These questions come from the fact that the nav data and airport data in MS FSX are now several years old. Discrepancies between its data and real world data most likely exist.
1) Do the controllers at PE use current nav data (including current approaches, GPS waypoints, fixes, etc) and do they work with current airport statuses (match real world airport runway or complete closures as they happen, etc)? In other words, to match the PE controllers would I be safe in purchasing VFR sectionals, low enroute IFR charts, and approach plates from real chart suppliers? What about having to maintain chart currency (especially approach plates)?
2) What about GPS approaches? I recall that both the included FSX GPS and payware add-on GPS products use nav data that also is several years old. How, then, do current PE pilots flying with FSX use their "onboard" GPS units to fly current approaches? Is there a method for updating the nav data of these GPS units?
In my case I would want to subscribe to PE to practice my real world approach selection, which would only be GPS, VOR, and ILS/localizer approaches. No NDB approaches for me, thank you.
While I am at it, I have one other question about weather in southern CA. As a northeast US pilot I have an impression that the weather in southern CA is either low IFR (fog, marine layers) or no IFR (sunny, 'it never rains in southern California'). If I were to use a weather generator for FSX tied to real world weather, would I see real, approachable IFR days?
Thank you for your help. I look forward to becoming a member as soon as my sim and my armchair flying are back up to speed.