Originally Posted by
Jimmykool
fwiw Atlas aircraft don't necessarily have a big US database loaded up. This could have prevented any approach displays on the mfd. don't know if that was so for this case. i flew to multiple US airports that weren't in the database and assumed it was because all the international data took up so much storage.
Are you talking about KAAO or KIAB not in the database? KIAB would definitely be in the database or they wouldn't be allowed to shoot the RNAV approach (can't hand build anything RNAV). Plus they fly there all the time. If you're talking about KAAO to show up on the ND with ARPT selected, then I'll agree that it more then likely wasn't in there since it is a smaller GA airport.
I am assuming this plane has the PEGASUS FMC, so changing out navdatabases based on geographical regions isn't required. If it doesn't have the PEG and the airports were not in the database and they did in-fact hand build an RNAV approach, then that is bad for the crew since it is a big no-no and likely a contributing factor.
Will be interesting when the facts come out, should be interesting because everything is speculation right now.