What’s the deal with the Working Title CJ4 mod now?
Note: Sim Update 15 (SU15) is out! If you are using add-ons with the CJ4 you will probably need to update them. Using wooselmod? Make sure you update to release 1.04. Using the dementedmonkey MCDU? Make sure you update to release v0.6.0-beta1.
In January 2023 Microsoft/Asobo released “AAU1”, a massive overhaul of several default planes in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, including a complete rewrite of the CJ4.
People still seem to be confused by this update and often come to the Working Title Discord with questions. Here are answers to the common ones.
Do I still need to install the mod from the Working Title website?
No.
The plane was re-written from the ground up and all future updates ship directly with MSFS2020.
There is no need to install a mod anymore to get the latest and greatest. You should uninstall any Working Title CJ4 mod you may have in your community folder.
How do I install and find the Working Title CJ4 in flight sim then?
It is the default CJ4 in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 now. If you run MSFS2020 you have it, the “AAU1” update is downloaded automatically.
Simply search for “CJ4” in the plane list. The one that shows up is the one you want.
How do I know I have the re-written, latest and greatest, version?
Turn on the avionics. Look at the co-pilot’s MFD and verify it has a dedicated section for CAS messages at the top of the display (the two white rectangles):
They “rewrote” it so… is it better? What’s new with the plane?
Yes, it is better. The release notes for Aircraft & Avionics Update 1 give a good overview of all the improvements:
The Cessna Citation CJ4 avionics have been heavily upgraded to bring an authentic CJ4 avionics experience:
- Comprehensive visual overhaul for accurate font, symbology, look, operation, and feel
- Independent MFD and FMS operation
- Advanced flight plan support, including arcs, radius-to-fix, intercepts, hold, procedure turns, missed approaches, and custom waypoint scratchpad entry
- Coupled VNAV with editable constraints, flight path angles, vertical path smoothing, and VNAV-invalidation conditions
- Advanced autopilot, including armable lateral and vertical modes as well as complex combined-armed modes – Full specification-accurate TCAS II traffic system
- Cabin pressurization and complete Crew Alerting System
- FMS performance calculations for takeoff and landing speeds
- Integrated dual engine FADEC systems with N1 mode indications and accurate N1 targets
- Independent display options and state-saving
- Enhanced FMS Text MFD display modes
- Keyboard entry mode for FMS data entry
- AHRS alignment and startup sequence
- Improved flight model:
- Improvements to ground and crosswind handing during the takeoff and landing phases
- Improvements to flight control performance accuracy, smoothness, and handling
- Improvements to fuel consumption accuracy
- Improvements to handling while in ground effect
- Improved engine and interior sound effects
What happened to Simbrief data import?
It was removed, but as of Sim Update 13 (released September 28, 2023) it is back. You can find it under IDX > ROUTE MENU on the FMC. See the Navigraph blog post for full details on how to set it up.
What happened to Navigraph Charts integration?
It’s gone. Navigraph has previously stated they don’t want to deal with forking the code to add chart support, which is understandable. As of SU15 there’s a plug-in model for the CJ4 that could make this easier, but apparently there are still a few missing pieces. WorkingTitle did make the necessary changes and they just need to make it into an MSFS2020 update.
What happened to ground power?
It was removed, but as of Sim Update 13 (released September 28, 2023) it is back. You can find it under IDX > USR SETTINGS. You still need to be parked at a gate that supports ground power for it to work.
Note that real world pilots rarely use ground power with the CJ4. They just start the engines instead.
What happened to the checklists?
The focus for the rewrite of the CJ4 was on avionics and flight model. The checklist feature was, unfortunately, cut due to time. The Working Title team has said it will be coming back though and they even posted a preview of it to the Discord! There is no announced release date for it, and it was not included in Sim Update 13.
What happened to the passenger briefing sounds?
They weren’t included in the rewrite due to rights reasons. Other sounds, like the 500′ callout, are supported because they reuse default sounds included in MSFS 2020.
My liveries don’t work anymore. What’s going on?
Most liveries have updated at this point to work with the rewritten CJ4. If you find one that isn’t working it is likely because it completely overrides the panel.cfg file, which is a no no. You can resolve the issue by replacing the livery’s panel.cfg file with the one from Working Title.
How do I change the barometric pressure units to metric (hectopascals)?
The CJ4 follows the real-world aircraft for changing pressure units. There are two separate systems, the PFD and the FMC.
For the PFD: Use the PFD MENU button to open the PFD options, then use the MENU ADV knob to scroll down to CONFIG. Press the MENU ADV knob to select it, then change the PRESSURE to either IN or HPA.
For the FMC: In the real world plane the pilot cannot change the unit used by the FMC. To work around this the CJ4 in the sim follows the unit set in the MSFS2020 options. Go to General Options > Misc and change Units of measurement to U.S. system or Metric system. You can also enter the pressure with a unit identifier after it, e.g. 1013H or 2992I, and the FMC will automatically swap to the appropriate unit.
Why does the plane refuse to take off until well after the Vr speed?
Nobody knows. This doesn’t happen for everyone, and it doesn’t happen all the time. There is no known workaround, all you can do is keep holding back on the yoke until the plane decides to take off.
Why isn’t TOD/VNAV working?
VNAV works fine but does require some extra steps to get configured the first time. See my blog post on configuring VNAV for how to get it up and running.
I’m getting white screens. What’s going on?
You can resolve white screens by checking the following:
- Make sure that you are not using old WT CJ4 mods of the plane or avionics packages
- Make sure you don’t use an old livery that fully overrides panel.cfg (which only old obscure ones would still do)
- If you are using the CJ4 Cockpit Texture mod then update it to the latest version