This week's briefing covers a varied selection of add-on releases and updates across Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and 2020, ranging from a significant overhaul to an Electronic Flight Bag modification for PMDG aircraft, to scenery updates for two busy commercial airports, and a pair of utility tools addressing ground navigation and datalink communications. If you fly airliners on online networks or simply want more detail on the ground at popular destinations, there is something worth noting in this week's roundup.
EFB+ for PMDG 737 & 777 — Version 2.1.1
One of the more ambitious community modifications currently available for PMDG aircraft in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, 🔗 EFB+ by developer tomwhoca extends and rebuilds the in-sim tablet found in the PMDG 737 and 777 families. The mod replaces the default EFB interface with a substantially richer environment, managed through a companion Windows application that handles installation, updates, and personalisation without requiring you to manually touch any aircraft folders.
The tablet itself features a redesigned home screen with a drag-to-rearrange app grid, a persistent dock, a control centre, and weather widgets, all presented across a unified day and night theme. Its centrepiece is the Flight page — a full-screen moving map that overlays your SimBrief flight plan with colour-coded route segments distinguishing SIDs, enroute airways, and STARs, alongside fuel state, load data, and airport weather at a glance. Additional pages cover airport information — with live METAR, TAF, and ATIS from VATSIM, IVAO, and SayIntentions — a chart browser supporting both Navigraph and the LIDO charts native to MSFS 2024, GSX Pro integration, and a custom checklist system driven by simple text files.
The most recent update, version 2.1.1, follows the substantial v2.1.0 release. That update transformed the Flight Log from a static reference into an active working document: You can now record actual times and fuel quantities at each waypoint using an on-screen keypad, and every waypoint ahead is automatically re-estimated from the logged actuals. A new Enroute ATC page identifies every FIR the route crosses, shows the estimated crossing time, and displays the active controller on VATSIM or IVAO. The status bar also now shows local time at the aircraft's current position, Navigraph VFR and World map tile support was added, and charts can be dragged clear of overlying controls. The 2.1.1 hotfix resolves a problem in the companion app where the PMDG aircraft location had to be re-specified on every launch for installations not using the default Community folder location. Compatibility has been verified against PMDG 737 version 4.00.061 and 777 version 2.04.144.
The mod is entirely PowerShell-based with no compiled executables, and it can be fully removed via the app at any time, restoring all aircraft EFBs to their original state. EFB+ is freeware. If you find it useful, the developer accepts support via BuyMeACoffee - you can find the add-on ➡️ on Flightsim.to.
LEPA – Palma de Mallorca Airport — Update 2026.08.07
🔗 Palma de Mallorca's Son Sant Joan Airport (LEPA) is one of Europe's busiest leisure aviation destinations. The freeware scenery by EuroScene has been available since late 2024 and covers all terminals with custom 3D models, custom jetways, the control tower, VOR and ILS antenna structures, custom ground markings and taxiway signage, and night-lit interiors visible from both inside and outside the aircraft.
The latest update revises the Terminal A 3D model to reflect real-world changes made to the building in recent years, representing a meaningful improvement in accuracy for a terminal that has undergone visible architectural modifications. The update also includes an attempt to assign airline codes to parking positions, which should produce more realistic AI traffic distribution across the apron. Additional corrections address taxiway line geometry, minor texture issues, taxiway sign placement, and the car parking garage model.
This is a freeware release and the developer's first scenery project. If you appreciate the quality on offer and the continued updates, consider supporting EuroScene through a donation on Flightsim.to. The scenery can be found ➡️ on Flightsim.to.
KSAN – San Diego International Airport for MSFS 2024 — Version 2.1.1
San Diego International Airport occupies a particularly notable place in the flight simulation landscape. As one of the busiest single-runway commercial airports in the world, its combination of a tight urban setting, a demanding visual approach over Bankers Hill, and constant high-frequency traffic makes it a perennial favourite among simulator pilots interested in challenging approaches.
Developer Glideslope Pro released this native MSFS 2024 version of KSAN recently, with the headline feature being a fully modelled new Terminal 1 — a structure that recently replaced the airport's older facilities and represents a substantial visual change at the real-world airport. The scenery includes detailed interiors for the terminal, animated jetways, custom ground markings, airline codes assigned to parking positions, custom animated runway guard lights, and a lite representation of KNZY North Island Naval Air Station (Halsey Field). The entire package has been built against the MSFS 2024 SDK, with LOD optimisation applied to every object in the scenery.
The 2.1.1 update adds the Taxiway P extension behind Terminal 2, updates taxiway layout and connections between Terminal 2 and the main apron, and incorporates a range of minor fixes gathered from community feedback. Those who have the older MSFS 2020 version of this scenery installed are advised to disable or remove it before activating the 2024 version to avoid scenery conflicts. The developer has also included a configurable option to disable the carrier models placed in the bay, by renaming the relevant BGL file. San Diego International by Glideslope Pro is a payware release available on Flightsim.to. You can find and purchase it ➡️ on the Flightsim.to Store.
TaxiNow — Version 1.2 Build 111
Ground situational awareness has historically been one of the less well-served areas of the simulator experience, particularly for those flying aircraft that lack a built-in airport moving map. 🔗 TaxiNow, developed by skylarkning, is a locally installed Windows application that connects to MSFS 2020 or 2024 via SimConnect and displays the aircraft's real-time position and heading overlaid on detailed airport ground charts. It includes airport search, map download and management functionality, and configurable storage options. Notably, the application also includes a built-in hosting service that allows you to use TaxiNow on mobile devices such as an iPad by connecting them to the PC client over a local network — though the PC application must remain running for this to function.
Version 1.2 (Build 111) addresses several notable areas. A bug that caused downloads of large airport chart packages — the example cited being EGLL — to hang indefinitely has been resolved. The interface now includes full Traditional Chinese and Japanese translations. The application has been updated to remember and reopen the last successfully displayed airport on launch rather than defaulting to CYYZ on every start. A heading-up map orientation mode has been added, keeping the aircraft heading toward the top of the display and positioning the aircraft icon in the lower centre of the screen, while preserving the existing free-rotation controls.
The routing algorithm has also been improved in this release: arrival taxi route generation now takes the aircraft's heading into account when selecting the initial snap point on the ground network, avoids suggesting reverse runway exits, and prevents routes requiring near-180-degree reversals. Route scoring has been rebalanced to maintain a preference for main taxiways without allowing a clearly longer loop route to score better than a practical direct connection. TaxiNow is free for personal, non-commercial flight simulation use. If you find it a useful addition to your setup, consider supporting the developer with a donation. The add-on is ➡️ available on Flightsim.to.
Synaptic A220 ACARS/CPDLC — Version 0.1.5
The Synaptic Simulations A220 is one of the more closely followed airliner releases for MSFS 2024, and community developers have moved quickly to extend its capabilities in areas where the base product has not yet fully arrived. 🔗 Synaptic A220 ACARS/CPDLC by liz3 implements datalink communications for the A220 via the aircraft's DLK system, supporting connections to Hoppie (VATSIM), SayIntentions.AI, and BeyondATC in an experimental capacity.
On the ACARS side, the mod supports free text messaging, ATIS requests, METAR and TAF retrieval, oceanic clearance requests, and pre-departure clearances. CPDLC functionality covers speed and flight level instructions, direct-to clearances, and position reports. The INIT DATA page under DLK > AOC is implemented, and the physical ACPT, RJCT, STBY, and Refresh buttons on the glareshield interact with the EICAS view as expected. Incoming ATC messages trigger the aircraft's caution audio tone once, while datalink messages generate an EICAS CAS advisory.
The most recent update, version 0.1.5, addresses a rendering issue that caused telex messages containing a forward slash character to display incorrectly, and includes a fix for ATIS retrieval via BeyondATC. The developer has been clear that compatibility with future Synaptic aircraft updates cannot be guaranteed, and recommends checking the Flightsim.to page for updates following any Synaptic release. A setup video is linked on the add-on page for initial configuration guidance. The add-on is freeware, and given the meaningful functionality it extends to online flyers using the A220, supporting *liz3* through a donation on Flightsim.to would be a worthwhile consideration. The add-on can be found ➡️ on Flightsim.to as well.