ForeFlight: Intelligent Apps for Pilots

The fourth major update of the year – ForeFlight Mobile 5.1 – is now available for download from App Store. This release brings three new features:

• Traffic: a new Traffic map layer that displays ADS-B traffic from both the Stratus 1 and Stratus 2 portable ADS-B In receivers.
• Plate swiping: an enhancement to plate viewing enables swiping between procedures using a three finger swipe gesture.
• Track vector: a new setting on Maps view enables display of an own-ship track vector – or “rail” – which shows where your aircraft is heading.

Traffic

ForeFlight Mobile 5.1 includes a new Traffic layer in the Maps view selector that enables display of  traffic targets on the map. Traffic targets only appear if ForeFlight Mobile is connected to either a Stratus 1 or Stratus 2 portable ADS-B weather and traffic receiver. The traffic map layer option is only available when you are connected to a Stratus receiver.

Traffic targets are displayed as diamonds when direction information is not available and as chevrons when direction information is available. Tail number, vertical direction, relative altitude, and the TrafficTrend™ “rail” are displayed when the appropriate bits of information are available. If direction and speed information for the traffic target are available, the rail – a line that varies in length depending upon the target’s speed – is drawn from the target’s last known position to the point the target is expected to cross in 60 seconds.

Here are some recent screenshots of the Traffic feature in action:

This release of ForeFlight Mobile includes a firmware update for Stratus 1 owners.  That update will enable traffic display for the original Stratus.  Watch this video to learn about the firmware update process.

It is important to emphasize that if you do not have ADS-B Out installed in the aircraft you fly, ADS-B In receivers (like Stratus) do not provide a robust traffic solution. Aircraft not equipped with ADS-B Out will rarely, if ever, see threatening traffic. You may see traffic far off in the distance, but that is basically of entertainment value only.  If you are outside the ADS-B coverage area, the amount of traffic shown will be further diminished. If you are looking for a practical traffic solution, install certified ADS-B Out equipment or a separate active traffic solution like the Avidyne TAS-600.  Never use data from ForeFlight Mobile for traffic avoidance, use See & Avoid or direct instructions from ATC to avoid traffic.

In real terms, ADS-B Out solutions are still pricey. While exploring upgrade options for ForeFlight aircraft, we received quotes for systems ranging from $5,000 to $12,000. Factors that drive the price include the antenna installation – a system with antenna diversity will require more wire-up – and whether you have to add a WAAS GPS source, which is an ADS-B Out requirement. We think many light aircraft owners will defer ADS-B Out installations until prices and complexity come down.

Plate Swiping

ForeFlight Mobile 5.1 adds a feature to the Plates viewer that enables switching between procedures using a three-finger swipe gesture. This new feature is intelligent enough to know whether you are swiping between plates in a binder you created or whether you are accessing procedures from an airport and want to quickly browse the available arrivals, departures, or approach plates.

We use a three-finger gesture for two reasons. Firstly, some procedures are multiple pages and a single finger swipe left or right is used to move between pages within a procedure. Secondly, we want to minimize the chance of accidentally switching to another approach plate during a critical phase of flight. A three finger gesture is less prone to an unintended brush of a hand or finger.

Own-ship Track Vector

When enabled, the new Track Vector feature will draw a line – the “rail” – from your aircraft’s current position to a location ahead of the aircraft. The length of the Track Vector rail is configurable. Activate the Track Vector from the Settings button on the maps view (the button on the top menu bar that looks like a gear).

The Track Vector length is set via the apps main settings view, accessed by tapping More, then Settings, then scrolling to the Maps settings group. You can choose from a range of distance or time based options for the length of the Track Vector rail.

New HUD Instruments

There are there are three new instruments in the Heads Up Display at the bottom of the Maps view:

Combined Procedures

With this week’s data update, we improved the way we display multi-page departures, arrivals, and approaches in the Airports and Plates views.  Instead of multiple procedures named “CONT.1″ “CONT.2″, they are now combined into one procedure so you can swipe between pages.  If you had a “CONT.1″ procedures in your Plates binder, you will need to remove it and add the main procedure to your binder.  This will take effect on Thurs May 2, 2013.

How to Update

This is a free update for all existing ForeFlight Mobile subscribers.  Click here for instructions on updating via App Store .  This update also includes important bug fixes, and we recommend all customers update.

Enjoy!

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The latest version of ForeFlight Mobile – version 5 – is now available for download from iTunes App Store. This is our third major release of the year, and it is another big step forward. The 5 series of updates will bring a wide range of new capabilities to ForeFlight. Read on for what is inside.

New Terrain: Hazard Advisor, Terrain Map

A highlight of ForeFlight 5 is Hazard Advisor, a terrain and obstacle awareness system for iPad. When you activate Hazard Advisor, it highlights hazardous terrain and obstacles within 1,000′ of your aircraft’s GPS altitude. Terrain and obstacles (“hazards”) within 100′ are colored red, and hazards within 1,000′ of your aircraft’s altitude are colored yellow. Obstacles are dynamically added to the screen as they become threats. The terrain colors change smoothly and look stunning.

This feature helps raise awareness of obstacles and terrain and will hopefully help drive CFIT accidents even lower. In areas like Houston – where 2,000′ towers pepper the landscape – Hazard Advisor is very helpful.

Getting started with Hazard Advisor:

1. Download the high resolution terrain data from the Downloads view.
2. Select the new “Hazard Advisor” option in the Maps selector.
3. Accelerate to 30 kts, and Hazard Advisor activates.

A new “Terrain” map selection is now available in version 5. This is a new base map that lets you see terrain features. Low resolution and high resolution terrain databases are available for download. The high resolution terrain database enables incredible terrain views, as shown in the screenshot gallery below.

Both the Terrain map and Hazard Advisor require iPad 2 or iPhone 4 (or newer). Unfortunately, the iPad 1 (and iPhone 3GS) just do not have the horsepower to display the Terrain map or the Hazard Advisor overlay.

The new Terrain map is available to both Standard and Pro subscribers. Hazard Advisor is available to Pro subscribers only. Upgrade to Pro today on our website to unlock Hazard Advisor, document syncing, and geo-referenced FAA taxi diagrams and instrument procedures.   You can also upgrade by signing into ForeFlight Manage and tapping the “Subscription” tab.  Upgrading on our website allows us to offer you pro-rated credit for your current subscription – just make sure to enter the same email address you used when originally buying ForeFlight.

A High Quality, Void-Filled Terrain Database

Terrain databases are not made equal. The source of the terrain data is a very important consideration. Not many pilots are aware that free data sets used by some applications have holes – or “voids” – that miss important features like mountain peaks. These holes exist for a variety of technical reasons, but need correcting.

ForeFlight’s terrain database, however, is “void filled”. Appareo Systems – the makers of the popular portable Stratus ADS-B receiver – provides the terrain data in ForeFlight Mobile 5. Appareo has painstakingly corrected the terrain data to ensure that missing terrain is actually represented in the terrain data set. Here are some before and after screenshots of  filled voids.

Each area in the pictures above is a 1 degree by 1 degree square with 1200 data points. That is, the size of the voids is massive. Highlighting the magnitude of the voids is important. If the terrain database you fly with is not void filled, you are not getting the whole picture.

Runway Advisor, Traffic Pattern Advisor

Runway situational awareness is greatly improved in ForeFlight 5. New is support for Extended Runway Centerlines, which helps visualize runway layouts when approaching, making it easier to figure out how to plan a pattern entry.  Extended Runway Centerlines are available for most airports in the United States.

We took this a bit further, though, by adding intelligence that helps you both select runways and then select the runway entry pattern. Pattern entry options include straight in, 45 to the downwind, cross midfield with teardrop, and cross midfield with direct entry for both standard and right hand traffic patterns. The pattern direction defaults – left or right – are indicated. Visualizing runway entry and then runway patterns has never been easier.

Getting started with Extended Runway Centerlines:

1. Tap the Settings button on Maps (for iPhone, go to the Settings view).
2. Switch Extended Runway Centerlines to “On”.
3. Plan a route between two airports and extended lines are drawn for the airports in your route.

Getting started with Traffic Pattern Advisor (this feature is only for iPad):

1. Plan a route between two airports.
2. Tap the “Procedure” button on the route editor.
3. Select Traffic Pattern from the list.
4. Select the desired runway (if winds are known, best runway is indicated) and the desired entry pattern.

Runway Winds

Adding to runway situational awareness is the new Runway Winds feature. ForeFlight Mobile 5 now graphically shows you the combined wind effects (headwind and tailwind), as well as the individual headwind and tailwind components. This makes runway selection easier than ever before.

Traffic Pattern Advisor also ties into the runway wind system, helping to identify the best runway options and the best pattern entry options. When selecting a pattern, ForeFlight 5 indicates the favored runways. Here is a shot of the new feature in action:

North Up, Track Up (Center), and Track Up (Forward)

ForeFlight 5 and its new mapping system now support both track up and north up map orientations. North up map orientation is great for flight planning and quickly assessing cardinal direction from a waypoint. Track up is great in flight and helpful for letting a pilot quickly determine what direction to turn next. Now, ForeFlight Mobile customers can choose.

ForeFlight 5′s new track-up feature is the smoothest and most powerful available. Switching between north up and track up modes is fluid and fast. As your track changes, the map turns smoothly to reflect your new course.

In addition to being able to select between track up and north up orientations, you can also choose between two track up modes: track center and track forward. In track center mode, the aircraft is positioned in the center of the screen. In track forward mode, the aircraft is positioned lower on the screen, leaving more of the world ahead in view. Among the pilots on our team, track forward is in the lead as the more popular setting.

Tap the map center (crosshair) button in the upper right hand corner of the Maps view and the map will enter track up mode if enabled or stay oriented north up. A compass needle button will appear in the upper right of the map – tap that to quickly switch between north up and track up.

Auto-Taxi

ForeFlight 5 will now automatically display taxi diagrams after rollout. We are always looking for ways to reduce taps and touches in the plane, and now there is one less to do after landing.

When you approach a terminal area, the Auto-Taxi system is armed. When the aircraft’s speed then drops below 40 kts, the airport diagram is automatically loaded and displayed in the Plates view. We designed this feature to be compliant with the FAA’s draft amendment to Advisory Circular 120-76, which adds guidelines for airport moving map displays.

Plate Rotation (iPad-only)

There are many procedures that are formatted in landscape orientation. SIDS and STARS are often formatted this way. Since many of us are mounting our iPads now, we added a rotation button to the Plates view that lets you rotate the plate orientation. Orientation preferences are saved, so the next time you call up the plate, it is oriented just how you want!

World Wide Touch Planning

The latest update introduces world-wide touch planning. You can now plan everything from short hops to record-breaking, around the world flight plans that cross the poles and international date line.

Route and Feature Labels

Supporting track up requires properly oriented route and feature labels. The updated mapping engine in ForeFlight Mobile enables smooth and elegant rotation of both. A new option is available in map settings to display waypoint labels (enabled by default) that smoothly rotate when you switch between north up and track up modes, and smoothly rotate as the map turns to match your aircraft’s track. The new map labels also make it easier to see the name of the next waypoint without tapping – a nice enhancement.

Feature labels on the World base map are also more plentiful and better styled, making it easy to distinguish between things like lakes, rivers, and regions. The earth view screenshot above demonstrates the route labels in action.

Update Today!

That’s all for now. Grab the latest version from App Store (click here for instructions), the latest ForeFlight Mobile Pilot’s Guide (available in the Documents view on iPad), and get airborne!

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The latest version of ForeFlight Mobile is available for download in iTunes App Store, just in time for your weekend flying!

The update brings a greatly enhanced mapping engine that enables a broad range of new capabilities we will unlock throughout the year. It also brings new map layers and a Grid (or “classic”) menu for iPhone.

More incredible, pilot-pleasing features are coming in the very near future. Stay tuned and plan on visiting the ForeFlight booth (C-92) at Sun ‘n Fun next month!

Read on for the details or jump straight to the 4.9 intro video.

Video

Screenshot Gallery

Track Up!

Map orientation preferences are a religious topic – something wars could start over. Both have their place. North up map orientation is great for flight planning and quickly assessing cardinal direction from a waypoint. Track up is great in flight and helpful for letting a pilot quickly determine what direction to turn next. Now, ForeFlight Mobile customers can choose.

We think ForeFlight Mobile’s new track-up feature is the smoothest and most powerful available. Switching between north up and track up modes is fluid and fast. As your track changes, the map turns smoothly to reflect your new course.

In addition to being able to select between track up and north up orientations, you can also choose between two track up modes: track center and track forward. In track center mode, the aircraft is positioned in the center of the screen. In track forward mode, the aircraft is positioned lower on the screen, leaving more of the world ahead in view. Track forward is in the lead as the more popular setting.

Tap the map center (crosshair) button in the upper right hand corner of the Maps view and the map will enter track up mode if enabled or stay oriented north up. A compass needle button will appear in the upper right of the map – tap that to quickly switch between north up and track up.

World Wide Touch Planning

The latest update introduces world-wide touch planning. You can now plan everything from short hops to record-breaking, around the world flight plans that cross the poles and international date line.

Earth View

With the new map engine, you can now zoom out and see then entire earth in one view. Overlay satellite weather and a weather marker layer – like flight rules or temperature – and see the entire planet’s weather with a flick of your finger. It’s a pretty sight!

Route and Feature Labels

Supporting track up requires properly oriented route and feature labels. The updated mapping engine in ForeFlight mobile enables smooth and elegant rotation of both. A new option is available in map settings that displays waypoint labels (enabled by default) that smoothly rotate when you switch between north up and track up modes, and smoothly rotate as the map turns to match your aircraft’s track. The new map labels also make it easier to see the name of the next waypoint without tapping – a nice enhancement.

Feature labels on the World base map are also more plentiful and styled much more nicely, making it easy to distinguish between thinks like lakes, rivers, and regions.

New Map Layers: Obstacles and User Waypoints

Two new map layers are available in the Maps view: an Obstacle layer and a User Waypoints layer. When the Obstacle layer is selected, obstacles from the FAA’s Digital Obstacle database are displayed. As you zoom in and out, notice that obstacles elegantly appear and disappear – with incredible speed – to automatically de-clutter or clutter, showing you the appropriate amount of detail based on your zoom level. The tallest obstacle in an area is always left displayed on screen.

Also available is a User Waypoints map layer option. Select this map layer and all the user waypoints you have loaded will appear on top of any base map layer you have enabled.

Map Engine

The map engine is also greatly enhanced in this latest update to ForeFlight Mobile. Altus – the map engine technology developed in an incredible partnership with BA3 – is the most powerful mapping engine available for the iOS platform and enables a wide range of new capabilities.

Grid Menu (“Classic Mode”)

Last month’s ForeFlight Mobile update introduced the new Slider menu for iPhone. Slider makes it simple to switch between different views of the app with fewer taps. However, many still prefer the classic “grid” menu. The latest ForeFlight Mobile update introduces a new setting that allows iPhone customers to select their preferred menu style.

Menu style is selected from the Settings page, under the new Menu group. We also enhanced the Grid menu, adding room for one more row of buttons, freshened the icons, and enhanced the color scheme to improve both day and night readability.

Coming Soon

As we mentioned in the 4.8 release notes, we have a lot in store for 2013 and look forward to showing you something new and exciting every few weeks. What is coming will make you more productive in and out of the cockpit, improve situational awareness, and bring new capabilities to the iPad. If you own a Stratus, things are about to get very exciting for you!

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