NATS AFPEx alternatives
 

Just wondering if anyone knows of any alternatives that may exist for submitting Flight Plan details, in lieu of the NATS AFPEx system?

The airfield that I fly G/A from has a ATC unit that uses Electronic Flight Progress Strips (EFPS) and 'booking out' was done by submitting Flight Plan details to the ATC unit electronically and it worked well.

NATS have just announced that companies that have AFPEx accounts will now have to pay a four figure sum for the privilege of using the system. This cost has been understandably dismissed as being too high by the ATO that I occasionally hire a Cessna from.

AFPEx remains free for PPL holders but I have an ATPL, so that rules me out of that option.

Does anyone know of any alternatives?

Thanks

APfpex has never charged me as a CPL holder - I just detest its complete lack of user friendliness.

Have you tried Skydemon? At a couple of hundred a year it's not cheap, but the functionality is impressive.

G

There are several.

If you have a subscription to SkyDemon, that lets you file FPLs.

You can subscribe to the Swiss/Austrian system, Homebriefing.com.

Neither is free, but a lot cheaper than the ripoff that AFPEx is set to become. I have heard rumours that NATS has been asked to rethink, but whether they will or not is a different matter.

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I will have a look later.

I think the PPL rule is perhaps only being enforced for new applications to join AFPEx, rather than for existing users?

I understand AFPEx will remain free to all user whether pilots or small airfield operators providing you send no more than 20 messages per day with no limit on incoming messages.
There was a thread on http://forums.flyer.co.uk about this and it contained this info., which came via a NATS GA enthusiast.

I have used Skydemon, which is good but has a limit to the number of free flight plans... But you can also get an account directly with Eurofpl which gives you another set of free filings.

Then with both you have the option to top up with pay as you go credits, which are quite cheap but I have never had to pay... yet :)

Sadly I think we are moving into a culture where larger companies have removed pretty much as much cost as they can and now they need to increase revenue streams to keep shareholders happy. I wonder how long the free AFPEx will last

Use of AFPeX for private users is not charged. I filed from home yesterday no problems. I have not heard of the ALTP/ PPL only ban, there is no licence requirement on the registration application.
I need to file IFR occasionally and SkyDemon VFR only.

A quote from the AFPEx website itself.

EUROfpl and Rocketroute or Autorouter all provide IFR and VFR filing capability free for small numbers of filings.

As an EASA ATPL includes a PPL, then using the privileges of a PPL, within an ATPL, for personal use, should be no problem?! :)

Flying from the same area as MG the stupidity of the whole charging system is that while a small airfield may no longer be charged, a small flying school who maybe have one flight a day with no permanent staff will have to pay the full whack 😕 It seems that no amount of discussion with NATS has been able to get them see sense.

If you can't get a 'free' account MG then Rocket Route or EuroFPL or SkyDemon would be a good selection to consider.

Rocket Route + Sky Demon = warm fuzzy feeling. ;)

R R has a real human at the end of the phone H24 for those occasional brick walls in flight plan filing at 6 am.

Ask me how I know.

Cusco.

This is free and a darned sight easier to use.

OLIVIA

mike hallam

For the OP, speaking to the AFPEX desk recently the service is free, no matter what your license so long as you are flying privately, start using it as part of your job then they charge.

Mike Hallam is right about Olivia, it is superb, it does everything the God awful AFPEX doesn't, I personally prefer Rocket Route for the reasons Cusco said. There is always a human available, there is always development going on and the prices are good. As a company we buy blocks of Rocket Route plans but also keep Olivia available.

AFPEX is over complex, poorly designed and don't get me started on the ridiculous password system. With all the other systems on the market I would have expected NATs to come up with something better, sadly they seem to have decided they know best and created a pile of c:mad:

SND

If you are flying to/from or within Ireland, you can file an FP for free over the phone with Irish AIS.

Same goes for France (though I tend to use OLIVIA there)

Olivia is normally only available FROM France. Sometimes you can slip one through, but don't rely on it. Good thing is, if your FP is rejected, it happens straight away.

A Frequent Flyer Membership of PocketFMS allows for unlimited number of free flight plans filed though EasyVFR.

If you don't go for the full membership, then you can buy a 12 month unlimited number of flight plans for €7.99.

PocketFMS files through RocketRoute so you can miss out the middle step and go directly. Also, IFR flights can be tracked in RocketRoute for free and have access to their free apps to make changes quickly when on the airfield.