iPhone apps for Pilots

[Aussie Bob]

I have just downloaded AvPlan and I am subscribed to OzRunways which is sensational.

I am finding AvPlan somewhat of a mystery. Bevan, what would really help here would be a step by step sample plan in your user manual. Several times I have considered just deleting this app, so far its way to hard for me, sorry.

But I will keep plugging away for a while yet ....

[Bevan666]

Hi Aussie Bob

Thanks for downloading it and trying it out.

Contact me offline and I will help you out - doing so will let us know how we can improve our documentation, as there is certainly room for improvement.

Thanks,

Bevan..

[b_sta]

I'd agree - a step by step, plain English PDF manual would be of great assistance I think, as I too have found it quite difficult to figure out.

Alternatively the user experience within the app needs to be simplified somewhat, I think - it's not clear to the user where they need to start at or what each 'next step' is in the plan creation process.

[motley flight crue]

Angry birds for long haul flights.

[PyroTek]

Angry birds for long haul flights.

Fruit Ninja is where it's at, nowadays

[lilflyboy262]

Got and done the free version of angry birds already haha.
Will have to look for snowtam thanks.

I've already figured that a lot of the stuff isnt as good as what they make it out to be on the website...

[ColdCalc]

Cold Temperature Altitude Correction App

RSVP Multimedia Inc. - iPHONE Development

I also recommend:

Aeroweather Pro & Crew Rest.

[Sbaker]

Sticky this thread, very useful

[ColdCalc]

And don't forget FlightControl guys.

[Jay Bo]

Just downloaded and used Xavion by Austin Meyer (developer of x plane) new app which is basically is an artificial intelligent co pilot.

This app is running engine-out FLIGHT SIMULATIONS internally as you fly, imagining an engine failure every single second, and running a simulated power-off glide to every runway at every airport in gliding range
When Xavion has found the runway that it believes is most likely to result in a safe engine-out landing, it builds a series of hoops from your current location to that runway, spiraling, circling, or extending AS NEEDED FOR THE HOOPS TO FOLLOW A CONSTANT DESCENT ANGLE THAT YOUR AIRPLANE SHOULD BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN WITHOUT POWER

Ran it through x plane and worked flawlessly. Bit pricey but worth the money if you ever have to use it for real.

[Shagpile]

Do you mean this?

Seeker

Looks pretty cool.

[Jay Bo]

I think they are related. The seeker I think is used with extra hardware where else the xavion uses data from the iPad only and GPS


www.xavion.org

[villarroel]

DG Crew

Excellent APP for transport of dangerous goods by air. Very useful for airline Pilots.

[Jumpjim]

Seeker looks incredible....!

[NOtimTAMs]

Looks impressive, but if not connected to pitot-static and/or integrated with appropriate forecasts, how would wind effect (very important in engine out!) be accounted for?

[baswell]

The hardware product has an ADAHRS. There is no reason why an iPad app like this can't use one of the WiFi/bluetooth ADAHRS units now available or get a feed from products like Aspen's Connected Panel.

This stuff will integrate more and more over time, we're only getting started!

[peterc005]

The most essential iPhone app is NAIPS.

You can download weather etc from Air Services and also upload Flight Plans. For $10 there is no excuse not to have it.

For navigation get either OzRunways or AirNav Pro - both about $100.

For Australia OzRunways is the best option because you can download all of the CASA documentation, but AirNav Pro still has slightly better software ergonomics and design for in-plane usage.

OzRunways is constantly improving and you get an enormous amount of functionality for $100.

[theedmancometh]

Hi fellow PPRuNers,

I'm considering purchasing an iPhone 5 (haven't owned an iPhone, or smartphone before), soley because of the apps available such as OzRunways and NAIPS.

However, the apparent lack of battery life concerns me somewhat. I certainly don't want to be charging the phone several times a day as some people have reported necessary.

I was checking out the following video on battery savings tips, which reinforces advice given on various forums and technology/gadget websites:

[Shagpile]

If the big 2 uses of battery power are indeed 'notifications' and 'location', what ramifications does this have when using apps such as OzRunways? For instance, turning off GPS, Wifi and Bluetooth are all mentioned.

iPhone5 is fine. Yes kill apps from background if you really need to. Turning off Location services will mean you won't get your position on the map.

I turn off cellular data, wifi & bluetooth when going for long-range battery. Location services depends on the app - if the developer has turned on the gyroscopes it will chew power. You have no control over this.

iOS6 also has an auto-pause feature (only the developer can turn off) where if it detects you have stopped for a coffee, it disables all the driving GPS apps from using CPU & GPS power in the background.

[theedmancometh]

Thanks for the reply,

if the developer has turned on the gyroscopes it will chew power.

How do you know what apps are doing this? Also, what does 'killing' an app actually involve, and do you have to restart the app somehow, or do you just turn the phone off and back on?

Forgive my ignorance, I'm not the most computer savvy at the best of times.