iPhone apps for Pilots
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Also why aren't ASA threatening to sue Apple, Microsoft, Google, Adobe because their applications allow users to download and view the ERSA online too!
Join Date: Sep 2005
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When all this copyright stuff came to a head some years ago, there was much discussion on who actually owns the data...? One opinion is that the 'Commonwealth' owns the data and ASA have the licence to publish it.
In other words when you buy the paper copy, you are paying for the paper and printing etc, not the data therein. ASA had a change of legal manager some years back which brought all this about as she did not understand the issues, but saw it as something that it was not, nor I suggest ever meant to be!
At the end of the day, it is the Commonwealth (the State) that owns the data such as the ERSA, AIP etc. ASA are the keepers of the data and publish it. (After all the Commonwealth is the 'owner' of ASA). Jepps had a war with ASA some years back and in the end gave in just to get the data out there. With the introduction of electronic data and the means now to store and access it in a practical manner the game has changed but ASA have not, which I suggest indicates they do not understand the issues on the table.
I am still of the belief that this is nothing other than an attempt by ASA to increase their income and not to provide a service to the flying community in a method now available and acceptable. Just see what they charge to design and publish a GPS NPA!! $%^&#$@ !!
This is a job that a responsible Minister should rule on. Pity we have not had one of those for a while!
In other words when you buy the paper copy, you are paying for the paper and printing etc, not the data therein. ASA had a change of legal manager some years back which brought all this about as she did not understand the issues, but saw it as something that it was not, nor I suggest ever meant to be!
At the end of the day, it is the Commonwealth (the State) that owns the data such as the ERSA, AIP etc. ASA are the keepers of the data and publish it. (After all the Commonwealth is the 'owner' of ASA). Jepps had a war with ASA some years back and in the end gave in just to get the data out there. With the introduction of electronic data and the means now to store and access it in a practical manner the game has changed but ASA have not, which I suggest indicates they do not understand the issues on the table.
I am still of the belief that this is nothing other than an attempt by ASA to increase their income and not to provide a service to the flying community in a method now available and acceptable. Just see what they charge to design and publish a GPS NPA!! $%^&#$@ !!
This is a job that a responsible Minister should rule on. Pity we have not had one of those for a while!
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Have been playing with the iphone & worked out that if you google ersa, then open asa site link, click on agree to conditions etc in aip, click on ersa in aip then press + on bottom of phone, then add to home screen, add name as ERSA.....bingo instant link to ersa on the iphone with no need for an app. 
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Maybe they don't like the idea that you are making money off a product which is available online for free. This would be taking away from people possibly purchasing a ERSA in its book form.
I think they want to make online access as hard and possible because using IE, firefox, Safari isn't as easy as my app, so users will be forced to buy their paper book.
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Have been playing with the iphone & worked out that if you google ersa, then open asa site link, click on agree to conditions etc in aip, click on ersa in aip then press + on bottom of phone, then add to home screen, add name as ERSA.....bingo instant link to ersa on the iphone with no need for an app.
That was the big benefit of my app. Well I will see if it's worth this further after get some legal advice, as I don't agree with ASA claiming a copyright breach on my behalf.
Join Date: Dec 2004
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True Tran, but thats the part I don't get, how the app stores ersa, recently did a trip that took in pretty much all of nsw in a loop and didnt run out of service for more than a few minutes anywhere .... certainly enuff to obtain info from iphone on wx radar loop etc, would still purchase app if it stores the info like pilot wizz etc (love leaving the wizz wheel in it's case) 
Join Date: Jun 2010
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It stores the ersa the same way you would use Internet explored to save the PDF to your My Documents directory.
The smarts I put into app is it reads the iPad/iPhones my documents directory, if u didn't already use your PC to download the relevant ERSA section and upload it to your device then it does a HTTP get to download that document to your My Documents directory, the it displays it using Safari. The next time you request that document it checks your My Documents directory, finds that u have already downloaded it, and displays it from your My Documents instead of wasting ASA's server and your phones bandwidth downloading it again as in the case if you used the default iphone web browser Safari.
This gives u redundancy should u by flying and u lose data comms, and it saves both u and ASA data charges because u only download the PDF file once.
Someone at ASA didn't think of the benefits of such an application.
The smarts I put into app is it reads the iPad/iPhones my documents directory, if u didn't already use your PC to download the relevant ERSA section and upload it to your device then it does a HTTP get to download that document to your My Documents directory, the it displays it using Safari. The next time you request that document it checks your My Documents directory, finds that u have already downloaded it, and displays it from your My Documents instead of wasting ASA's server and your phones bandwidth downloading it again as in the case if you used the default iphone web browser Safari.
This gives u redundancy should u by flying and u lose data comms, and it saves both u and ASA data charges because u only download the PDF file once.
Someone at ASA didn't think of the benefits of such an application.
Join Date: Jun 2010
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As I posted here before AirServices Australia sent me a letter claiming that iERSA might breach their ERSA trademark.
As a result of that iERSA is now called Electronic Flight Bag. I've withdrawn that application from the app store whilst I update the branding.
I've also posted that AirServices Australia claims that the application infringes upon their copyright, even though the application is simply a web browser and document viewer optimised for aviation purposes and the application does not contain any publications or copyright material.
So!
I've updated the application so that all web browsing functions are available. The negative side is the a URL toolbar occupies some screen space, the positive side is that users can also browse to non aviation optimised websites, although only aviation bookmarked sites (provided by me) are cached when viewed and then available offline. The ability to download, view and view offline is pretty much standard on PC web browsers. The "aviation optimisation" part of my web browser is important aviation web pages are cached. At present that's the ERSA and Pre-Flight Briefings. In the future other pages may be added.
Users of iERSA will receive an automatic free update once testing is complete and the update is approved by Apple, I anticipate this will take approximately 10 days.
As a result of that iERSA is now called Electronic Flight Bag. I've withdrawn that application from the app store whilst I update the branding.
I've also posted that AirServices Australia claims that the application infringes upon their copyright, even though the application is simply a web browser and document viewer optimised for aviation purposes and the application does not contain any publications or copyright material.
So!
I've updated the application so that all web browsing functions are available. The negative side is the a URL toolbar occupies some screen space, the positive side is that users can also browse to non aviation optimised websites, although only aviation bookmarked sites (provided by me) are cached when viewed and then available offline. The ability to download, view and view offline is pretty much standard on PC web browsers. The "aviation optimisation" part of my web browser is important aviation web pages are cached. At present that's the ERSA and Pre-Flight Briefings. In the future other pages may be added.
Users of iERSA will receive an automatic free update once testing is complete and the update is approved by Apple, I anticipate this will take approximately 10 days.
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Good stuff. Can u do the AIPs next? I have the Transport Canada one that is online and the FAR AIM that is offline and has a really good index.
Last edited by compressor stall; 28th Jul 2010 at 21:40.
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Bookmarking and interfacing with the DAPs is next on the radar, the AIP PDFs are so unusable that indexing them looks very hard. What I mean by that is they put links in the PDFs which makes it hard to provide caching.
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Got my iPhone 4. Thanks for all these ideas. Also I saw an app called "Aircraft Horizon" - it's an AI/AH (whichever you want to refer to it as) - could be fun to spring on the instructor during partial panel instrument training 
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PPL
Hi folks,
Got my iPhone 4 as well.
Has anyone found any good PPL exam learning applications for the iPhone?
The main one I can find is "PPL Facts By The Great Circle" with flashcards, Revision Facts JAA PPL ie European Based but still very informative (For $6). Theres also some American ones.
Are there any Australian based ones?"
Anything you can recommend that you have used with the iPhone for learning??
Thanks in advance
Anthony.
Got my iPhone 4 as well.
Has anyone found any good PPL exam learning applications for the iPhone?
The main one I can find is "PPL Facts By The Great Circle" with flashcards, Revision Facts JAA PPL ie European Based but still very informative (For $6). Theres also some American ones.
Are there any Australian based ones?"
Anything you can recommend that you have used with the iPhone for learning??
Thanks in advance
Anthony.
Anything you can recommend that you have used with the iPhone for learning??
I have various cases (banks) of questions all typed in myself on the mac program (30USD) then it syncs with my iPhone and I have over 1000 questions in my hand to revise at any time.
Subjects include:
Aircraft limitations
IFR speeds, rules etc
Technical data for the aircraft
Buttons (eg - name all seven systems that pressing this button interfaces with).
etc etc.
Well worth the ~$42aud all up it cost.
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Electronic Flight Bag v1.1 has been approved by Apple and is now available on the App Store
Electronic Flight Bag for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store
Works in iPhone, optimised for iPad.
Electronic Flight Bag for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad on the iTunes App Store
Works in iPhone, optimised for iPad.
Ok, so question here peoples. If so many Home Developers are getting on the bandwagon and designing these apps, why haven't Jepps for example caught up and hired someone to design something for them as well?
It seems silly that it fits in so well with what they offer and yet with the iPhone out for so long they have yet to catch on and realise that by providing an App for the iPhone with the information they already have the rights to publish they could make a lot of money as everyone (Myself included) would grab it straight away!
I mean if Jepps came out with an App that provided an easy to navigate electronic version of what they already offer in paper version, stuck in a GPS, some flight planning and the ability to grab weather as well, they'd be onto a definite winner. Perhaps provide people with the ability to get it at a discount if they already own a set of Jepps and then charge a small amount for updates!
It seems silly that it fits in so well with what they offer and yet with the iPhone out for so long they have yet to catch on and realise that by providing an App for the iPhone with the information they already have the rights to publish they could make a lot of money as everyone (Myself included) would grab it straight away!
I mean if Jepps came out with an App that provided an easy to navigate electronic version of what they already offer in paper version, stuck in a GPS, some flight planning and the ability to grab weather as well, they'd be onto a definite winner. Perhaps provide people with the ability to get it at a discount if they already own a set of Jepps and then charge a small amount for updates!