Improvements in US Airspace/Airport data at www.soaringdata.info

[2KA]

Hi All,

Just in time for the holiday season, I've made a couple of
improvements on my website:

- If your device's memory is too small to accommodate the airspace
map of the entire country, you can now create a subset file for just
your area of interest. Start by running a query on US Airport
information. If you select an airspace type under the companion file
options, the subset file will be automatically generated using the
same bounding parameters as you specified for the airport query.

- I now do higher fidelity conversion of waypoint attributes between
different file formats. For example, a point designated as a
"Mountain Top" in a SeeYou .CUP input file will acquire the "5"
attribute (signifying a mountain peak) in an output .STX file.

Find my site at http://www.soaringdata.info.

Other stuff on my site includes:
- Current airspace and airport info. for the entire US, in formats
supporting virtually every glider program and instrument
- Sectional charts in .CMR format for SeeYou (I'll be updating these
again in the Spring)
- Airspace maps for use with Garmin recreation-syle GPS receivers
- US border files in Tim Newport-Peace and OpenAir formats

As always, all of this is free and freely redistributable.

Happy Downloading!

Lynn Alley
"2KA"

[Dave Nadler]

On Dec 4, 7:33*am, 2KA > wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> Just in time for the holiday season, I've made a couple of
> improvements on my website:
>
> *- If your device's memory is too small to accommodate the airspace
> map of the entire country, you can now create a subset file for just
> your area of interest. Start by running a query on US Airport
> information. * If you select an airspace type under the companion file
> options, the subset file will be automatically generated using the
> same bounding parameters as you specified for the airport query.
>
> *- I now do higher fidelity conversion of waypoint attributes between
> different file formats. *For example, a point designated as a
> "Mountain Top" in a SeeYou .CUP input file will acquire the "5"
> attribute (signifying a mountain peak) in an output .STX file.
>
> Find my site athttp://www.soaringdata.info.
>
> Other stuff on my site includes:
> *- Current airspace and airport info. *for the entire US, in formats
> supporting virtually every glider program and instrument
> *- Sectional charts in .CMR format for SeeYou (I'll be updating these
> again in the Spring)
> *- Airspace maps for use with Garmin recreation-syle GPS receivers
> *- US border files in Tim Newport-Peace and OpenAir formats
>
> As always, all of this is free and freely redistributable.
>
> Happy Downloading!
>
> Lynn Alley
> "2KA"

Thanks Lynn !
Best Regards, Dave

[Andy[_1_]]

On Dec 3, 1:33*pm, 2KA > wrote:

> *- Current airspace and airport info. *for the entire US, in formats
> supporting virtually every glider program and instrument

Now if only the contest committee and all CD's could decide if this
was the official source of data to be used by contest scorers, or
whether the official NFD data will be used.

It's just not satisfactory to have the scorer use one set of airspace
data and the contestants using another.

Contest rules folks please address this before the 2011 season starts!

thanks

Andy (GY)

[Eric Greenwell[_4_]]

On 12/3/2010 12:33 PM, 2KA wrote:
> Hi All,
>
> Just in time for the holiday season, I've made a couple of
> improvements on my website:

> As always, all of this is free and freely redistributable.
>
> Happy Downloading!
>
> Lynn Alley
> "2KA"

Thanks, Lynn. This make keeping up with the changes so much easier.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA (change ".netto" to ".us" to
email me)

[2KA]

I think in most cases the designated source for contest scoring is the
WorldWide Soaring Turnpoint Exchange data. John Liebacher and I
collaborate on airspace, so his data and mine are virtually identical,
with the following exceptions:

- John restates the ceilings above airspace that is closed to
contests in accordance with the contest rules, where my data shows the
actual airspace ceiling as per the FAA sources
- John updates the airspace as required, often a few weeks before the
contest. I update the airspace every 56-day charting cycle.
- I include airspace (such as Alerts and MOAs) that could be of
interest, but is (unless otherwise designated) open to contest pilots

Lynn

[Andy[_1_]]

On Dec 3, 9:51*pm, 2KA > wrote:
> I think in most cases the designated source for contest scoring is the
> WorldWide Soaring Turnpoint Exchange data. *John Liebacher and I
> collaborate on airspace, so his data and mine are virtually identical,

And that's exactly the problem. Because people find your airspace
files on TP exchange they think they have some "official" status.
they then get to a contest and find the scorer's airspace database
come from a completely different source. Maybe some contest pilots are
not even aware of the issue and won't be until a database difference
costs them a contest day.

I'm not criticizing you Lynn, you are doing a great job of providing a
set of data and John is doing a great job of making it available.
However, contest pilots need to know what database will be used by the
scorer and that exact database needs to be available to all pilots
before the contest starts.

Andy

[John Cochrane[_2_]]

>
> And that's exactly the problem. *Because people find your airspace
> files on TP exchange they think they have some "official" status.
> they then get to a contest and find the scorer's airspace database
> come from a completely different source. Maybe some contest pilots are
> not even aware of the issue and won't be until a database difference
> costs them a contest day.
>
> I'm not criticizing you Lynn, you are doing a great job of providing a
> set of data and John is doing a great job of making it available.
> However, contest pilots need to know what database will be used by the
> scorer and that exact database needs to be available to all pilots
> before the contest starts.
>
> Andy

Most scorers are aware of this, and use John Leibacher's site to
distribute turnpoint and airspace files that they will use during a
contest. They have figured out this saves a long night of pilots lined
up to download files from the scoring computer, complain about
different file formats, and so on.

A big effort to have one "official" airspace file for all US contests
seems like a bad idea, and the current system seems to work pretty
well. Airspace files need to be updated; many computers can't handle
very large files (entire US); contest officials have the right to
impose their own airspace restrictions, and sometimes (by waiver)
remove airspace restrictions; many pilots like to edit airspace files
for a contest to remove all the clutter that doesn't cost points (moa,
parachutes, etc).

John Cochrane

[Andy[_1_]]

On Dec 4, 8:11*am, John Cochrane >
wrote:
> > And that's exactly the problem. *Because people find your airspace
> > files on TP exchange they think they have some "official" status.
> > they then get to a contest and find the scorer's airspace database
> > come from a completely different source. Maybe some contest pilots are
> > not even aware of the issue and won't be until a database difference
> > costs them a contest day.
>
> > I'm not criticizing you Lynn, you are doing a great job of providing a
> > set of data and John is doing a great job of making it available.
> > However, contest pilots need to know what database will be used by the
> > scorer and that exact database needs to be available to all pilots
> > before the contest starts.
>
> > Andy
>
> Most scorers are aware of this, and use John Leibacher's site to
> distribute turnpoint and airspace files that they will use during a
> contest. They have figured out this saves a long night of pilots lined
> up to download files from the scoring computer, complain about
> different file formats, and so on.
>
> A big effort to have one "official" airspace file for all US contests
> seems like a bad idea, and the current system seems to work pretty
> well. Airspace files need to be updated; many computers can't handle
> very large files (entire US); contest officials have the right to
> impose their own airspace restrictions, and sometimes (by waiver)
> remove airspace restrictions; many pilots *like to edit airspace files
> for a contest to remove all the clutter that doesn't cost points (moa,
> parachutes, etc).
>
> John Cochrane

Never suggested one database for all contests. Just that the official
airspace database for each contest should be be defined and be
available before the contest starts. Talk to QT off line if you don't
think it's been an issue.

Andy

[Gary Ittner[_2_]]

"Andy" > wrote in message
...

Never suggested one database for all contests. Just that the official
airspace database for each contest should be be defined and be
available before the contest starts. Talk to QT off line if you don't
think it's been an issue.

This issue is addressed in the 2010 SSA Competition Rules:

5.6.4 Pilot's Kit
At registration, each entrant will receive a package of contest-related
information and documents, as follows:
5.6.4.1 Required

<snip>

* Designation of the current database versions for control points
(Rule
5.6.1) and closed airspace (Rule 5.6.2)

This rule, or similar wording, has been in the SSA contest rules since 1997.
Unfortunately, not all pilots or contest personnel are as familiar with the
rules as they should be.

Oldtimers can tell you that this is a "Bartell Rule", because it resulted
from an incident involving Bill Bartell at the 1996 USA 15m Nats.

Gary Ittner P7
"Have glider, will race"

[Max Kellermann]

2KA > wrote:
> As always, all of this is free and freely redistributable.

Hi Lynn,

according to these conditions, one is not allowed redistribute
modified versions of these files. Have you thought about attaching an
existing license such as Creative Commons to these files, to make them
truly free?

Max

[2KA]

Max,

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll consider Creative Commons. In the
mean time, anyone who wishes to make a derivative work from my stuff
can contact me directly for permission. I'll be happy to oblige. And
again, there is no problem at all with redistribution.

Lynn Alley
"2KA"