VFR Flight Planner  - v1.10
 
 
 
 

VFR Flight Planner is a simple to use yet powerful flight planning tool that will enable pilots to rapidly and accurately produce all the key elements required of full and proper flight planning for VFR flights within New Zealand. The program caters for single and twin engine aircraft with seating capacities up to six persons. In utilizing the program the pilot may print off hard copies of the following items prior to any flight:

Input Data Sheet - shows all plane, Met., route, loading data used to create the flight plan.

Calculations Sheet - shows the interim program calculated results.

Flight Log - shows all the features normally found on an in-flight log sheet (and more).
Right and Left handed versions included for ease of use.

Load Sheet - shows weights and balance calculations based on planned flight / loading.

VFR Flight Plan - provides a single sheet (faxable) flight plan used when lodging flight plan with authorities.

All hard copy output sheets are A4 format.
 

Background

  VFR Flight Planner  v1.10 is based on a Windows Excel (97) format and so is extremely easy to use and adapt for anyone with experience with Microsoft products. It lends itself not only to the individual recreational pilot for whom it was originally created (me!); but also clubs and flight training schools who wish to ensure their members / students can manually produce accurate flight plans. The program uses plane specific data, based on the aircraft's registration in calculating flight times, fuel burn, loading etc. This data (34 items per plane for full program functionality) must be pre loaded prior to running the program. Whilst seeming somewhat of a burden the first time, once done it is done for good. All that a pilot has to do from then on is enter the aircraft's registration and the program calls up all the relevant data - this feature is of great benefit to any organization with a fleet of aircraft or for pilots who fly a number of differing plane types.

The program comes pre loaded with data on every* aerodrome and heliport listed in the current AIP Vol.4 (April. 05) and every Reporting Point listed on the Visual Navigation Charts (No's 1-18. April 05). In planning a route a pilot merely calls up the relevant two letter aerodrome / heliport code and the program does the rest. Reporting Points have been allocated three letter codes and any personal way points may be entered with a four letter code. This code system once familiarized significantly speeds up data entry - the list of pre loaded codes used is of course provided. The program then provides the pilot with the relevant procedural radio frequencies and altitude limitations for each flight leg destination as well as the usual fuel management, elapsed time / leg estimates found on the Flight Log.
* No specific (single) location is given in the AIP Vol.4 for water aerodrome NZSO (Marlborough Sounds) hence pilots wishing to fly there will have to select their own personal waypoint for this location.

Safety is the key issue in flight planning and VFR Flight Planner v.1.10 has a number of features built in to ensure that a safe flight plan is created:

Safe fuel reserves are pre loaded at 45 minutes engine time NIGHT and DAY.
Fuel burn rate is assumed to be CONSTANT - as per level cruise flight.
A 15 minute allowance is made for  initial warm-up, taxi and takeoff.
Full stop landings / takeoffs AND touch and go's are each assumed to consume 15 minutes worth of fuel.
Program identifies location of the first safety refuel destination (if required).
Check boxes indicate whether loading / C of G / fuel limitations have been exceeded or are approaching limits.
SARTIME is included on the input data sheet - with aids to help a pilot select a suitable time.
 

VFR Flight Planner v. 1.10 is a practical, accurate and easy to use flight planning tool. With the correctly loaded aircraft specific data loaded it will enable the user to very rapidly produce a safe flight plan for their aircraft. Accuracy is as good as that you would expect through the use of a Navigation Computer such as the CRP-1, with changes in the earth's magnetic variation being taken account of automatically by the program. Pilots must still manually refer to 'P' charts for takeoff and landing calculations and to current Visual Navigation and Planning Charts as well as the AIP Vol.4 guide. For those of you lucky enough to have the use of GPS systems for navigation purposes VFR Flight Planner v 1.10 will provide you a perfect 'backup' flight plan should you lose power / satellite contact. For those of you still currently using a manual Navigation Computer it will provide peace of mind in not only checking your calculations but also providing additional load sheet, radio frequency, fuel management and plane type information.
 

System Requirements

The following minimum computer system requirements apply in order to use VFR Flight Planner:



Pentium 100 MHz
16 Mb Ram
Windows 95 or above
Microsoft Excel 97 or above
2 MB free space on hard drive
360 dpi Printer


Program Requirements

The program uses aircraft registration codes to load specific data into the spreadsheets. As such the following minimum information must be pre loaded by the user in order to fully utilize the program:



1. Plane Registration
2. Plane Type Code
3. Plane Manufacturer
4. Plane Model Name
5. Average Fuel Burn at cruise (Ltr/hr)
6. Max. fuel Load (Ltr)
7. Un-useable fuel (Ltr)
8. Cruise Corrected Air Speed (kts)
9. Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW)  (Kg)
10. Maximum Landing Weight (MLW)  (Kg)
11. Maximum Zero Fuel Weight (MZFW)  (Kg)
12. Empty Weight (Kg)
13. Forward Baggage Weight Limit (Kg)
14. Aft Baggage Weight Limit (Kg)
15. Seating Capacity
16. Empty weight C of G moment arm (m)
17. Forward C of G Limit from specified datum (m)
18. Max. Weight Limit at Forward C of G Limit  (Kg)
19. C of G moment arm at point of inflection on slope of C of G graph (m)
20. Weight limit at point of inflection on slope of C of G graph (Kg)
21. Forward C of G Limit at MAUW (m)
22. Aft C of G Limit (m)
23. Crew / Front Passenger C of G moment arm (m)
24. Rear Passenger 1st Row (Seats Facing Forward) C of G moment arm (m)
25. Rear Passenger 1st Row (Seats Facing Aft) C of G moment arm (m)
26. Rear Passenger 2nd Row (Seats Facing Forward) C of G moment arm (m)
27. Forward Baggage C of G moment arm (m)
28. Aft Baggage C of G moment arm (m)
29. Fuel C of G moment arm (m)
30. Date of CAA 2173
31. Speed at best angle of climb Vx (kts)
32. Speed at best rate of climb Vy (kts)
33. Cross wind (X/W) limit (kts)
34. Number of engines


Disclaimer

Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the program ‘VFR Flight Planner V. 1.10’ it should be borne in mind that the program is sold ‘as is’. No liability is accepted by the author / vendor of this program for any injury, damage or liabilities arising through its use. The user of the program, through its use accepts sole responsibility / liability for any adverse consequences arising.
 

Plans created by ‘VFR Flight Planner V. 1.10’ MUST be checked prior to any flight through normal promulgated planning procedures.
 

Not withstanding the above the author of the program would welcome any feedback relating to ‘bugs’ not identified in the extensive testing phase of development in order to advise other users of the program of any problems. Comments on ease of use, accuracy and ‘areas for improvement’ / suggestions would be equally most welcome. The program is aimed at the NZ recreational flyer who seeks additional ‘peace of mind’ in their flight planning – improvements made through feedback the can only lead to a safer and more relaxed flying environment.
 
 

Price
 

VFR Local Flight Planner v 1.10 - Private Individual / Non Commercial use
Single set of Met. Data applicable to all flight Legs.
Pre loaded aerodrome data for ALL New Zealand.

Plus

VFR Cross Country Flight Planner v 1.10  - Private Individual / Non Commercial use
Individual Met Data applicable to each leg.
Pre loaded aerodrome data for ALL New Zealand.

Plus

Fuel & Atis Spreadsheet - Quick and ready forms for local aerodrome operations not requireing a formal flight plan.

Total Package price $ 150 - plus $5 Postage & Packaging
 

YES all of this for only $150- plus postage & packaging to Private Individuals. Why? Because I spent a great deal of time creating something that I truly believe to be of use to recreational pilots in New Zealand and a benefit to air safety.    (Ralph Stoker - Program Author)

VFR Flight Planner v 1.1 New Zealand Commercial - Commercial use Licence $ P.O.A. - or Flying Time by negotiation!
A certain level of customer specific customisation is offered eg. adding logos / entering plane data.
 

Please make Cheques payable to 'Rowhook Industries Ltd.' and crossed 'VFR'.
All products will be supplied on CD (including Installation Guide & User Manual) & couriered on clearance of funds into Rowhook Industries Ltd account.

For further information on VFR Flight Planner v 1.10 and additional customized flight planning services / products please contact Ralph Stoker on:

E-mail: flightplan@rowhook.com

 
Mobile: 021 250 7009
Postal Address:
16 Lochmore Street
Harewood
Christchurch 8051

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