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#2
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I forgot one thing. Robert estimates that about 500MB of storage will
suffice for a full set of their smallerized files. I bought a 1 GB card for $60 on sale. Stan "Stan Prevost" wrote in message ... A few days ago there was a thread here discussing how to make use of digital NACO approach plates on a PDA. The context was that a pilot could download and print fresh current charts for the primary airport(s) and alternate(s), and have charts for other airports available on a PDA for use in the event of diversion to an unplanned airport. I put a couple of SIAP charts in the iPAQ 4700 and viewed them with Adobe Acrobat Reader for Pocket PC. It was not ideal but appeared to be usable with the zoom and pan capabilities of the reader. Next I bought the Sporty's DVD with the full set of plates and software to access them. It is good for a desktop but cannot be used on a PDA. The chart files can be downloaded into the PDA and viewed by Acrobat Reader, but it is not practical because the file names are cryptic and there is no software to access the files in a meaningful manner. Ron Rosenfeld brought up a product from Seattle Avionics called Smart Plates. I looked into this, and the purpose of this post is to make a PIREP on what I found out. I talked with Robert Hamilton (425-455-2209, ). He said the desktop version of Smart Plates is available at an introductory price of $99. The Pocket PC version was planned to be available a couple of months ago but didn't make schedule, it is expected to be out in January. The desktop version and Pocket PC version will be bundled at a price of $149, as I understood it. He says that those customers who own the desktop version when the Pocket PC version becomes available will get the latter free. (Verify all this with Robert, this is what my notes show.) Here is how I understand that it will work. You use the desktop software to build "Plate Packs", which can consist of one chart or the full set of NACO TPPs. Then you download them to the PDA where they can be accessed by their software for the Pocket PC. Their viewer has zoom and pan capabilities. Assuming that you want the full set of charts, you have to initially download the full set or buy a CD from them for $20. Anytime you want to update the charts, the desktop software will check them for currency and download just the changes. Then you download to the Pocket PC and only the changes are sent over. You have the choice of downloading from NACO or to download the downsized charts (about 5X) from Seatlle Avionics. In neither case are there any additional fees or subscriptions necessary. The software is a one-time purchase and charts are free after that. (Software upgrades may incur a fee.) It looks to me like they have pretty well hit the target with their product, if it turns out to be easy to use. At least, it covers everything I have been looking for. Usual disclaimers apply. Stan |
#3
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"Peter" wrote in message ... Is the screen size and resolution on a PDA enough to view an approach plate? The problem is that one needs to be able to see the whole plate, I think, not just one bit of it. Peter, that was part of the earlier discussions. For normal use, you need a tablet PC or something like that so that you can have a full-chart presentation that is very readable. This discussion was about use as a backup only so that you can have current charts for an unplanned destination without carrying around and updating a large set of charts. For that usage, you can tolerate some inconvenience as long as safety is not compromised. I determined for myself, by experiment, that the PDA display is adequate for the intended usage. I am able to brief the approach by panning and scrolling, make some notes of frequencies, minima and such on my kneeboard, and then position the view so that the plan view and profile view are on the screen. The readability is good enough for that, and the info outside that view I extract during the approach briefing. It is not like looking through a soda straw as you might expect, and as I thought it might be. My experiment was at my desk, and I intend to repeat it in the air before fully commiting to this approach. Regards, Stan |
#4
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FWIW I have the current version of SmartPlates and have been using it (for a
month or so) to print copies of plates. It is a pretty well done application, although I am not sure my old eyes will be able to deal with the plates on a pocket PC. One Very Nice Thing about it is it will print the plates two-up on a single sheet of paper. Fold the paper in half, punch it if you like, and you are good to go on your kneeboard or yoke board. My current plan is to carry the NACO books but to print out plates for intended destination, alternates, etc. As my NACO subscriptions expire I intend to investigate the Air Chart system for the NACO books as it is cheaper and probably sufficient when I am basically looking for a backup. On 12/14/04 10:37 PM, Stan Prevost wrote the following: A few days ago there was a thread here discussing how to make use of digital NACO approach plates on a PDA. The context was that a pilot could download and print fresh current charts for the primary airport(s) and alternate(s), and have charts for other airports available on a PDA for use in the event of diversion to an unplanned airport. I put a couple of SIAP charts in the iPAQ 4700 and viewed them with Adobe Acrobat Reader for Pocket PC. It was not ideal but appeared to be usable with the zoom and pan capabilities of the reader. Next I bought the Sporty's DVD with the full set of plates and software to access them. It is good for a desktop but cannot be used on a PDA. The chart files can be downloaded into the PDA and viewed by Acrobat Reader, but it is not practical because the file names are cryptic and there is no software to access the files in a meaningful manner. Ron Rosenfeld brought up a product from Seattle Avionics called Smart Plates. I looked into this, and the purpose of this post is to make a PIREP on what I found out. I talked with Robert Hamilton (425-455-2209, ). He said the desktop version of Smart Plates is available at an introductory price of $99. The Pocket PC version was planned to be available a couple of months ago but didn't make schedule, it is expected to be out in January. The desktop version and Pocket PC version will be bundled at a price of $149, as I understood it. He says that those customers who own the desktop version when the Pocket PC version becomes available will get the latter free. (Verify all this with Robert, this is what my notes show.) Here is how I understand that it will work. You use the desktop software to build "Plate Packs", which can consist of one chart or the full set of NACO TPPs. Then you download them to the PDA where they can be accessed by their software for the Pocket PC. Their viewer has zoom and pan capabilities. Assuming that you want the full set of charts, you have to initially download the full set or buy a CD from them for $20. Anytime you want to update the charts, the desktop software will check them for currency and download just the changes. Then you download to the Pocket PC and only the changes are sent over. You have the choice of downloading from NACO or to download the downsized charts (about 5X) from Seatlle Avionics. In neither case are there any additional fees or subscriptions necessary. The software is a one-time purchase and charts are free after that. (Software upgrades may incur a fee.) It looks to me like they have pretty well hit the target with their product, if it turns out to be easy to use. At least, it covers everything I have been looking for. Usual disclaimers apply. Stan |
#5
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"Mitty" wrote in message ... My current plan is to carry the NACO books but to print out plates for intended destination, alternates, etc. As my NACO subscriptions expire I intend to investigate the Air Chart system for the NACO books as it is cheaper and probably sufficient when I am basically looking for a backup. That's what I currently do! :-) My partner and I each buy the full US set each year. I have only made a couple of diversions to airports that I wasn't very familiar with, both due to engine trouble, and in neither case did I have time to pull out the AirCharts updates publication and pick through the cryptic information to see if there are any updates to be applied to the charts. There is barely time to find the charts for the unplanned airport, even with my wife assisting from the right seat. I want a system that is lower cost, always current, and faster to access. The SmartPlates product meets the first two criteria, I intend to evaluate the product to see how it does relative to the third. Stan |
#6
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Stan Prevost wrote:
Peter wrote: Is the screen size and resolution on a PDA enough to view an approach plate? The problem is that one needs to be able to see the whole plate, I think, not just one bit of it. Peter, that was part of the earlier discussions. For normal use, you need a tablet PC or something like that so that you can have a full-chart presentation that is very readable. This discussion was about use as a backup only so that you can have current charts for an unplanned destination without carrying around and updating a large set of charts. For that usage, you can tolerate some inconvenience as long as safety is not compromised. How can safety not be compromised when you have to pan and scroll on the approach? I develop aviation software for the Pocket PC (W&B, FARs, route planning etc), and a significant amount of development time goes into usability. I considered adding approach charts and decided that flying an approach in the clouds using a PDA increased the risk level to a point to which I was not comfortable. Did I miss out on some revenue? Sure. However, I am a firm believer in safety, and I cannot believe that flying an approach using a PDA does not compromise safety. That's just my opinion. I determined for myself, by experiment, that the PDA display is adequate for the intended usage. I am able to brief the approach by panning and scrolling, make some notes of frequencies, minima and such on my kneeboard, and then position the view so that the plan view and profile view are on the screen. The readability is good enough for that, and the info outside that view I extract during the approach briefing. It is not like looking through a soda straw as you might expect, and as I thought it might be. My experiment was at my desk, and I intend to repeat it in the air before fully commiting to this approach. Hilton |
#7
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Hilton wrote: How can safety not be compromised when you have to pan and scroll on the approach? I develop aviation software for the Pocket PC (W&B, FARs, route planning etc), and a significant amount of development time goes into usability. I considered adding approach charts and decided that flying an approach in the clouds using a PDA increased the risk level to a point to which I was not comfortable. Did I miss out on some revenue? Sure. However, I am a firm believer in safety, and I cannot believe that flying an approach using a PDA does not compromise safety. That's just my opinion. No doubt that you are right. Safety is compromised by going to electronic charts without being able to view the entire approach chart. That's why the high-end stuff has robust portrait-oriented displays. Then again, the high-end stuff has two engines, single-engine safety from lift-off, real deicing capability, etc. |
#8
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"Hilton" wrote in message news How can safety not be compromised when you have to pan and scroll on the approach? I develop aviation software for the Pocket PC (W&B, FARs, route planning etc), and a significant amount of development time goes into usability. I considered adding approach charts and decided that flying an approach in the clouds using a PDA increased the risk level to a point to which I was not comfortable. Did I miss out on some revenue? Sure. However, I am a firm believer in safety, and I cannot believe that flying an approach using a PDA does not compromise safety. The key point that makes it acceptable to me are that I can view a readable screen with the full plan view and profile view of the procedure, which also contains the missed approach procedure. No manipulation is required during the approach. I have to pan and scroll only during the approach briefing to extract information (frequencies, minima, TDZE, etc.) from the portions of the chart that are outside that window. That is no more a distraction and compromise of safety than digging around in the flight bag for the approach plates that were not planned for use, finding the right one, etc. Plus I will always have current charts. Again, the context of this discussion has been having current, readily accessible, TPP information available for use when diverting to unplanned airports, without having to own, maintain, and carry a bunch of printed charts. I plan to download and print current charts for the primary and alternate airports for each trip. It is an individual judgement. I made my initial judgement by actually holding the pda in my hands, accessing the software, experimenting with it to determine the readablility under the required zoom factor, and how it worked procedurally for an approach briefing. With the software I used for the experiment, I found it acceptable. My evaluation was made against my background of in-flight use of the PDA, having used the AnyWhereMap product for two or three years. The PDA is yoke mounted, so the viewing distance is not large, and it is well-positioned in my scan. As I said in earlier posts, the final evaluation will be made with the final software, in flight. I plan to go through the whole process: accessing the desired procedure, briefing the approach, and flying the approach. It remains to be seen how the pan/scroll/zoom features of the SmartPlates for PocketPC product work out, relative to those of the Adobe Reader for PocketPC that I used for the preliminary evaluation. Stan |
#9
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I'm a US pilot and I have flown in Canada and never have gotten them,
but I'll have to admit, I've never really tried. Is it possible to get radar services (aka flight following) for VFR flight in Canada? |
#10
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I'm a US pilot and I have flown in Canada and never have gotten them, but I'll have to admit, I've never really tried. Is it possible to get radar services (aka flight following) for VFR flight in Canada? Certainly, it works the same was as in the States. If you crossed the border VFR, you would've had to use flight following to get the required discrete transponder code. - FChE |
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