Navigation Database Services

    Getting Started with NDB Explorer

    TABLE OF CONTENTS

    Section Title
    1INSTALLING AND LICENSING NDB EXPLORER
    2CREATING AIRCRAFT LOADABLE MEDIA
    3OPENING A NAVIGATION DATABASE
    4EXPLORING A NAVIGATION DATABASE
    5VIEWING THE DATABASE DEFINITION PARAMETERS
    6EXPORTING THE CONTENTS OF A NAVIGATION DATABASE
    7COMPARING NAVIGATION DATABASES
    8GOLD STANDARD DATABASES
    9VIEWING THE LATERAL PATH
    10LICENSABLE FEATURES AND SUPPORT
    AppendixAppendix: FLOPPY DISK TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDANCE
    1. INSTALLING AND LICENSING NDB EXPLORER

      Documentation for installing and licensing NDB Explorer are provided in the links below:

      NDB Explorer Installation Guide
      NDB Explorer Licensing Guide


    2. CREATING AIRCRAFT LOADABLE MEDIA

      NDB Explorer is used to create Aircraft Loadable Media from a GE Aerospace Navigation Database for use in ARINC 615 and ARINC 615A data loaders. This function is displayed at start up but can also be accessed in Tools > Create Aircraft Loadable Media…

      The Aircraft Loadable Media can be created onto a hard drive (including USB ‘thumb drives’) or diskettes.

      The Create Navigation Database Identifier Subdirectory option will use the database identifier to create a uniquely identifiable top-level folder within the selected destination directory. The Split for Diskettes option will create diskette-sized folders within the selected destination directory. For troubleshooting with using loadable media on diskettes, see the Appendix.


    3. OPENING A NAVIGATION DATABASE

      NDB explorer can open a GE Aerospace Navigation Database, Aircraft Loadable Media, a GE Aerospace SQLite Export File, or a Gold Standard Database. This is accomplished either through File > Open, or by dragging the appropriate file into the Navigation Databases window.


      Note: NDB Explorer will only open files that contain valid CRCs and a valid digital signature. Therefore, the integrity of a navigation database can be validated by simply opening it with NDB explorer.


      Once a database is open, the data for each AIRAC cycle will be available in the Navigation Databases window and a property grid will be displayed on the right side of the screen which contains details about the cyclic data. Right-clicking on an open database cycle will display the available actions.


    4. EXPLORING A NAVIGATION DATABASE

      Each open database cycle has a corresponding data contents tab. The tab contains a search box which can be used to filter the data search results.

      Double-clicking on a data record will open a new tab displaying further details about that record.

      Right-clicking on a data record will reveal the Find all references… feature which, when selected, will identify all data which references the record.


    5. VIEWING THE DATABASE DEFINITION PARAMETERS

      The parameters which were used to define the content of the navigation database can be viewed via the Tools > View Database Definition Parameters… feature. The displayed “DDP” can then be exported to a CSV or PDF file.


    6. EXPORTING THE CONTENTS OF A NAVIGATION DATABASE

      NDB Explorer allows the user to export the contents of a navigation database to various data file formats via the Tools > Export To > selection. These exported files can then be used in processes like RNP-AR procedure validation, flight planning, and simulation support.

      • EXPORT TO CSV

        • The Export to CSV selection will export the contents of a navigation database to a "comma-separated values" file which can then be used by a tool such as Microsoft Excel.


      • EXPORT TO SQLITE

        • The Export to SQLite selection will export the contents of a navigation database to an SQLite compatible database which can then be ingested by custom tools or applications. Information on the SQLite Navigation Database Export Format is available in Tools > Export to > SQLite… > Get Data Dictionary.


      • EXPORT TO PDF

        • The Export to PDF selection will export the contents of a navigation database to a PDF file which can then be opened by any PDF reader.


    7. COMPARING NAVIGATION DATABASES

      With the standard free license, NDB Explorer can compare the two cycles of data within a single navigation database.

      With the premium Compare license, NDB Explorer can compare any two cycles of data from any GE Aerospace Navigation Database, Aircraft Loadable Media, GE Aerospace SQLite Export files, or Gold Standard Databases.

      1. Perform a Compare by opening Tools > Compare..., or right-clicking on an open database cycle.
      2. Add one navigation database on the left and another navigation database on the right.
      3. Select the data types to be compared and click OK.

      The colored buttons at the top of the Compare tab allow filtering of unchanged, changed, left-side only, and right-side only data.

      To view the specific changes, expand a datatype and click on the record.


    8. GOLD STANDARD DATABASES

      Known good data can be imported into a separate database file called a Gold Standard Database for easy procedure monitoring, such as part of an RNP-AR validation process. A Gold Standard Database can be established through Tools > Gold Standard Database > New…

      To import data into a gold standard database, compare the Gold Standard Database to a Navigation Database. Right-click on the record to be imported and select Import data to database.

      After a Gold Standard Database is established, new navigation databases can be compared to it and any changes will be identified for re-validation. The newly validated data can then replace the old data in the GSD. Date, time, and comment history of every change is stored in the Gold Standard Database.


    9. VIEWING THE LATERAL PATH

      NDB Explorer can display a top-down graphical lateral path of the procedures, airways, and company routes in your NDB. The lateral path is overlaid on a map which is populated with background data from the navigation database. The Lateral Path Viewer offers multiple tools to measure distances, radial values, as well as determining coordinates and paths.

      The displayed Lateral Path can also be exported to a KML file and then viewed in Google Earth™.


    10. LICENSABLE FEATURES AND SUPPORT

      The following features require a premium license:

      • Exporting database contents to CSV, SQLite and PDF
      • Comparing data from 2 different navigation databases
      • Gold Standard Databases
      • Viewing the Lateral Path

      Use GE’s Contact Us form to purchase a premium license, request a free trial, or request technical support.


    APPENDIX: FLOPPY DISK TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDANCE

    Floppy disks and floppy disk drives are an aging medium and can be the cause of data loading issues. After creating an Aircraft Loadable Media set onto diskettes, it is recommended that you use NDB Explorer to “Open” the navigation database and select the diskettes as the source file(s). If NDB Explorer can successfully open the Aircraft Loadable Media, the diskettes are good; if not, it is likely that that a floppy disk is bad and you should replace the floppy disk which failed to load and re-create the Aircraft Loadable Media.

    If there are still issues loading the Aircraft Loadable Media diskettes to the aircraft, here are some additional suggestions:

    • Try re-formatting the floppy disks prior to Creating the Aircraft Loadable Media
    • Try generating multiple copies of the floppy media set to bring out to the plane. This will allow swapping out disks that may fail during loading. For instance, if disk 3 fails, you can retry by replacing disk 3 with another disk 3 from an identical media set
    • Try reaching out to the aircraft manufacturer and determine if it is possible to use another medium other than floppy disks to load your Navigation Database.


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