LatinVFR has shared a much closer look at the next major update coming to its Airbus A380, and there’s quite a lot packed into the upcoming release.
Much of the work has been focused on increasing the depth of the aircraft’s FMS and navigation systems. Amongst the features being introduced are improved VNAV functionality, step climbs, lateral offsets, FIX INFO functionality and Equi-Time Points (ETPs) for long-haul route planning.
Forecast winds can also be brought into the FMS, including through SimBrief, and used for fuel, arrival time and vertical profile calculations. RNAV approaches and FINAL APP functionality are also supported, alongside managed climbs and descents.
There are plenty of A380-specific features being worked on too. Brake to Vacate (BTV) allows pilots to select their intended runway exit and have the aircraft calculate the braking required to make it, whilst the ETACS camera system helps when manoeuvring the enormous aircraft around an airport.
Elsewhere, LatinVFR continues to expand the ECAM and underlying aircraft systems, including electrical, hydraulic and fuel simulation. Fuel transfer and jettison functionality, brake temperatures, IRS alignment and CAT III autoland are amongst the other areas represented.
Alongside the systems work, LatinVFR has also announced a new Live Experience for the A380. The idea is to make operating the aircraft feel more dynamic beyond what is happening in the cockpit, adding more activity and immersion to the overall experience. Considering the scale of an A380 operation on the ground, this should complement the additional systems work nicely.
It’s another fairly sizeable step for LatinVFR’s A380, which has continued to receive improvements since its release earlier this year. The developer hasn’t yet given us a firm release date for the new version, but says the update is coming soon.
We’ll share more once the full changelog and release details are available. It should be out next week.
