing 737-800 for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 to its testing team, marking a significant milestone for the studio's flagship airliner. The build, internally designated v4.0.0, includes a completely rebuilt LNAV that addresses the 'S-turn' tracking issues reported in the MSFS 2020 version, along with a new VNAV path algorithm that better handles complex RNP AR approaches. Testers report improved lateral navigation accuracy on tight radius-to-fix legs, such as those on the LOWI RNAV 08 approach.
The Universal Flight Tablet (UFT) has also been updated to integrate directly with the MSFS 2024 EFB framework, allowing SimBrief OFP imports without external plugins. Navigraph navdata and charts are accessible natively, and the tablet now supports performance calculations that account for the sim's new runway condition modeling. PMDG has also optimized the aircraft's systems code for the new sim's multi-threaded architecture, resulting in smoother frame rates in dense scenery areas like iniBuilds' KJFK.
However, the beta is not without teething issues. Testers have noted that the autopilot disconnect logic can occasionally fail to trigger the aural warning when using hardware yokes, and the weather radar returns are not yet fully calibrated to MSFS 2024's volumetric clouds. PMDG's Robert Randazzo has stated that these are known and will be addressed before the public release, which is targeted for late November.
For serious simmers, the bigger question is whether the 737 will support the new 'shared cockpit' functionality that Asobo is touting for MSFS 2024. PMDG has confirmed that it is evaluating the feature but has not committed to a timeline. Given the complexity of the 737's systems, a fully synchronized shared cockpit would be a significant undertaking, but one that would be welcomed by virtual airline crews on VATSIM.
Tags: PMDG, Boeing 737-800, MSFS 2024, LNAV, UFT