Calling all UK pilots, request for help......
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Edinburgh
Hi Hafrsfjord,
Good to hear that other people are on the same mission!
My view is that any information contained in any published flight guide i.e. Poolyes, is the property of the publisher. They have spent the time collating and writing this information and have the right to publish it. I know how long this takes!!!!
As all flight guides essentially publish the same information, written slightly differently, it's down to the trust the pilot has in the information he is reading. I think this and the layout of the information is what makes the difference between peoples choice in flight guide.
Just as a point, we collect all our information from pilots, airfield owners, and websites which are all public domain.
On the point of data quality, I totally agree that this is possibly our biggest issue. We are hoping that with more and more people using the website and sending more information in all the time when someone finds something wrong the good British public are normally fairly good at telling you. The point of the website is the more information we get from pilots the better the information is for all pilots. On the other side, printed flight guides are only as up to date as the point they are printed while we update the website on a daily basis.
We also have a cover note on the website that says details in the website is for information only and not for flight planning. (covers us)
Hope this helps
Regards,
Alasdair
Good to hear that other people are on the same mission!
My view is that any information contained in any published flight guide i.e. Poolyes, is the property of the publisher. They have spent the time collating and writing this information and have the right to publish it. I know how long this takes!!!!
As all flight guides essentially publish the same information, written slightly differently, it's down to the trust the pilot has in the information he is reading. I think this and the layout of the information is what makes the difference between peoples choice in flight guide.
Just as a point, we collect all our information from pilots, airfield owners, and websites which are all public domain.
On the point of data quality, I totally agree that this is possibly our biggest issue. We are hoping that with more and more people using the website and sending more information in all the time when someone finds something wrong the good British public are normally fairly good at telling you. The point of the website is the more information we get from pilots the better the information is for all pilots. On the other side, printed flight guides are only as up to date as the point they are printed while we update the website on a daily basis.
We also have a cover note on the website that says details in the website is for information only and not for flight planning. (covers us)
Hope this helps
Regards,
Alasdair
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 13,787
Likes: 0
From: EuroGA.org
Most guides get their data from the national AIPs.
Copyright wise nobody cared much until the Australian CAA sued Jeppesen. Nobody seems to know the settlement details but one assumes that Jepp have done a deal where they pay some money to the Australians, and as a result perhaps to some others.
I very much doubt the CAA cares who uses the AIP data.
Copyright wise nobody cared much until the Australian CAA sued Jeppesen. Nobody seems to know the settlement details but one assumes that Jepp have done a deal where they pay some money to the Australians, and as a result perhaps to some others.
I very much doubt the CAA cares who uses the AIP data.
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Edinburgh
10W - we did look into it but as you say it's currently illegal
OFCOM has stated on numerous occasions: "It is an offence to listen to any other radio services unless you are authorised by a designated person to do so."
maybe someone should start a petition - if you get the law changed we will do the rest!
OFCOM has stated on numerous occasions: "It is an offence to listen to any other radio services unless you are authorised by a designated person to do so."
maybe someone should start a petition - if you get the law changed we will do the rest!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
Hangar is derived from the French word for a large ( agricultural ) shed / goods warehouse. Le Hangar.
I think this is a great website and would commend it to all pilots as an aid to flight planning. Well done to all.
One small point, the Aircraft speeds in the quick flight plan section are given in MPH whereas , where I come from, we use Knots as that is how the ASI is calibrated. As you are also using Kts for wind and Nm for distance would it not be convention to use Kts for Airspeed? Ground speed should also be Kts otherwise there is a mismatch between distance covered ( nm) and speed over the ground MPH.
All the best.
I think this is a great website and would commend it to all pilots as an aid to flight planning. Well done to all.
One small point, the Aircraft speeds in the quick flight plan section are given in MPH whereas , where I come from, we use Knots as that is how the ASI is calibrated. As you are also using Kts for wind and Nm for distance would it not be convention to use Kts for Airspeed? Ground speed should also be Kts otherwise there is a mismatch between distance covered ( nm) and speed over the ground MPH.
All the best.
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 374
Likes: 0
From: Hellfire Corner
Very speedy corrections to the errors were impressive. 'Hangerage' had gone by the time I'd snuck back in to look....!
So many websites (etc) are spoiled by poor presentation; just getting the spelling right will stop me from clicking the X.
Good luck with this project.
So many websites (etc) are spoiled by poor presentation; just getting the spelling right will stop me from clicking the X.
Good luck with this project.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
Thanks Alasdair,
seldom have I recived such a speedy on positive response.
If you do as you suggest then I will be struggling to find any faults with your website! - But, in the spirit of continued product development, I'll keep looking.
Any plans to extend this beyond the UK? It looks like a great model and if it is pilot updated then is should live in realtime. The one criticism of paper guides is that they are only really updated once or twice a year at best and the world is a dynamic place. Also, feedback from actual users has to be preferable o returns made by Airfield operators which sometimes include a degree of wishful thinking.
All credit to you and your team.
seldom have I recived such a speedy on positive response.
If you do as you suggest then I will be struggling to find any faults with your website! - But, in the spirit of continued product development, I'll keep looking.
Any plans to extend this beyond the UK? It looks like a great model and if it is pilot updated then is should live in realtime. The one criticism of paper guides is that they are only really updated once or twice a year at best and the world is a dynamic place. Also, feedback from actual users has to be preferable o returns made by Airfield operators which sometimes include a degree of wishful thinking.
All credit to you and your team.
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,454
Likes: 212
From: Location: Location!
Good stuff indeed and, so far as spelling goes, my current favourite is
Pilot crashes into Dundee gold course !
Jack
Pilot crashes into Dundee gold course !
Jack
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Edinburgh
Thank You - Great comments
Guys, thanks for the positive comments! 
There are lots of plans in the pipe line, one of which is to move outside the UK into Europe, but so many projects have failed trying to run before they can walk!!!
Our first focus is ensuring that the system works for the UK and that we are properly collecting data and data the users require.
If there are any features or data items that people think would be useful please let me know and I will see what I can do.
Once again thanks for all the comments.
Regards,
Alasdair
There are lots of plans in the pipe line, one of which is to move outside the UK into Europe, but so many projects have failed trying to run before they can walk!!!
Our first focus is ensuring that the system works for the UK and that we are properly collecting data and data the users require.
If there are any features or data items that people think would be useful please let me know and I will see what I can do.
Once again thanks for all the comments.
Regards,
Alasdair
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,434
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
If there are any features or data items that people think would be useful please let me know and I will see what I can do.
According to Pooleys rwy is Grass 06/24 620 metres X 25. This is correct.
The parachute operations have ceased. The airfield is open at pilots discretion & is not manned. No radio. Landing fee, Donations in the honesty box. Toilet & kitchen facilities on site. Mogas, check with owner. Local garage 2 miles. Avgas, Fife (EGPJ) 17nm west.
Circuits to the south. Aeromodellers may be at 06 threshold, overfly to alert them!! Try not to damage their small patch at 06 theshold.
Keep up the good work.
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 691
Likes: 0
From: Yorkshire
Excellent website, keep up the good work.
Although when i click Sherburn on the flightplan page it names it Sandtoft.
It would be useful if more airfields are added to the map and also nav aids VRPs etc.. just a thought..
Although when i click Sherburn on the flightplan page it names it Sandtoft.
It would be useful if more airfields are added to the map and also nav aids VRPs etc.. just a thought..
Last edited by liam548; 26th August 2009 at 19:01.
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
Having been so impressed with the Flightnav website I went to show few mates yesterday and it was gone - has the site been deluged by PPRuNers doing the same?
Alasadair, can you shed any light on the matter?
Alasadair, can you shed any light on the matter?
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Edinburgh
Website Down
Firstly let me apologise for the website being down over the last couple of days and explain the problems.
On the 23/24th, the website was attacked by hackers using a denial of service attack. After 2 days of this attack and many, many phone calls to the hosting company the website was taken down and errors started to appear. Over the last couple of days I have spent many hours on the phone trying to get the problem fixed which we now have.
To ensure that this doesn't happen again in the future I have already started the move to a new hosting company who can give a better guarantee regards website protection.
Once again please accept my apologise for the site being down and I hope it doesn't affect everyone’s future use of the site. Hopefully this is a one off problem which I am working hard to fix.
On the 23/24th, the website was attacked by hackers using a denial of service attack. After 2 days of this attack and many, many phone calls to the hosting company the website was taken down and errors started to appear. Over the last couple of days I have spent many hours on the phone trying to get the problem fixed which we now have.
To ensure that this doesn't happen again in the future I have already started the move to a new hosting company who can give a better guarantee regards website protection.
Once again please accept my apologise for the site being down and I hope it doesn't affect everyone’s future use of the site. Hopefully this is a one off problem which I am working hard to fix.
Life's too short for ironing
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
From: Scotland, & Maryland, USA
A website like this has been a long time in coming for UK pilots, great that someone is willing to put in all the hard work and field all the (hopefully constructive) criticism ... of which I am going to add more.
I noticed someone had posted early this summer about the colours & background used, so I had a look at the website, and compared it to a couple I use here in the US. I realise that I am more familiar with the US website as that is what I use on a regular basis, so my eye is quicker to pick up the info I need, but I think even allowing for that, the plain white page is an awful lot easier to read....
AirNav: KOSH - Wittman Regional Airport
ACHERFIELD Airfield : FLIGHTNAV.CO.UK
FltPlan.com Flight Planning & Flight Tracking for General Aviation.
In building a website such as flightnav, presumably the purpose is to supply the "customer" with a usuable website. Take pprune for instance, most of it is on a white background, with good reason. Keep the cool grey and brick red colours, but make the background white. I've got all three websites open, and when I go to the UK one, my eyes
Having said that, I wish you all the best. We are lucky here to have such a choice of websites to use, the two which I've linked to are just a small selection that can be found in the US. Keep up the good work!
... of which I am going to add more.I noticed someone had posted early this summer about the colours & background used, so I had a look at the website, and compared it to a couple I use here in the US. I realise that I am more familiar with the US website as that is what I use on a regular basis, so my eye is quicker to pick up the info I need, but I think even allowing for that, the plain white page is an awful lot easier to read....
AirNav: KOSH - Wittman Regional Airport
ACHERFIELD Airfield : FLIGHTNAV.CO.UK
FltPlan.com Flight Planning & Flight Tracking for General Aviation.
In building a website such as flightnav, presumably the purpose is to supply the "customer" with a usuable website. Take pprune for instance, most of it is on a white background, with good reason. Keep the cool grey and brick red colours, but make the background white. I've got all three websites open, and when I go to the UK one, my eyes
Having said that, I wish you all the best. We are lucky here to have such a choice of websites to use, the two which I've linked to are just a small selection that can be found in the US. Keep up the good work!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
From: Downwind
Im no critique, not by a long mile, but just an observation from the homepage which may required amending...
Military low flying aircraft will always excist in the UK
Poor spelling is one of peeves sorry, but do not that detract from an otherwise excellent site!
Military low flying aircraft will always excist in the UK
Poor spelling is one of peeves sorry, but do not that detract from an otherwise excellent site!