Horizon Simulations recently took to their Discord to share the latest update on Version 2 of their Boeing 787. After diving into the COM panels in the last update, the team now shared the improvements made to the EFB.
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner has become the backbone for airlines looking to fly “long and skinny” international routes. After years of production delays, the Boeing 787 entered commercial service in 2011 with All Nippon Airways. Built with composite materials, the 787 offers increased fuel efficiency and reduced maintenance costs compared to previous generations of long-haul aircraft. In addition, with quieter engines, higher humidity, and lower cabin altitude, the aircraft offers a superior passenger experience compared to other Boeing jets. In the cockpit, the Boeing 787 features an EFB (Electronic Flight Bag), allowing the pilots to easily access performance calculations, navigation data, flight documents, and more. The EFB promotes increased safety by reducing the pilots’ workload and providing critical information in a timely manner.
Version 2 of the Horizon Simulation’s Boeing 787 will offer a significant UI and feature update compared to the default MSFS 787 EFB. Currently, the team has implemented a “Pilot Utilities” menu, which includes a calculator, timer, scratchpad, converters for fuel consumption, and more. The team has also implemented a fully functional on-screen keyboard that adapts depending on the type of information you need to input into the EFB. Finally, the new EFB will feature GSX integration, preventing the need to use the separate handlebar menu.
Going forward, the team is working on developing a landing distance calculator and en-route charts to further arm flight simmers with all the necessary tools to simulate real-world operations. In the next update, the team will dive into the improvements made to the 3D model.
