Version: 1.6.34.0
Frequency: Frequently
Severity: Blocker
Bug description:
In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, legacy XML-based LCD gauges intermittently initialize as completely black displays upon aircraft load. Reloading the flight (without restarting the simulator) resolves the issue, but it may reoccur unpredictably on subsequent loads.
This behavior did not occur in MSFS 2020 using the identical aircraft package and XML gauge logic.
Environment:
- Product: Learjet 35A
- Gauge Type: Legacy XML (LCD-style displays)
- Location: Common Panel Folder
- Simulator: Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- Frequency: Approximately 10–20% failure rate overall
- Workaround: Restarting the flight (no full simulator restart required)
Observed Behavior:
On aircraft load, one or more XML gauges may initialize as a completely black screen. The failure is random:
- It does not always affect the same gauge.
- Sometimes only one gauge fails.
- Sometimes two or more fail.
- Occasionally all load correctly.
- Reloading the same flight immediately restores proper operation.
Across approximately five different XML-based LCD gauges in this aircraft, failures appear random and inconsistent in distribution.
Internally observed frequency varies:
- Some customers report higher occurrence rates.
- In internal testing, initial rate was below 5%, but further testing has shown occurrences closer to the 10–20% range.
- Overall estimated failure rate appears under 20%, with roughly 80% of loads functioning normally.
Technical Notes:
These gauges use nested structures, including double-wrapped blocks. This structure was historically required in FSX and Prepar3D to force proper first-load initialization and remained fully stable in MSFS 2020.
The same code base worked reliably in MSFS 2020 without modification.
After converting affected XML gauges to HTML implementations, the issue no longer occurs.
Preliminary Conclusion:
This appears to be an intermittent legacy XML gauge initialization issue specific to MSFS 2024, possibly related to render timing, panel initialization order, or display registration during aircraft load.
Impact:
Customers experience intermittent loss of primary or radio LCD displays on load, requiring a flight restart. This negatively affects perceived product stability and increases support volume.
Request:
Please confirm whether legacy XML gauge initialization behavior changed in MSFS 2024. If rendering or initialization sequencing has been modified, guidance on mitigation would be appreciated.
If legacy XML is considered deprecated or unstable in MSFS 2024 for LCD-type displays, official clarification would help developers plan migration accordingly.
Regards,
FlySimWare