After an extensive period of development, the Universal Flight Tablet by PMDG has been released. The new tablet device, which is an electronic flight bag, has been designed for all current and future PMDG airliner products in Microsoft Flight Simulator, and starts with the 737 series.
In terms of features, PMDG has committed to releasing the tablet with flight plan and SimBrief integration, Navigaph charts, and performance computation. Going into more detail, the flight planning area will allow you to download weather, display the operational flight plan (OFP) and also real-time METAR information. The performance area will allow you to compute take-off and landing performance, import data from flight plans or the aircraft and display a graphic of displaced threshold data. Other confirmed features include:
- Data Entry via attached keyboard, or via an on-screen keyboard
- Metric/Imperial Units selectable.
- Day/Night setting.
- Independent, fully functioning pilot/copilot tablets.
PMDG said that more features will come in the future allowing you to manage all PMDG options, functions and failures from the tablet or the FMS menu. They teased future functionality too.
The update can be obtained from your PMDG account or via the PMDG Operations Center. It has been submitted to Microsoft and will need to pass various tests before it can be released as an update via the in-sim Marketplace.
As for other features such as using it on an external tool, Robert said, “I cannot give you any timing expectations, as we haven’t really evaluated that aspect of the tech implementation yet.” For those on Xbox, you will be pleased to know that the goal is to see the UFT come to Xbox, but until they can test it themselves, they will update us as to what features and functionality will be present.
If you don’t own the PMDG 737 for MSFS, you can buy it from their store.
