how I map my flights

I thought I'd share how I've been displaying the tracks of
my flights. I found this very useful in helping me assess
and analyze my errors. It's also been interesting on long
flights into crowded airspace to see what the tracons actually
do with us.

I'm also hoping it will spark a discussion where more knowledgeable
people have better ways of doing this. If someone says "hey you can
do all this with one program and it's shareware" I'll be pleased.

I posted about this issue some time back and got some answers
but no "complete idiots guide" these are all the steps you need
so here it is.

I start with a Garmin GPS 90 set to log my track.

I then use the shareware program GARTrip to upload the track file onto
my computer.
http://www.gartrip.de/
Gartrip has a fully functional freeware version with some limitations.
Almost everything I do training locally could be done with the freeware
version, except one couldn't save multiple track files. But, I thought
it was a cool and well written program worth the $30 registration. The
author is very helpful and provides good support. The FAQ addressed
all of the minor problems we encountered setting it up.

GARTrip uses three pieces of information to produce a nice map with
track, or a specified part of a track, overlaid. First, it uses a
map saved in .jpg or .gif format (.bmp too). Then one can enter
waypoints, and calibrate the map. One can then display waypoints
for a route defined in the GPS, or display a track file over the map.

I input a local waypoints file using the lat long coordinates of navaids
from the AF/D and the lat long coordinates of the GPS waypoints from
the data file at http://www.airnav.com. *A nice side benefit of this
is that it gives degree-distance bearing between GPS waypoints whatever
VOR I select. So if I wanted, for example, to know exactly how CHOSY
waypoint relates to LIS VOR, I could get that information. This might
or might not be useful to pilots planning GPS approaches into distant
airports, where one can't file to the IAF because the ATC confusers
won't recognize it.* The GPS waypoints are a bit of a PITA. If someone
knows of a text file with the data which I could just search, or some
FAA pub where they're listed, this would be helpful.

When we subscribed to Aeroplanner, I downloaded several IFR low-altitude
chartchunks and saved them as .jpg or .gif files. (Now I'm gonna be
visiting Kyler Laird for some sectionals!!!)

I also download .pdf files of approaches from AOPA. A lot of common
graphics programs won't convert .pdf files to other formats. I use the
very useful freeware program Ghostview to convert .ps and .pdf to
..jpg and such at work, so I use GSview (windows version) to convert
the AOPA files to .jpg which GARtrip can read.
http://www.gnu.org/software/ghostview/ghostview.html
Of course approach plates are also available at Dennis' site
http://www.myairplane.com for those who aren't AOPA members.
I did find the AOPA plates to be higher resolution and cleaner
but Dennis's site is very useful and of course, does not require
membership.

These maps are then calibrated using the local waypoints file.

The setup of inputting the waypoints and converting the approach
plates took a little time but of course it's a one time deal, if
someone is starting training for the IR or PPL it will work for
the whole training.

OK, so now I'm out shooting approaches. I come home, hook up
the Garmin 90 to the confuser, load the track file, and see what
I've done. It will display a chart of airspeed. If I had a GPS
which saved altitude data, GARtrip would handle that as well.

The display can be printed to a postscript file, which Ghostview
will convert to .jpg or .gif for editing or use in presentations
like PowerPoint. I was thinking that instrument ground instructors
might find something like this useful to show exactly what happens
when the student crosses a VOR and has to wait for indicator reversal
and the effect of small errors in CDI and in setting the radial.

I haven't explored yet what I'd need to use track files from our
installed GPS. They're more of a PITA for me to get since I have
to bring a computer into the cockpit and hook it up to download
the track. From browsing it looks as though GARtrip should
handle a file format I can output.

One thing I found useful was to see the GPS waypoints and navaids
all displayed on a local sectional chart. It helped me understand
how they fit into the local airspace picture and how they interact
with other approaches in the area.

Anyway, something I found useful getting back up to speed with
instrument flying. Hope this is useful to someone else.

Sydney

(Snowbird) writes:

Anyway, something I found useful getting back up to speed with
instrument flying. Hope this is useful to someone else.

Sydney

Definitely useful posting, Sydney. Thanks.

I've used Waypoint+ and dropped tracks into StreetAtlas USA. Haven't used
OZIexplorer, which might still be the way to go, especially with the work
Kyler recently did.

Nice tips re ghostview, too!

-Jack

Snowbird wrote:
I thought I'd share how I've been displaying the tracks of
my flights.

snip

Thanks for an informative contribution. I used to do some of this stuff, but
I've kind of gotten out of the habit. All the manual steps required are kind of
off-putting. Seems like a niche opportunity for a software developer to
integrate all the steps into a point and click.

I'm sure I'm forgetting some of the steps I used to use, but I remember they
involved a DOS freeware program called "gardown", and then another DOS freeware
filter program that converted the track into Street Maps USA format. The track
was displayed using Street Maps USA. Of course, no aviation-related waypoints on
the map.

snip

If someone
knows of a text file with the data which I could just search, or some
FAA pub where they're listed, this would be helpful.

There are text files available from the FAA on CD.
http://www2.faa.gov/ats/ata/ata100/120/datadistr.html

There are various copies of it online with various degrees of currency.
ftp://ftp.tc.faa.gov/nfdc/
http://beta.pilotage.com/software/cd_faa/

Since you mentioned ghostview, I take it you are a unix-weenie. You should be
able to use the various unix text processing utilities to filter the big files
down to something useful.

snip

A lot of common
graphics programs won't convert .pdf files to other formats. I use the

Still assuming you have access to unix/linux, try imagemagick
http://www.imagemagick.org/. For all I know, there may even be a windoze version.

Dave
Remove SHIRT to reply directly.

I thought I was the only one that did all that. I recorded the track the
whole way through my training as well. I actually keep track of the fuel and
mileage, altitudes etc.... I use Garmin's flightbook with the 196, and also
Mapsource. It shows the path overlayed on a map of the U.S. It shows every
mistake in track and deviation from course. You can download the waypoints
from the gps as well if you like. Do you have any screenshots so I can see
if it's any better than the way I have been doing it?

I spent the day Tuesday recovering a crashed Skyhawk II. The pilot and
passenger had only had minor cuts and bruises but the plane was a total
loss. We found a GPS laying on the ground, unbroken. I am very suprised the
FAA or NTSB didn't take it and download the track to see what transpired
instead of going on testimony alone. Aparently the guy had a rough running
engine, did several takeoff runs but aborted, then finally took off,
downwind, and just barely clipped a tree, then he pulled up and stalled and
down he went. Amazing they survived. Not a good place to be marginal being
near 2000 ft, 1500' long, trees on the ends, and uphill both directions till
the middle of the runway. I got many digital pictures of the recovery, I
will put them on the net after I get them downloaded and post the address.

The plane had just been in our shop a couple of weeks ago. Not for a
rough running engine though Crash was in WV. They wouldn't let us cut any
trees, we destroyed it getting it down from the trees, and then up the cliff
and over the rocks. Good thing it was a total loss anyway.
Wayne

"Snowbird" wrote in message
m...
I thought I'd share how I've been displaying the tracks of
my flights. I found this very useful in helping me assess
and analyze my errors. It's also been interesting on long
flights into crowded airspace to see what the tracons actually
do with us.

I'm also hoping it will spark a discussion where more knowledgeable
people have better ways of doing this. If someone says "hey you can
do all this with one program and it's shareware" I'll be pleased.

I posted about this issue some time back and got some answers
but no "complete idiots guide" these are all the steps you need
so here it is.

I start with a Garmin GPS 90 set to log my track.

I then use the shareware program GARTrip to upload the track file onto
my computer.
http://www.gartrip.de/
Gartrip has a fully functional freeware version with some limitations.
Almost everything I do training locally could be done with the freeware
version, except one couldn't save multiple track files. But, I thought
it was a cool and well written program worth the $30 registration. The
author is very helpful and provides good support. The FAQ addressed
all of the minor problems we encountered setting it up.

GARTrip uses three pieces of information to produce a nice map with
track, or a specified part of a track, overlaid. First, it uses a
map saved in .jpg or .gif format (.bmp too). Then one can enter
waypoints, and calibrate the map. One can then display waypoints
for a route defined in the GPS, or display a track file over the map.

I input a local waypoints file using the lat long coordinates of navaids
from the AF/D and the lat long coordinates of the GPS waypoints from
the data file at http://www.airnav.com. *A nice side benefit of this
is that it gives degree-distance bearing between GPS waypoints whatever
VOR I select. So if I wanted, for example, to know exactly how CHOSY
waypoint relates to LIS VOR, I could get that information. This might
or might not be useful to pilots planning GPS approaches into distant
airports, where one can't file to the IAF because the ATC confusers
won't recognize it.* The GPS waypoints are a bit of a PITA. If someone
knows of a text file with the data which I could just search, or some
FAA pub where they're listed, this would be helpful.

When we subscribed to Aeroplanner, I downloaded several IFR low-altitude
chartchunks and saved them as .jpg or .gif files. (Now I'm gonna be
visiting Kyler Laird for some sectionals!!!)

I also download .pdf files of approaches from AOPA. A lot of common
graphics programs won't convert .pdf files to other formats. I use the
very useful freeware program Ghostview to convert .ps and .pdf to
.jpg and such at work, so I use GSview (windows version) to convert
the AOPA files to .jpg which GARtrip can read.
http://www.gnu.org/software/ghostview/ghostview.html
Of course approach plates are also available at Dennis' site
http://www.myairplane.com for those who aren't AOPA members.
I did find the AOPA plates to be higher resolution and cleaner
but Dennis's site is very useful and of course, does not require
membership.

These maps are then calibrated using the local waypoints file.

The setup of inputting the waypoints and converting the approach
plates took a little time but of course it's a one time deal, if
someone is starting training for the IR or PPL it will work for
the whole training.

OK, so now I'm out shooting approaches. I come home, hook up
the Garmin 90 to the confuser, load the track file, and see what
I've done. It will display a chart of airspeed. If I had a GPS
which saved altitude data, GARtrip would handle that as well.

The display can be printed to a postscript file, which Ghostview
will convert to .jpg or .gif for editing or use in presentations
like PowerPoint. I was thinking that instrument ground instructors
might find something like this useful to show exactly what happens
when the student crosses a VOR and has to wait for indicator reversal
and the effect of small errors in CDI and in setting the radial.

I haven't explored yet what I'd need to use track files from our
installed GPS. They're more of a PITA for me to get since I have
to bring a computer into the cockpit and hook it up to download
the track. From browsing it looks as though GARtrip should
handle a file format I can output.

One thing I found useful was to see the GPS waypoints and navaids
all displayed on a local sectional chart. It helped me understand
how they fit into the local airspace picture and how they interact
with other approaches in the area.

Anyway, something I found useful getting back up to speed with
instrument flying. Hope this is useful to someone else.

Sydney

(Snowbird) wrote in message om...

I thought I'd share how I've been displaying the tracks of
my flights. I found this very useful in helping me assess
and analyze my errors. It's also been interesting on long
flights into crowded airspace to see what the tracons actually
do with us.

I'm using a freeware called Kashmir.

http://www.kashmir3d.com/index-e.html

You can review your flight in 3D landscape as well as on 2D map or chart.


-Samurai

"Wayne" wrote in message ...
I thought I was the only one that did all that. I recorded the track the
whole way through my training as well. I actually keep track of the fuel and
mileage, altitudes etc.... I use Garmin's flightbook with the 196, and also
Mapsource. It shows the path overlayed on a map of the U.S. It shows every
mistake in track and deviation from course. You can download the waypoints
from the gps as well if you like. Do you have any screenshots so I can see
if it's any better than the way I have been doing it?

No screenshots, but I'll see if I can put a .pdf file or two on
my web page. Might be a bit as we're considering to change ISPs.

The only thing I would say is "different" (better depends on goals)
is that instead of a map of the US, I'm using aviation charts. So
I can see how my track relates to airspace, airports etc (if using
VFR sectional) or how my track relates to the instrument approach
I'm flying, which was my personal motivation.

If you have the capability to use aviation charts in Mapsource then
I would say it's pretty much the same thing.

Cheers,
Sydney

Great, let me know when you get the chance. I would like to see more
aviation stuff, the airports are there (on mapsource), but nothing on
airspace.

Wayne

No screenshots, but I'll see if I can put a .pdf file or two on
my web page. Might be a bit as we're considering to change ISPs.

The only thing I would say is "different" (better depends on goals)
is that instead of a map of the US, I'm using aviation charts. So
I can see how my track relates to airspace, airports etc (if using
VFR sectional) or how my track relates to the instrument approach
I'm flying, which was my personal motivation.

If you have the capability to use aviation charts in Mapsource then
I would say it's pretty much the same thing.

Cheers,
Sydney

I have been playing around with a program called USAPhotoMaps, which
downloads map 'tiles' from TerraServer, so you can see either the
Satellite/Aerial photos or the USGS topographical map. It will overlay
tracks from most GPS units. The program will download tiles in multiple
resolutions, so you can get very detailed when you zoom in. It's very cool
to see my track going dead center up the runway on an aerial photo of my
home airport (at least it starts out dead center!)

http://home.comcast.net/~jslew/Photomap64m.png
http://home.comcast.net/~jslew/Photomap2m.png

Jeremy

"Wayne" wrote in message
...
Great, let me know when you get the chance. I would like to see more
aviation stuff, the airports are there (on mapsource), but nothing on
airspace.

Wayne

No screenshots, but I'll see if I can put a .pdf file or two on
my web page. Might be a bit as we're considering to change ISPs.

The only thing I would say is "different" (better depends on goals)
is that instead of a map of the US, I'm using aviation charts. So
I can see how my track relates to airspace, airports etc (if using
VFR sectional) or how my track relates to the instrument approach
I'm flying, which was my personal motivation.

If you have the capability to use aviation charts in Mapsource then
I would say it's pretty much the same thing.

Cheers,
Sydney

Neat! I will have to try that out. Thanks
Wayne
"Jeremy Lew" wrote in message
...
I have been playing around with a program called USAPhotoMaps, which
downloads map 'tiles' from TerraServer, so you can see either the
Satellite/Aerial photos or the USGS topographical map. It will overlay
tracks from most GPS units. The program will download tiles in multiple
resolutions, so you can get very detailed when you zoom in. It's very
cool
to see my track going dead center up the runway on an aerial photo of my
home airport (at least it starts out dead center!)

http://home.comcast.net/~jslew/Photomap64m.png
http://home.comcast.net/~jslew/Photomap2m.png

Jeremy

"Wayne" wrote in message
...
Great, let me know when you get the chance. I would like to see more
aviation stuff, the airports are there (on mapsource), but nothing on
airspace.

Wayne

No screenshots, but I'll see if I can put a .pdf file or two on
my web page. Might be a bit as we're considering to change ISPs.

The only thing I would say is "different" (better depends on goals)
is that instead of a map of the US, I'm using aviation charts. So
I can see how my track relates to airspace, airports etc (if using
VFR sectional) or how my track relates to the instrument approach
I'm flying, which was my personal motivation.

If you have the capability to use aviation charts in Mapsource then
I would say it's pretty much the same thing.

Cheers,
Sydney

I have been using a similar technique for my VFR cross-country
students. It tremendously helps the the post flight analysis and helps
the students understand where they went wrong during navigation. As
you have described, this is quite simple to do with Gartrip.



(Snowbird) wrote in message om...
I thought I'd share how I've been displaying the tracks of
my flights. I found this very useful in helping me assess
and analyze my errors. It's also been interesting on long
flights into crowded airspace to see what the tracons actually
do with us.

I'm also hoping it will spark a discussion where more knowledgeable
people have better ways of doing this. If someone says "hey you can
do all this with one program and it's shareware" I'll be pleased.

I posted about this issue some time back and got some answers
but no "complete idiots guide" these are all the steps you need
so here it is.

I start with a Garmin GPS 90 set to log my track.

I then use the shareware program GARTrip to upload the track file onto
my computer.
http://www.gartrip.de/
Gartrip has a fully functional freeware version with some limitations.
Almost everything I do training locally could be done with the freeware
version, except one couldn't save multiple track files. But, I thought
it was a cool and well written program worth the $30 registration. The
author is very helpful and provides good support. The FAQ addressed
all of the minor problems we encountered setting it up.

GARTrip uses three pieces of information to produce a nice map with
track, or a specified part of a track, overlaid. First, it uses a
map saved in .jpg or .gif format (.bmp too). Then one can enter
waypoints, and calibrate the map. One can then display waypoints
for a route defined in the GPS, or display a track file over the map.

I input a local waypoints file using the lat long coordinates of navaids
from the AF/D and the lat long coordinates of the GPS waypoints from
the data file at http://www.airnav.com. *A nice side benefit of this
is that it gives degree-distance bearing between GPS waypoints whatever
VOR I select. So if I wanted, for example, to know exactly how CHOSY
waypoint relates to LIS VOR, I could get that information. This might
or might not be useful to pilots planning GPS approaches into distant
airports, where one can't file to the IAF because the ATC confusers
won't recognize it.* The GPS waypoints are a bit of a PITA. If someone
knows of a text file with the data which I could just search, or some
FAA pub where they're listed, this would be helpful.

When we subscribed to Aeroplanner, I downloaded several IFR low-altitude
chartchunks and saved them as .jpg or .gif files. (Now I'm gonna be
visiting Kyler Laird for some sectionals!!!)

I also download .pdf files of approaches from AOPA. A lot of common
graphics programs won't convert .pdf files to other formats. I use the
very useful freeware program Ghostview to convert .ps and .pdf to
.jpg and such at work, so I use GSview (windows version) to convert
the AOPA files to .jpg which GARtrip can read.
http://www.gnu.org/software/ghostview/ghostview.html
Of course approach plates are also available at Dennis' site
http://www.myairplane.com for those who aren't AOPA members.
I did find the AOPA plates to be higher resolution and cleaner
but Dennis's site is very useful and of course, does not require
membership.

These maps are then calibrated using the local waypoints file.

The setup of inputting the waypoints and converting the approach
plates took a little time but of course it's a one time deal, if
someone is starting training for the IR or PPL it will work for
the whole training.

OK, so now I'm out shooting approaches. I come home, hook up
the Garmin 90 to the confuser, load the track file, and see what
I've done. It will display a chart of airspeed. If I had a GPS
which saved altitude data, GARtrip would handle that as well.

The display can be printed to a postscript file, which Ghostview
will convert to .jpg or .gif for editing or use in presentations
like PowerPoint. I was thinking that instrument ground instructors
might find something like this useful to show exactly what happens
when the student crosses a VOR and has to wait for indicator reversal
and the effect of small errors in CDI and in setting the radial.

I haven't explored yet what I'd need to use track files from our
installed GPS. They're more of a PITA for me to get since I have
to bring a computer into the cockpit and hook it up to download
the track. From browsing it looks as though GARtrip should
handle a file format I can output.

One thing I found useful was to see the GPS waypoints and navaids
all displayed on a local sectional chart. It helped me understand
how they fit into the local airspace picture and how they interact
with other approaches in the area.

Anyway, something I found useful getting back up to speed with
instrument flying. Hope this is useful to someone else.

Sydney