In an announcement on Facebook, Navigraph has confirmed they have completed a purchase of popular flight planning tool SimBrief. In the statement released by both parties, the community has been reassured that this acquisition is a “natural progression of the already close collaboration between Navigraph and SimBrief” and that users should know that flight planning functionality will continue to be free. SimBrief will continue to operate under the same name but with the tag line “by Navigraph”.
As is currently the case, users will be able to unlock AIRAC cycles through SimBrief, but this new acquisition will build upon the integration already established.
“SimBrief founder Derek has done an outstanding job creating a flight planning service which the flight simulation community loves,” says Magnus Axholt, CEO and co-founder of Navigraph. “We plan to integrate SimBrief and Navigraph even further and enable additional functionality to SimBrief using the data and resources Navigraph has available.”
The press release also confirms that Derek, founder and creator of SimBrief will remain playing a key role in the development of new features for the next generation of Navigraph Charts. “With the powerful combination of his real world aviation background and software development experience, Derek is a very welcome member of our skilled and multi-disciplinary Navigraph Development Team,” Magnus goes onto say.
The new partnership means that developers will be able to tap into the SimBrief and Navigaph APIs even easier than before through the upcoming Navigraph Developer portal.
“Navigraph has been a strong SimBrief supporter from the very beginning,” Derek adds. “I have always enjoyed working with them to improve the integration between the two services. This very much feels like a natural progression, and I am excited to be a part of the team going forward.”
“I have been both humbled and incredibly grateful for the support the community has shown me since I launched SimBrief nearly eight years ago, and I’m looking forward to this next chapter in SimBrief’s development,” says Derek in closing.
We have confirmed with Magnus from Navigraph and Derek from Simbrief who told us this is not an April Fools, despite the timing which may suggest it would’ve been.
Thanks John M. and Gold787FlightSim for the tip.
