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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