44. Navigation Databases¶
Little Navmap can use up to two databases in parallel:
- Simulator database: Created by reading the scenery library of FSX, Prepar3D, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or X-Plane.
- Navigation database: Provided by Navigraph. Does not have to be compiled and can be updated by the Navigraph FMS Data Manager.
Little Navmap is bundled with a navigation database courtesy of Navigraph which is enabled per default.
Tip
You can update the navdatabase of Little Navmap with the Navigraph FMS Data Manager.
See Install Navigraph Updates on my home page for more information if the update fails.
Note
It is recommended to keep all scenery libraries in sync. This means that your simulator, Little Navmap, aircraft and tools should use the same AIRAC cycle. Having navdata synchronized helps to avoid issues when loading flight plans.
Warning
Always close Little Navmap before updating its databases.
Three display modes can be selected from the menu Scenery Library
as
shown below.
44.1. Use Navigraph for all Features¶
Uses only information from the Navigraph database.
Note
Note that airport information is limited in this mode. This means that aprons, taxiways, parking positions, runway surface information and fuel information are not available. Additionally, smaller airports might be missing.
Runway layout might not match the runway layout in the simulator if you use stock or older airport scenery.
An advantage of this mode is that approach procedures always match the airport runway layout precisely.

Airport diagram for EDDN
from simulator scenery
(X-Plane) as shown in the modes Do not use Navigraph Database
or
Use Navigraph for Navaids and Procedures
.

Airport EDDN
from the Navigraph database while
Use Navigraph for all Features
is enabled. Note missing runway
surface information, aprons, taxiways and parking positions.
44.2. Use Navigraph for Navaids and Procedures¶
This is the default and strongly recommended mode.
This mode blends navaids and other features from the Navigraph database with the simulator database. This affects the map display, all information windows and all search windows.
The following features are taken from the simulator database when using this mode:
- Airports (also
Search
dock window, tabAirport
) - Aprons
- Taxiways
- Parking positions
- COM frequencies
- ILS
The following features are taken from the Navigraph database:
- Navaids (waypoints/intersections, VOR, NDB, marker) which affects:
Search
dock window, tabNavaid
- Flight plan calculation
- Route Description
- Procedures (approaches, SIDs and STARs). This affects:
Search
dock window, tabProcedures
- Loading and display of procedures from flight plans.
- Airways
- Airspaces
44.2.1. Limitations in this mode¶
- Little Navmap ignores any mismatches between procedures and runways due to airport updates and will not display a warning. Update an airport using payware or freeware scenery if you find that an approach or departure procedure does not start at a runway end of an airport.
- Procedures cannot be recognized when selecting
Show Procedures
in the menu if an airport has changed its ICAO ident (e.g.Kulik Lake
: ident changed fromLKK
toPAKL
). If you suspect such a case use the modeUse Navigraph for all Features
to get the procedures for the airport. - The airport search only considers procedures available
in the simulator. Switch to
Use Navigraph for all Features
to look for airports that have procedures from the Navigraph database. - ILS placement or presence might not match approach procedures if an
airport has a new ILS which is not present in stock scenery or an old
scenery add-on. If you encounter an ILS approach without ILS station,
switch to
Use Navigraph for all Features
to overcome this limitation.
Tip
Use the Navigraph navdata update for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 to update the scenery library to the latest and also to keep Little Navmap and MSFS navdata synchronized. This will reduce issues when loading flight plans into the simulator.
Using the fsAerodata navdata for FSX or P3D update will remove many of the limitations above since it will synchronize the simulator scenery with the Navigraph database.

An extreme example for runway/procedure mismatch. The approach from the Navigraph database cycle 1707 ends at the not visible runway 09 while the outdated scenery from FSX shows the airport at the wrong position. EDVK was rebuild north of Calden in 2013. The OpenStreetMap backgound shows the new airport.
44.3. Do not use Navigraph Database¶
Completely ignores the Navigraph database and shows only information read from the simulator scenery.
Note
This mode will read all navdata from the simulator scenery files. Depending on simulator there are limitations which result in limited features.
This is missing one-way airways, no airway maximum altitude restrictions, some radio navaid types missing and more for FSX, P3D and MSFS simulators. You might also experience errors in the airway system and broken procedures.