what flight planning software do you use?

I use AirPlan.. it's pretty good for what I need it to do.. and above all,
the price is right...

same thing from competitors costs hundreds more.. I can't justify that
difference...

"Sridhar Rajagopal" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I was wondering about the following:

1) how many people actually use any kind of flight planning software
(VFR and IFR)?
2) If you do use it, which one do you use?
3) how would you rate it?

Thanks!
Sridhar

Sridhar Rajagopal wrote:

2) If you do use it, which one do you use?

I use an old package called TAU. I think it's not available anymore, and my
database has been out of date for about ten years now, but it's easy to use
and I like it.

George Patterson
The British drink warm beer because they all own Lucas refrigerators.

I use DUATS. (Cirrus software interface) I like it - it's simple. I have
my plane profiled and I find that I get with in +/- 5 minutes and within
a few gallons of what the flight plan states.


Sridhar Rajagopal wrote:

Hi,

I was wondering about the following:

1) how many people actually use any kind of flight planning software
(VFR and IFR)?
2) If you do use it, which one do you use?
3) how would you rate it?

Thanks!
Sridhar

Thanks for all your replies! I myself use charts, and an excel
spreadsheet for the navigation log. I've checked out a few flight
planning software, but they all seemed pricey. Aeroplanner seems to be a
good alternative, so does Copilot. Of course, it's great to blow the
dust off the E-6B once in a while!

One of my friends just got into flying. I took him to the neighborhood
pilot shop (@ PAO), and oriented him with the things he might need,
including the E-6B. It sure was an interesting experience, and one that
brought back memories of my own training. 4 years is sure a long time!

-Sridhar

Sridhar Rajagopal wrote:

Hi,

I was wondering about the following:

1) how many people actually use any kind of flight planning software
(VFR and IFR)?
2) If you do use it, which one do you use?
3) how would you rate it?

Thanks!
Sridhar

Glad to see that at least a couple of others like to do it the
hands-on way. ((:-))

Of course, it's great to blow the dust off the E-6B once in a while!

One of my friends just got into flying. I took him to the neighborhood
pilot shop (@ PAO), and oriented him with the things he might need,
including the E-6B.

I wonder what people mean, today, when they say "E-6B." Are they
talking about the old faithful hand-powered "whizz-wheel," or one of
those outrageously priced battery-powered jobs?

With a little experience, calculating-- or really, guesstimating--
wind correction angle (unless one is planning to cross the Atlantic
Ocean) requires nothing more than a recollection of high-school trig.

Recall, for example, the characteristics of a 60-30 right triangle.
That will give you the WCA for the stiffest crosswind you are ever
likely to encounter. Interpolation will give you the WCA for lighter
winds, with sufficient accuracy for flying two- or three-hour legs in
a typical GA airplane, using pilotage to fine tune the heading.

vince norris

vincent p. norris wrote:

I wonder what people mean, today, when they say "E-6B." Are they
talking about the old faithful hand-powered "whizz-wheel," or one of
those outrageously priced battery-powered jobs?


The whizzer, of course (atleast I do).

With a little experience, calculating-- or really, guesstimating--
wind correction angle (unless one is planning to cross the Atlantic
Ocean) requires nothing more than a recollection of high-school trig.

Recall, for example, the characteristics of a 60-30 right triangle.
That will give you the WCA for the stiffest crosswind you are ever
likely to encounter. Interpolation will give you the WCA for lighter
winds, with sufficient accuracy for flying two- or three-hour legs in
a typical GA airplane, using pilotage to fine tune the heading.



Yeah, the one time when my trig came in handy is when I was figuring out
the equations for creating an excel (and javascript) spreadsheet for the
navigation log.

Sridhar Rajagopal wrote in message ...
Hi,

I was wondering about the following:

1) how many people actually use any kind of flight planning software
(VFR and IFR)?
2) If you do use it, which one do you use?
3) how would you rate it?

Thanks!
Sridhar


I use fligh soft. You can download Duats as well. However I never
rely soly on this and call for a weather briefing once at the airport
to make sure nothing has changed. That's the thing about weather, it
get away with anything it wants to, when it wants to.

Here is a summary of the flight planning devices/aids that people use:

Flight planning

* DUAT (DynCorp, Cirrus, direct telnet)
* Aeroplanner
* Copilot
* FliteSoft
* FliteStar
* AirPlan
* TAU
* Anywhere Map/Planner
* E6B
* Dos version of FlightSoft Pro

Other aids

*Airnav.com
* FSS
* Verizon's pilot weather on the mobile.

-Sridhar

Sridhar Rajagopal wrote:

Hi,

I was wondering about the following:

1) how many people actually use any kind of flight planning software
(VFR and IFR)?
2) If you do use it, which one do you use?
3) how would you rate it?

Thanks!
Sridhar

Sridhar,

Take a look at WingX for the Pocket PC at http://www.hiltonsoftware.com As
far as flight planning, it has a database of airports, VORs, and NDBs and
will determine course, headings, distance, time, WCA etc. It has many other
functions too. Because it runs on a Pocket PC, you can do all this while
waiting at a red light, although I probably wouldn't advise that.

Hilton


"Sridhar Rajagopal" wrote in message
...
Hi,

I was wondering about the following:

1) how many people actually use any kind of flight planning software
(VFR and IFR)?
2) If you do use it, which one do you use?
3) how would you rate it?

Thanks!
Sridhar