Download Bridge
Download the Windows x64 Bridge package from this page. Extract it somewhere permanent, such as Documents\SkyDeck Bridge.
Windows PC · MSFS 2020 / 2024
Turn SkyDeck into a live flight-state companion.
SkyDeck Bridge is the small Windows companion that links Microsoft Flight Simulator to SkyDeck PC Edition through SimConnect. It keeps the telemetry source local, checks freshness continuously and shows you clearly when real aircraft data is driving SkyDeck.
SKYDECK BRIDGEPC Live Telemetry
LOCAL API READYMSFS CONNECTEDTRACKING REAL DATA
✈
SKYDECK BRIDGE MODEConnected · tracking real data
Fresh simulator data is available to SkyDeck PC Edition.
POSITIONLIVE
ALTITUDE12,460 ft
GROUND SPEED318 kt
VERTICAL-1,420 fpm
HEADING031°
COM1127.500
● Local receiver · freshness gated · automatic Smart Tracking fallback
What “live” means in SkyDeck
The Bridge window being open is not enough. SkyDeck displays Connected · tracking real data only when the local API is online, SimConnect is connected, a usable aircraft sample exists and that sample is no more than five seconds old.
Clean SimConnect setup
Bridge 1.6.0 does not bundle Microsoft's SimConnect DLLs. It automatically looks for an official SimConnect client already installed on your PC. On MSFS 2024, if Bridge shows SETUP REQUIRED, install the official SDK Core from Developer Mode → Help → SDK Installer, then press Retry MSFS. Custom locations can be selected once from Diagnostics → SimConnect setup.
Install in minutes
PC setup without plugin gymnastics.
Bridge 1.6.0 automatically detects the official SimConnect client when it is available and gives you a guided setup path when it is not.
Start MSFS
Launch Microsoft Flight Simulator and load fully into an aircraft before starting the Bridge.
Run the EXE
Open SkyDeck.Bridge.exe. Bridge automatically searches for an official SimConnect client and keeps trying while MSFS starts.
Set up SimConnect if asked
If Bridge shows SETUP REQUIRED on MSFS 2024, enable Developer Mode in the simulator and choose Help → SDK Installer. After installation press Retry MSFS. For a custom SDK location, use Diagnostics → SimConnect setup.
Wait for live telemetry
The Bridge should progress to LIVE TELEMETRY once fresh aircraft samples are flowing.
Open PC Edition
Sign in to SkyDeck and open PC Edition. Verify in SkyDeck under Tools → SkyDeck systems: Bridge Mode should say Connected · tracking real data and show changing live values.
What SkyDeck receives
Real aircraft state, not a second ATC brain.
Bridge telemetry enters one SkyDeck Flight State Authority. It improves the aircraft-state evidence available to existing systems without fabricating pilot reports or rewriting clearances.
Latitude / longitudeAltitudeGround speedIndicated airspeedVertical speedTrue headingOn-ground stateCOM1 active / standbySelected altitudeAutopilot master
Connection states
No mystery lights. You always know what SkyDeck trusts.
Bridge offline
SkyDeck cannot reach the local receiver. Start SkyDeck Bridge on the same PC.
Waiting for MSFS
The Bridge is running, but SimConnect has not connected to an active simulator session yet.
Telemetry stale
The simulator connection exists but fresh usable samples have stopped. SkyDeck stops treating the data as live.
Tracking real data
Fresh position and altitude are available and the PC flight-state authority is using live telemetry.
Built to fail safely
If the Bridge drops, the flight does not.
PC Edition automatically falls back to SkyDeck Smart Tracking when telemetry is unavailable or stale. Pilot readbacks remain pilot readbacks, and ATC clearance state remains owned by the existing SkyDeck authority.
- Local HTTP receiver binds to loopback only
- Freshness threshold: 5 seconds
- No fake pilot altitude-report timestamps
- No Bridge overwrite of ATC clearances
- Console/reference edition remains independent at /app/
Troubleshooting
Three checks solve most connection problems.
Bridge says “SETUP REQUIRED”
Bridge could not find an official SimConnect client runtime. On MSFS 2024, enable Developer Mode, choose Help → SDK Installer, install the SDK Core, then press Retry MSFS. If your SDK is installed somewhere unusual, use Diagnostics → SimConnect setup and select its official SimConnect.dll.
Bridge says “Waiting for MSFS”
Make sure Microsoft Flight Simulator is running and an aircraft is fully loaded into a flight. Then use Retry MSFS if needed.
SkyDeck says “Bridge offline”
Make sure SkyDeck.Bridge.exe is running on the same Windows PC as the browser. The local receiver uses port 47873.
SkyDeck says “Telemetry stale”
Fresh simulator samples have stopped for more than five seconds. The safe fallback is automatic; reconnect MSFS/SimConnect and SkyDeck will return to live mode once fresh data resumes.
Can console users install Bridge?
The companion can still run on a Windows PC, but Bridge telemetry is specifically for an MSFS simulator running on that PC. Console pilots should use SkyDeck's Console Smart Tracking mode.
PC flight deck
Bridge connected. SkyDeck knows where you really are.
Use PC Edition when Microsoft Flight Simulator is running on Windows. Use the normal SkyDeck edition for console Smart Tracking.