AOPA Flight Planner - I preferred the earlier one

AOPA's flight planner was introduced to give users better ability to plot
TFRs than what the old DUATS flight planner had. It was written by Jeppesen
and is the same software that the FAA uses to plot TFRs. It is based on
Jeppesen's FliteStar software and had the TFR plotting ability even before
FliteStar had it.

However, like all freeware, I suspect it is deliberately crippled so as to
not affect FliteStar's sales.

8NC8 is in the database for both FliteStar and the AOPA flight planner. For
some reason the AOPA flight planner will not let you use it, although you
can see it plotted on the chart if you zoom in enough. You can click on it
and get the information about it.

7 NM NE of Durham, NC (Durham County)

N 36° 03.6' W 78° 47.0' Magnetic Variation: 9.1°W

Elevation: 309'

Cincinnati Sectional

Owner: Private, Permitted Use: Private

Position Estimated, Elevation Surveyed


It looks like a bug (in the software -- the airport does not look like a
bug). There is no problem including it in FlightStar flight plans, so this
is a peculiarity of the crippled AOPA version. I kind of wonder if the AOPA
software treats all private airports like this? It will not allow WA96 (Port
Orchard, WA), either. Maybe the lawyers got hold of it and worried about
liability.

Several people have mentioned Cirrus flight planning software. Cirrus is
going away. A free standalone replacement called "Golden Eagle FlightPrep"
has been developed by the same people who developed Cirrus, but I could not
find on their web site what the operating requirements will be. It will be
formally introduced in April at Sun n Fun. Cirrus was not developed by
DUATS, but both Cirrus and Golden Eagle FlightPrep are promoted on the DUATS
web site.

An online version of FlightPrep is available by paid subscription. It will
run on either Mac or Windows environments. The Mac notice has a disclaimer
that says "check computer requirements," but they don't seem to have posted
anywhere what those computer requirements are. It looks like the online
version compares favorably with Aeroplanner. They give a discount to AOPA
members.

www.flightprep.com

"Maule Driver" wrote in message
I preferred the earlier one because it was web based and allowed me to run
it wherever I was on whoever's system I was using (including my friend's
Macs where I've planned and filed dozens of flights).

Fer what it's worth, Aeroplanner is incredible. I don't see it mentioned
here much anymore. The owner of the site used to post here a lot. In
Aeroplanner's infancy, he solicited our feedback and, more importantly,
acted almost immediately on that feedback in order to make it better.

Y'all all think AOPA and DUATs and anyone else in aviation ought to provide
a user friendly, multi-platform, accurate planner at absolutely no cost to
you and damn the cost to the developer. Well, all that's available at
Aeroplanner but you gotta pay for it.

You get what you pay for.

8NC8 is there, by the way.

--
Jim Fisher

Jim Fisher wrote:

Well, all that's available at
Aeroplanner but you gotta pay for it.

You get what you pay for.

Someone else mentioned Aeroplanner. I read around on the web site, and the
product certainly does look interesting. I'm probably going to buy a month
of premium shortly to give it a shot.

Thanks for the recommendation.

- Andrew

"Maule Driver" wrote in message
...
I preferred the earlier one because it was web based and allowed me to run
it wherever I was on whoever's system I was using (including my friend's
Macs where I've planned and filed dozens of flights).

What really is irritating me is the fact that my home 'port, 8NC8, is not
in
the airport database. Making it a waypoint still doesn't seem to allow me
plan a flight to and from it. A minor but irritating problem. It wasn't
a
problem with the earlier tool.

Going to have to call them since there doesn't seem to be any online help
or
support on the topic.



The AOPA tool seems to not let you plan directly to private airstrips, but
you can easily modify any route it comes up with. In your case, just flight
plan to KRDU, then drag the end point to 8NC8. It's in the database, you
just need to zoom in to find it. Dragging the endpoint seems to update the
navlog correctly as well. Does that solve the problem?

-Aviv

"Aviv Hod" . ccom wrote in
message ...

"Maule Driver" wrote in message
...
I preferred the earlier one because it was web based and allowed me to
run
it wherever I was on whoever's system I was using (including my friend's
Macs where I've planned and filed dozens of flights).

What really is irritating me is the fact that my home 'port, 8NC8, is
not
in
the airport database. Making it a waypoint still doesn't seem to allow
me
plan a flight to and from it. A minor but irritating problem. It
wasn't
a
problem with the earlier tool.

Going to have to call them since there doesn't seem to be any online
help
or
support on the topic.



The AOPA tool seems to not let you plan directly to private airstrips, but
you can easily modify any route it comes up with. In your case, just
flight
plan to KRDU, then drag the end point to 8NC8. It's in the database, you
just need to zoom in to find it. Dragging the endpoint seems to update
the
navlog correctly as well. Does that solve the problem?

I believe it would. I'm going to try it. Thanks.