Online flight planner
 

I've launched a new online flight planner, and I'm interested in knowing whether it is quick and easy to use, whether the functionality I've added is useful, and any other comments and suggestions.

You can enter waypoints either by typing names into a form, or by clicking locations on a map (powered by Google Maps). Wind bearing and speed can be entered for the whole flight or for each leg individually. There's a choice of PDF plog designs, and plans can be saved for use later.

The address is http://www.goflying.org/nav/vfrplan/.

Those who prefer a simpler interface, don't want the map, or are using PDAs can use the PDA version:
http://pda.goflying.org/nav/vfrplan/

Thanks!
Dave

Dave, This is the first on line flight planner I have come across and I must say I think it is fantastic!
I especially like the satelite images which I think will be very usefull when visiting new places.
Seems easy to use and it concurs with my wiz wheel exactly.
Most impressed.

This is a nice piece of work.

Perhaps in future development it could give you a list of current NOTAMS that affect your route.

It would also be nice to have the choice of an overlay onto the CAA airspace maps, but this would be a lot more difficult and no doubt there would be copyright problems.

Amazing site! Excellent design.

The satellite imagery is absolutely out of this world (pun intended) !

I'm assuming the satelite is over the equator becuase of the isometric looking photos, but the resolution is mind boggling!

You can even see a jet on final at Manchester Ringway....!!!

You've obviously put a lot of effort into this!

Well done!

:cool:

Thanks for your kind comments!

The maps are powered by Google - they now let web designers include Google Maps on their web pages. There are various options for drawing lines, points etc so it's very powerful. When they have more complete satellite coverage of the UK it'll be even better.

It would be great to use CAA charts instead of road maps for this purpose. Maybe that will be possible in the future!

Dave, I used your site to plan my route for yesterdays trip, starting at sherburn, using sheffield, emley moor, and goole as turning points, then back into sherburn.
Am I the first "punter" to fly a route planned on the website? Hope so!

I suspect I may have a computer problem though because I couldnt print out the final calculations and finished up having to copy them out longhand from the screen, I admit, though, to being a computer dunce:O (I knew I should have listened in computer studies)

What was particularly frustrating was that I could print out any number of trial plans done with imaginary figures, but I couldnt print the real one. Why are computers so contrary? And how do they know what to do to wind me up:*

Anyhow, as I said before, you have created an impresive site and I reckon lots of people will benifit from it.

Thanks for all your effort:ok:

Read the comments on the Flyer Forum about this, and one of the concerns was lack of airspace data. Having had a quick look at the Google Maps API pages, is it not possible to include some airspace markings on the map from an xml file? I guess the limitations are on what sort of shape primitives the google maps API supports?

That said, excellent looking tool. I reckon the map interface is a good idea if used in conjunction with a proper paper chart..

Yorks - yes I think you are! Hope it was a good flight!

It would be possible to include airspace boundaries etc on the map but I don't think it's the right thing to do. It must be clear that it is not intended to replace an aeronautical chart and adding a few bits of airspace data here and there could give the wrong impression. It's an all or nothing situation - either CAA charts or something so different to them that there's no possibility of confusion.

Besides, it would make the map very slow and take me a lot of time to keep up to date!

Very impressive, well done.

Out of interest - why? That was clearly an enormous amount of effort for no obvious direct reward? (Not that I'm complaining mind you)

G

Why? That's a difficult question.

There is satisfaction in producing a site that I am proud of and that people will hopefully find useful. It's given me an opportunity to learn some new skills and focus on one project, which is something I can't do at work.

Think your definately safer staying away from airspace boundary inclusion (another pun, sorry!)

All sorts of errors and therefore I would imagine) liabilities would creep into your life, if you start showing out of date data. Everyone has a chart - just tell them to use it!

I'm assuming you investigated using the Multimap/getMapped photographic data already? Thats got complete coverage of the UK (although not quite to the eye-popping detail of your satellite imagery!). You may have to pay to access it perhaps?

Anyway, keep up the good work!

RH

Superb piece of work. Bravo, sir.

Not only am I going to use it for the taildragger - but I'm also going to use it at work in the 737 - not for navigation, but to add a bit of detail to the Passenger Address when arriving and departing the UK.

Thank you :ok:

Just found that you can drag the map/satellite view around within its window using your mouse (whilst holding down the left mouse button).

Makes it easy to move the point of interest into the centre of the screen to do a zoom, or see whats in the vicinity.

nice touch!

RH