The FAA recently retired the web address http://naco.faa.gov which hosted the airport diagram and procedure documents found in the Airport/Facility Directory on iFlightPlanner.com and in iFlightPlanner for iPad.  The A/FD on iFlightPlanner.com has been updated with the new web address, http://aeronav.faa.gov, however it was necessary for us to submit a new version of iFlightPlanner for iPad (v1.0.3) to address the change.

Apple is currently taking approximately one week to approve new versions of an app, so for the time being you will receive an error when trying to access a not-previously saved airport diagram or procedure document from the iFlightPlanner for iPad A/FD.  You are able, however, to download airport diagrams and terminal procedures in bulk for a specific state or the whole United States using the "Downloads" tab.

We do apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Blue skies,
The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.

Effective February 9, 2012 at 1 minute past midnight Alaska Standard Time, the Anchorage (ANC) VOR/DME will become operational on frequency 113.15 with a new identifier "TED".  The VOR will be relocated roughly 5 miles onto the Anchorage International Airport.  Be sure to have all of the new charts in the Anchorage region to ensure the most current fix locations, procedures, and frequencies are used.

» FAA Anchorage VOR Changeover Notification

At iFlightPlanner, we consider flight planning to be a process that ultimately enhances the safety and joy of flying, a goal of every pilot when they take to the skies.  Planning a flight should therefore be as routine and seamless as possible, allowing us to focus on flying the aircraft while knowing that all necessary information related to the flight is complete and easily accessible.

 
This vision has been an integral part of the iFlightPlanner experience from day one, and every enhancement or feature has been evaluated with those parameters in mind.  Our newest addition to the iFlightPlanner product family is no exception, and it brings us one step closer to achieving what we’ve set out to do - offer pilots a fully-integrated flight planning solution that maximizes flexibility and is fun and easy to use.

We are proud to announce the imminent release of iFlightPlanner for iPad presented by Sennheiser!

iFlightPlanner for iPad is not just another flight planning application for the iPad but instead a logical extension of iFlightPlanner’s proven flight planning experience.  Pilots can continue to rely on the convenience of planning their flights on any computer using the web-based flight wizard at iFlightPlanner.com and sync all their flight data into iFlightPlanner for iPad for easy access in the cockpit.  This approach not only maximizes flexibility but also takes full advantage of our web-based interface for easy data entry and the native iPad application for increased portability.

iFlightPlanner for iPad is, in essence, an interactive cockpit document that gives pilots access to all the relevant routing, weather, and airport information while in flight and eliminating the need for printouts or primary paper charts in the cockpit.  Additionally, iFlightPlanner for iPad communicates with the iFlightPlanner servers via WiFi or cellular data connection allowing users to electronically close flight plans while simultaneously creating an entry in their digital log book.  All these features, including full access to our entire chart database, extensive weather information and airport/facility directory will be available to anyone with a free iFlightPlanner account.  Our premium users will also have the ability create and modify existing flight plans using an optimized version of our intuitive flight planning wizard designed specifically for the iPad.

Features of iFlightPlanner for iPad include:

• Fully-integrated with iFlightPlanner.com and mobile.iFlightPlanner.com
• Seamless georeferenced VFR Sectional and IFR Low/High enroute charts
• Color-coded route corridor weather with access to latest METARs and TAFs
• GPS-enabled moving map
• Comprehensive Airport/Facility Directory
• Airport diagrams, runway information, IFR approach plates, SIDs, and STARs
• FBO and local airport-related business directory
• Ability to electronically close flight plans via network connection
• Sync and maintain digital pilot logbook

iFlightPlanner for iPad has been developed from the ground up as a result of our strategic partnership with leading headset manufacturer Sennheiser Aviation and will be available as a free download from the Apple App Store.  We are in the final stages of development so stay tuned for the latest information!

Blue skies,
The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.

An online petition has been created at We The People to garner support against Aviation User Fees as currently proposed in legislation.  If the petition receives 5,000 "signatures" by October 23, White House staff will review it, ensure that it’s sent to the appropriate policy experts, and issue an official response.

Kevin M. from Marion, Iowa was the first to sign the petition on September 23 and as of this morning (Tuesday, September 27) it has received over 2,300 signatures.

"At a time when we should be working to simplify the tax codes, the administration wants to make it more complex by adding another new fee to the aviation system.

The aviation community understands the need to raise revenue at a time when we all need to sacrifice, however, this should be done by increasing tax rates on aviation fuel, rather than on a per-flight basis. By using an existing system of revenue generation, the administration can put more of the revenue collected towards the operation of the air traffic control system, thus improving safety for the system overall.

Furthermore, a tax on fuel more accurately reflects the actual ATC services used over a fixed flat fee, as a flight from NYC to LA will require more controller time than a flight from NYC to Boston."

» For more information or to sign the petition, CLICK HERE!

iFlightPlanner.com and the Aerostars formation aerobatic team proudly announce a new partnership that will provide Team Aerostar with integrated flight planning support powered by iFlightPlanner.com and iFlightPlanner for iPad.

At AirVenture 2011, iFlightPlanner.com and Sennheiser Aviation introduced an integrated iPad application that maximizes the power and versatility of iFlightPlanner.com’s web-based flight planning wizard with the portability of the Apple iPad.  With the release of iFlightPlanner for iPad later this fall, Team Aerostar will have an integrated electronic flight bag that allows for flight details such as their routes, weather, navigation logs, VFR and IFR charts, approach plates, and digital logbooks to be downloaded and viewed on the iPad while in flight and without a data connection.
 
“Our airline flying schedules keep us very busy so our flight planning between our base airport and the show sites must be quick, easy, and exact,” said Paul Hornick, Left Wing pilot for the Aerostars.  “iFlightPlanner.com and iFlightPlanner for iPad provide our team the tools necessary to handle our VFR or IFR flight planning needs in an easy to use interface that is quick to learn and even quicker to use.”

» Click HERE to read the full PRESS RELEASE.

The Aircraft Electronics Association, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, the Experimental Aircraft Association, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, the Helicopter Association International, the International Council of Air Shows, the National Association of State Aviation Officials, the National Air Transportation Association, and the National Business Aviation Association released the following joint statement in opposition of President Obama’s recent proposal for addressing the nation’s deficit and job crises.

"As primary representatives of the general aviation community, we are expressing our unified opposition to the new $100 per flight tax in your proposal. We believe this per-flight tax not only imposes a significant new administrative burden on general aviation operators who currently pay through an efficient per-gallon fuel charge at the pump, but it will also necessitate the creation of a costly new federal collection bureaucracy."

"As you know, the issue of how general aviation can best contribute revenue to the federal government has been the subject of significant study and debate as part of the FAA reauthorization process. After careful consideration, both chambers of Congress have passed bills that endorse the per-gallon fuel charges rather than adopt a per-flight tax similar to the one you propose. In fact, Democrats and Republicans in the House of Representatives felt so strongly about this issue that 116 members of that body sent you a letter earlier this year saying new aviation charges like the one you are now proposing would be 'dead on arrival'."

"Mr. President, many foreign countries have imposed per-flight charges on general aviation and the results have been devastating. Please do not go down that dangerous path and cost jobs in our community. Per-gallon fuel charges work. Per-flight taxes destroy."

iFlightPlanner.com announced today that it will be working with Aspen Avionics as a Connected Panel™ Partner to enable connectivity between its soon to be released iPad application, iFlightPlanner for iPad presented by Sennheiser, and the Aspen Avionics Connected Panel™.

By launching its Connected™ network of aviation-specific hardware and software applications, Aspen Avionics is allowing pilots to take that information one step further by bridging the gap between smart devices, such as the iPad, and panel-mounted avionics.  With iFlightPlanner for iPad as an enabled component of the Connected™ network, pilots will be able to transfer flights that were planned and filed using iFlightPlanner.com directly into their certified Aspen Avionics Connected Panel™.

» Read the full iFlightPlanner.com PRESS RELEASE by clicking here

It's hard to believe that another year in Oshkosh for the "World's Greatest Aviation Celebration" has come and gone!  We had an incredible week at AirVenture 2011 and want to thank our new friends at Sennheiser Aviation for their unique vision and belief in a partnership that all of us as members of the aviation community can be very exiced about!  Pilots will be able to experience an all-new way of flight planning with the release of iFlightPlanner for iPad presented by Sennheiser this fall.

We also want to thank the editors, writers, podcasters, and camera crews that stopped by the Sennheiser Pavilion last week to hear the story behind iFlightPlanner.com and see what a flight planning utility looks like when pilot feedback is combined with intuitive technology.  Be sure to keep an eye on the list below for their take on iFlightPlanner.com at #OSH11:

• 12 O'clock Level Photography
• 121five.com
• Aero-News.net
• AirplanePorn.com
• Airplanista Magazine
• AOPA.org
• Aviation International News
• Aviation Week Magazine
• Business & Commercial Aviation Magazine
• General Aviation News
• LiveATC.net
• LOOP Magazine
• Other People's Airplanes
• PilotMag
• The Raviator
• Max Trescott
• myTransponder.com
• WINGS Magazine
• Wired for Flight

There are only 50 weeks left until we make the trip back to Oshkosh for AirVenture 2012 and we hope you will make the trip along with us!  Thank you for your continued support in helping make iFlightPlanner.com the premier flight planning resource on the web!  ...and soon to be on the iPad!

Blue skies,
The iFlightPlanner.com Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.

iFlightPlanner.com is proud to announce a strategic partnership with leading headset manufacturer Sennheiser Aviation.  As a direct result of this partnership, iFlightPlanner.com will be developing iFlightPlanner for iPad presented by Sennheiser.

iFlightPlanner for iPad, scheduled for release this fall but available for demonstration at Oshkosh AirVenture 2011, will seamlessly download flights planned using the iFlightPlanner.com Flight Wizard into the iPad for use in the cockpit.

"We are thrilled about the opportunity to work with Sennheiser and provide a flight planning experience that is unmatched in general aviation" said Andy Matthews, iFlightPlanner.com's co-founder and Director of Business Development.  "Seeing the results when two like-minded companies from different sectors of the aviation industry come together on a project like this is very exciting!"

"Our cooperation with iFlightPlanner.com is another example of how we continue to support the broader aviation community," commented Dave Dunlap, director, Sennheiser Aviation. "iFlightPlanner.com is an innovative company with a clear focus on high quality. Through long-term strategic partnerships like this, we want to decrease barriers to flight and make the flight planning process as seamless as possible."

Pilots will have the ability to view flight details, including navigation logs, VFR and IFR charts, as well as approach plates on the iPad while in flight and without a data connection.

Attendees at EAA’s AirVenture 2011 will be the first to see the iFlightPlanner.com app in action before its release later this fall.  Sennheiser will be hosting the iFlightPlanner.com crew in Booth #288 alongside the newly unveiled Sennheiser S1 Digital aviation headset.

To read the full press release from iFlightPlanner.com click HERE, or HERE to read the release from Sennheiser Aviation.

Tune in at 7:00pm EDT to hear some of aviation's top podcasters talk flying and all things Oshkosh!  Podapalooza 2011 will broadcast LIVE via LiveATC.net from the Sennheiser Pavillion just outsite Hangar B.

iFlightPlanner is excited to be along for the ride and show pilots just how easy it is to PLAN. FLY. LOG. with the new iFlightPlanner for iPad presented by Sennheiser.

The live feed, which is all being powered by Sennheiser professional audio equipment, can be accessed on LiveATC.net or through the LiveATC apps for iPhone or Android devices.

WASHINGTON, DC - A quarrel between the House and Senate over union organizing by airline and railroad workers could lead to a shutdown of the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA's operating authority expires on Friday. The agency has operated under a series of 20 short-term extensions since Sept. 30, 2007, because lawmakers have been unable to agree on a long-term funding bill.

The FAA's 15,500 air traffic controllers are essential employees and would continue to work even if the agency's operating authority were to expire, Republican lawmakers told the House Rules Committee on Tuesday.

Read the full text of the article on CNBC.com by clicking HERE.

The FAA posted a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) that defines the TFR around the Kennedy Space Center for the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis scheduled for Friday, July 8.  This mission, STS-135, is the final launch in the Space Shuttle program.

The restricted area is centered on the Kennedy Space Center, which is on the Melbourne VOR/DME (MLB) 004 degree radial at 30.6 nautical miles (Latitude: 28º37'00"N, Longitude: 80º37'00"W).  There are to be no aircraft aperations of any type within the TFR.

Space Shuttle Atlantis is schedule to launch at 11:26am EDT on Friday, July 8.  Be sure to check the FAA's TFR List as well as iFlightPlanner.com's TFR Map for the most up-to-date information before you fly.

Entries are now being accepted for Sennheiser Aviation's "Live Your Dream!" scholarship competition!  The "Live Your Dream!" campaign is designed to help relieve the financial burden of flight training by awarding partial scholarships to individuals who are passionate about flying and are willing to share their enthusiasm with the aviation community!

The most creative entries will be awarded one of eight $1,000 (USD) scholarships for their flight training as well as a 1-year Premium membership to iFlightPlanner.com!  We are very excited to be part of this program and encourage you to visit http://www.sennheiser-aviation.com/live-your-dream for more details on how to enter the competition and "Live Your Dream!"

LiveATC.net, the premier source for live Air Traffic Control feeds on the web, has released a version of its LiveATC mobile app in the Android Market!  The addition of an app for the Android platform compliments a version of their iPhone app that was released earlier this year. 

LiveATC for Android lets you browse by U.S. state or by country to find an airport and listen to live air traffic conversations at or near a given airport.  You can also use the "Nearby" feature to find an airport near you, and then add any channel to your list of Favorites for quick and easy access.  The app retails for $2.99 USD.

iFlightPlanner.com users have access to LiveATC.net feeds directly from our Airport/Facility Directory, and have an opportunity to help build the LiveATC network by volunteering their idle scanner to stream live audio from their home airport.  You can also help spread the word by downloading one of two available flyers to hang in your local FBO or flight school!

Notices to Airman (NOTAMs) will be unavailable for a 4.5 hour period tomorrow, May 28, from 0600Z to 1030Z. The planned outage will affect the ability of pilots planning flights over that period to obtain NOTAM's electronically.

The FAA is in the process of moving the US NOTAM System from Herndon, VA to its new location in Oklahoma City, OK as part of its efforts to relocate the Air Traffic Control System Command Center (ATCSCC) to a new location in Warrenton, VA.

Pilots will be able to electronically obtain NOTAMs up until the start of the outage.  During the outage pilots are encouraged to contact Flight Service at 1-800-WX-BRIEF (800-992-7433) or their local flight service station (FSS) via radio if in the air as FSS employees will have access to all NOTAMs.

With tomorrow being International Learn to Fly Day we thought it was only appropriate to highlight one of the instructors from the iFlightPlanner.com Flight Instructor Directory who is helping share their love of flight with others.  Theresa Whiting from Ann Arbor, Michigan is doing just that!

Ms. Whiting knew that she wanted to be a pilot since she was eleven years old, and it was that passion that drew her to the College of Aviation at Western Michigan University where she ultimately earned a degree in Aviation Flight Science with the intent of a career in flight instruction. 

Theresa has been teaching students to fly for nearly seven years, and since beginning her career at Brooks Field in Marshall, MI she has returned to Ann Arbor where she is now the Chief Flight Instructor at Solo Aviation located at the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport.  In a state where many flight schools are downsizing, Theresa is helping Solo Aviation defy the odds as it continues to grow into one of the busiest flight schools in Michigan.

Holding a Gold Seal License, an accreditation reserved only for those instructors who maintain high first-time pass rates among their students, Theresa offers sport, recreational, private, instrument, commercial, multi-engine, and flight instructor ratings.  She has established herself as one of the most sought after flight instructors in the area, with some of her students traveling over an hour to work with her.

Theresa also acts as President of the Yankee Ladies Chapter of Women in Aviation International and is involved with the Washtenaw Community College Life-Long Learning Program as a ground school instructor. 

As a result of her exceptional teaching and community outreach Theresa was recognized this past April as one of the top seven flight instructors in the United States for 2011 and was considered as a finalist for the title of National Flight Instructor of the Year.  Although Theresa did not win the national award she proudly holds the title of “2011 Flight Instructor of the Year” for the FAA Great Lakes Region!

iFlightPlanner.com would like to congratulate Theresa on her accomplishments and wish her continued success as she strengthens the aviation community throughout southeast Michigan!  If you would like to learn from one of the best, visit Theresa's website http://www.FlightInstructorTheresa.com or her profile in the Flight Instructor Directory to setup an appointment.

NOTE: If you are an instructor, or are a pilot who would like to nominate your instructor to be highlighted in the next iFlightPlanner.com Instructor Profile, let us know!

International Learn to Fly Day was announced at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2009 as an effort to increase interest in flying and to encourage the aviation community to get others involved in aviation.  If you've ever wanted to experience the thrill of flight, mark your calendar for May 21 and check the Calendar of Events to find a Learn To Fly Day event near you.  And if you're already a pilot, International Learn to Fly Day is the perfect excuse to share your love of flying with a family member or friend!

The EAA has released its 2011 NOTAM for pilots flying to AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin this summer.  This FREE 32-page booklet is a must if you're flying to Oshkosh as it outlines all arrival and departure procedures, radio frequencies, and Wittman Regional Airport (KOSH) details.  Although many procedures are similar to previous years, there are updates that pilots need to be aware of.

DOWNLOAD your copy and be sure to make it part of your preflight flight planning to ensure a safe and fun experience at AirVenture 2011!

With continual advancements in GPS technology it is no wonder that pilots are beginning to lose their handle on radio navigation skills.  It is with this trend in mind that Vincent Lambercy of ConnectingPilots.com has developed a new iPhone app that helps licensed pilots, flight instructors, and their students better understand and improve upon their radio navigation skills. 

The Radionav Sim iPhone app is a simple radio navigation trainer that provides users an interface that includes a map, two stations, two instruments (ADF, VOR, or HSI) and a quiz mode that gives CFIs the ability to position the aircraft, set its heading, move the stations, and then hide the aircraft to let the student find its position.  The app sells for $1.99 in the iTunes Store.

Do you know of another new pilot-friendly product that you think iFlightPlanner.com users should know about?  Let us know and we'll help spread the word!

The AOPA's Air Safety Institute released its 2010 version of the Nall Report which summarizes aviation accidents that occurred during the previous year. While there is good news about general aviation operations in 2010,  the report notes areas of concern for GA as well.  The Nall Report is dedicated to the memory of Joseph T. Nall, an NTSB Board member who died as a passenger in an airplane accident in Caracas, Venezuela, in 1989. 

The founding principle of iFlightPlanner.com is to offer a flight planning environment that promotes safety and efficiency.  By making often overlooked tasks, like retrieving a certfied weather brief, computing weight & balance, or filing a flight plan as easy as possible, we will continue to help our pilots make a difference in aviation safety.

You can view the 2010 Nall Report report by clicking HERE.

LiveATC.net, the premier source for live Air Traffic Control feeds on the web, has updated its LiveATC Air Radio app on iTunes!  The latest release brings the app up to v1.7.2 which fixes a few known bugs, but moreso sets the stage for the upcoming release of v1.8.0.  There are also reports of an Android app in the final stages of development that is soon to enter private BETA testing.

iFlightPlanner.com users have access to LiveATC.net feeds directly from our Airport/Facility Directory, and have an opportunity to help build the LiveATC network by volunteering their idle scanner to stream live audio from their home airport!

In 2001, Ken Wittekiend, the 2009 Southwest Region CFI of the Year, realized that many pilots did not have easy or effective ways to gain additional knowledge or training beyond what was learned leading up to their check-ride.  In response to the need for a better continuing education program, Ken established ProMark Aviation, a flight training company based at KBMQ in Burnett, TX, to provide beginners and accomplished pilots a better way to maintain and improve upon the critical skills necessary to fly safer and more confidently.

Through the use of aviation study groups, Ken is creating opportunities for pilots to share their knowdlege of flying with each other.  This interaction not only produces an exceptional environment to develop better pilots but it also strengthens the pilot community, elements that are critical to the future of general aviation.

Ken featured iFlightPlanner.com at his most recent study group to help pilots improve their preflight safety practices.  "The response (to iFlightPlanner.com) from our Aviation Study Group has been enthusiastic," he said.  "It gives our students a robust flight planning solution that is fast, complete, and easy to use."

Word about the study groups hosted by ProMark is spreading, and attendance is steadily growing.  He also noted that they will be participating in the SAFE Training Symposium to be held May 3-5, 2011 in Atlanta, GA which Ken says will be a major event in aviation education.  ProMark is looking to expand the study group concept to other airports and welcomes anyone interested in hosting a group to contact them via their website, http://www.ProMarkAviation.net, to get started.

We are excited that ProMark Aviation Services has chosen iFlightPlanner.com as their Official Flight Planner.  If you think your FBO or Flight school would benefit from having iFlightPlanner.com as part of their program as well, please let us know!

by Andy Matthews, iFlightPlanner.com

I love to fly and look out at the world below.  It provides such a unique perspective which I instantly fell in love with when I started flying airplanes.  Unfortunately for those of us who continued working towards our IFR rating, the price we paid for the opportunity to fly in less than ideal conditions was to give up that top-down view in exchange for a pair of funny looking glasses.

Just a handful of hours into my IFR training I quickly learned that the frosted goggles designed to limit my view of the outside world were not going to make the cut.  As much as I love flying by reference to instruments I struggled with the amount of time I was spending under the influence of frosted plastic.  Eye-strain became a real issue and I began to scour pilot shops to find something better.  I am happy to report that I have!  If any of you have experienced strained or watery eyes as a result of using frosted IFR glasses, cry no more.  Meet Blockalls!

I had the opportunity to fly with Blockalls for the first time last month and quickly noticed how light and comfortable they are to wear.  I weighed my pair at exactly 1 ounce, which is pretty impressive given they are made of a sturdy plastic with rubber accents on the nose and behind the ears.  In addition to enhancing comfort, the rubber ear pieces made sliding the Blockalls on and off while wearing my headset extremely easy.

Functionally, I found them great in the cockpit.  Blockalls have an opaque finish that blocks sunlight from getting in while creating an off-centered viewing area that helps you keep your eyes focused on the instrument panel.  Given their more stylish shape you may be able to sneak a peak out of the corner of your eye if you have exceptional peripheral vision, but I found it difficult to do so and in no way compromised their designed purpose.
 
Blockalls retail between $24.95 and $28.95 and are available in an array of colors.  They have a model with a tinted viewing area and one designed specifically for helicopter pilots as well.  If you are one that wears reading glasses while in the cockpit, Blockalls has teamed up with a company that offers prescription stick-on lenses that'll eliminate the need to wear one pair over the other.

The bottom line puts Blockalls at a very competitive price point, and given that they are the most comfortable and pilot-friendly view limiting device that I've had the (dis)pleasure of flying with, it’s a no-brainer.  Do your eyes a favor and add a pair of Blockalls to your flight bag!

Blockalls has extended iFlightPlanner.com members an offer to save 10% off their order.  Simply head over to Blockalls.com and use coupon code “BA10” at checkout to take advantage of this special offer!

Did you know that with iFlightPlanner.com you can save and quickly recall your favorite routes?  It's as easy as clicking the "Save as Favorite Route" option within the Flight Basics section of the Flight Wizard.

You can easily recall your routes from the "My Account Home" page or from the "Favorite Routes" drop-down box.  This is a very helpful and often overlooked feature of iFlightPlanner.com and we wanted to be sure that you're getting the most out of your flight planning experience with us!

iFlightPlanner.com has teamed up with LiveATC.net to offer live air traffic control feeds directly from our Airport/Facility Directory! LiveATC.net has established itself as the premier source for live air traffic control audio on the web and offers access to over 450 feeds from airports all across the world.

Simply click the "LiveATC.net" logo from within the Airport/Facility Directory where you'll be directed to LiveATC.net and listening within seconds!

If your favorite airport is not yet part of the LiveATC.net network, they're always looking for volunteers to help put new locations on the air! If you have an air-band scanner sitting idle, why not join the network?

We are really excited about putting this fantastic aviation resource at your fingertips! Whether you're a pilot, student pilot, or someone who just loves aviation, you'll really enjoy LiveATC.net!

We couldn't be more excited about the response we're getting from the latest upgrades to iFlightPlanner.com!  The addition of route rubberbanding, custom waypoints (for Premium members), and the ability to filter the A/FD were all features that you asked us for.  And rather than tell you how they work, we wanted to show you!  ...so sit back and enjoy iFlightPlanner v2.5 in action, because you haven't seen flight planning quite like this!

We are excited to officially announce our highly anticipated upgrade to iFlightPlanner.com with the introduction of route rubberbanding and the ability for Premium members to create, save, and use custom waypoints in their flight planning.  These latest features build on the existing functionality of our sectional and IFR charts in the familiar Google Maps interface by giving pilots the ability to interactively point, click, and drag their routes around weather, airspace, or to any number of specific locations.

We also upgraded the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD) by adding graphical and color-coded facility type and usage identifiers to each listing.  These identifiers, along with the ability to sort a directory that includes over 20,000 certified entries down to a manageable size based on user-defined settings, is all geared towards helping pilots get to the information they need as quickly as possible.

These new features were the direct result of feedback we received from our users!  If you have an idea for a new feature you'd like to see or a tweak that would make your flight planning experience that much better, please don't hesitate to contact us!  We sincerely appreciate everyone's input and will continue our commitment to making iFlightPlanner.com the premier flight planning resource on the web!

» View the full press release here

Based on popular request, iFlightPlanner.com visitors can now link to specific flight routes on our free aviation charts in Google Maps!

Simply enter a route in the "Locations/Route" box and then click the "Link" button to the right of the "Show on Map" button.  A popup window will open providing a link you can copy and paste to anywhere.  Email the route to a friend or colleague, or bookmark it in your web browser for quick access to that same route anytime you want!

» As a sample, click here to see the route KARB MBS KTVC!

It was at the February 2010 Great Lakes Aviation Conference where we launched iFlightPlanner.com for the first time, and this new year brings exciting new features to iFlightPlanner!  All pilots will soon be able to rubberband routes and have access to an upgraded Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD), while our Premium members will have the ability to create and use custom waypoints in their planning.  We are putting the finishing touches on these new features, so be sure to stay tuned to the iFlightPlanner Blog, and your inbox, for their offical release!

» Visit us in Booth #29 at the Great Lakes Aviation Conference!

Aviation for Women Magazine, the official publication of Women in Aviation International, highlights the release of iFlightPlanner Free on page 20 in the "Sources and Resources" section of their January/February 2011 issue.  Published six times annually, Aviation for Women provides current features that keep pilots up-to-date about women in the aviation industry.  Articles feature women who have made aviation history, professional development ideas, and current-topic articles.

iFlightPlanner is excited to have been detailed in their current issue, and are busy working on exciting new features for 2011 that will make your flight planning more fun and effecient than ever!

» Aviation for Women Magazine : January/February 2011

This was too good not to share!  While many of us are IFR'd in for much of the winter wishing we were in Florida, the crew at Lakeland Linder Regional Airport (KLAL) reminds us it's not always blue skies!  Check out the remark on their METAR observation this morning, it's classic!

» What's the weather like at your home airport?

KLAL 191552Z 32005KT 2SM BR OVC002 15/13 A2991 RMK NOT SUPPOSE TO BE LIKE THIS IN FLA

Did you know that each weather brief that you retrieve through iFlightPlanner.com or mobile.iFlightPlanner.com is certified by the FAA?  Every request for a weather brief is logged with both the FAA and iFlightPlanner so you can be confident that you're fulfilling your pre-flight weather duties as pilot in command. 

We've been working hard on a bunch of cool new features for 2011, so stay tuned! (HINT: Rubberbanding and point-and-click routing!)

Airplanista Magazine is a free online aviation magazine published monthly featuring aviation news, aviation commentary, and stunning aviation photography.  Published by pilot and aviation columnist, Dan Pimentel (a.k.a, AV8RDAN), for pilots, aviators, student pilots, and the general aviation community.  The December 2010 issue features iFlightPlanner along with a few other great new aviation products in their 2010 Product Showcase on page 25!

» AIRPLANISTA Magazine : December 2010

Your "My Account Home" page will display "Open Flights".  Open Flights are flights that you have yet to close and log into your iFlightPlanner logbook.  Remember that with iFlightPlanner, you have the ability to electronically close flights that you've filed with the FAA!

How To Close A Flight Plan & Log Your Flight

1. Click "Close & Log" next to the flight you want to close.
2. If you filed with the FAA, let us know whether you closed your flight with the tower or Flight Service, or would like us to close it electronically for you.
3. Fill out the logbook...it's just like your print version.
4. Click "Save Flight Log Info" and you’re done!

Welcome to Flight Planning Friday!  In this new series, we'll highlight iFlightPlanner features we think you'll love!

iFlightPlanner Mobile Aviation Weather

No matter whether you have iFlightPlanner Free or Premium, your account includes access to iFlightPlanner Mobile, a streamlined version of iFlightPlanner available on any web-enabled mobile device (iPhone, BlackBerry, Droid, Palm and more)!  Just visit:

» http://m.iFlightPlanner.com

What You'll See

• RADAR: Animated, real-time
• METAR: Color-coded & translated
  * If available for facility
• TAF: Color-coded & translated
  * If available for facility
• NOTAMs: Translated to plain language
• Text AIRMET, SIGMET, PIREP & Forecast Area

How To Access It

1. Favorite Airports
   From your iFlightPlanner Mobile Home page, click on the Sun/Cloud icon for any of your Favorite Airports
2. Mobile Navigation
   Click "Wx" at the top of any iFlightPlanner Mobile page, then enter your airport code or click on any of your favorites
3. Bookmark It
   Once you click on a favorite, bookmark it to your mobile device for one-click future access!

Happy Friday!

Ann Arbor, Michigan – iFlightPlanner, LLC unveiled its newest and most comprehensive web and mobile-based flight planning utility, iFlightPlanner.com, this week to exceptional reviews from experts throughout the aviation industry.  iFlightPlanner.com debuted at the February 2010 Great Lakes Aviation Conference, at which time, KillerStartUps.com announced, "The way in which (iFlightPlanner) simplifies everything is just astonishing!”

This latest release allows pilots FREE access to a full array of flight planning tools, which compliments iFlightPlanner’s existing Premium package designed for users who want additional safety and online logbook features.

» Read the full iFlightPlanner.com Press Release here!

» Not yet a member? Create your free iFlightPlanner account here!

The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology explains the effect of nocturnal bird migration on RADAR stations, especially during the fall months.  The "doughnut effect" becomes visible approximately 30-minutes after sunset and disappears in the morning hours as the birds begin to land.  It is distinguishable from precipitation by its soft edges on visible RADAR, where visible precipitation reflects a more distinct edge.

» Read the full article about NEXRAD and Bird Migration!

As much as we love spending all our time creating great flight planning and aviation software, we took a little break this halloween weekend to carve some pumpkins.  Hope all members of the aviation community enjoyed this Halloween!

Also, here's a couple Halloween treats (aka new features) for all our members:

Favorite Routes: Create unlimited favorite routes with from, to, route, altitude and more.  Whenever you're ready to plan that route again, one click from your Account Home screen will reload all the information. 

Logging Flights: For iFlightPlanner Premium members, you can now log flights into your iFlightPlanner logbook that were not originally planned with iFlightPlanner.  We had a lot of requests for this feature, and now it's here.  Just click "Log A Flight" from your logbook.

By Mary Grady : AVweb

The FAA will publish a new proposed rule in the next few months that would require pilot certificates to include a photo, an FAA spokesperson said this week. Currently, pilots are required to carry a government-issued photo ID in addition to their pilot certificate. U.S. Rep. John Mica, R-Fla., recently wrote to the FAA, the TSA and the Department of Homeland Security asking why they haven't complied with a 2004 law that requires pilot certificates to include not only a photograph but a means to record biometric data such as fingerprints and iris scans.  Click HERE for the full AVweb News Flash!

A concept being developed by Lynchburg, Virginia-based Edison2, which just won $5 million in the Automotive X Prize competition for its Very Light Car, will be one of the technologies featured at "Aviation Unleashed," a three-day forum sponsored by NASA's Langley Research Center and National Institute of Aerospace (NIA), in Hampton, VA, October 18-20.  The Very Light Car is powered by a one-cylinder, 250cc internal combustion engine fueled by E85 and is capable of driving 100 miles on a single gallon of fuel.

Pat Redmond and Scott Trumbull from Suburban Aviation visited the University of Michigan Flyers at Ann Arbor Municipal Airport yesterday with the latest single-engine aircraft from Cessna!  It was the second stop of the Fall 2010 Skycatcher Tour where Cessna Pilot Centers, instructors, and potential buyers are getting a first hand look at what so many aviation enthusiasts are raving about!  Check out what more people are saying about the Cessna Skycatcher!

Janice Wood from General Aviation News writes about the first time in the history of Edwards Air Force Base, nearly 100 civilian general aviation aircraft, and 15 civilian-owned retired warbirds flew in, and landed on the Rosamond Dry Lakebed Oct. 1 to attend the Flight Test Nation 2010 Lakebed Fly-In.

Professional pilot, blogger and aviation enthusiast Karlene Petitt profiled iFlightPlanner's co-founder Andy Matthews as her "Friday's Fabulous Flyer" on her blog, Flight To Success.  Check it out!

Head over to KillerStartups.com and check out their recent review of iFlightPlanner.com!  Centralizing and simplying aviation tasks and flight planning were two of our top priorities in developing iFlightPlanner -- and we're thrilled that those qualities came through in their review.

And if you're a fan of iFlightPlanner, make sure to vote for us while you're there!

» Click here to read KillerStartups.com's iFlightPlanner.com review

In full disclosure, we never talked to or met anyone from Killer Startup's either, so hearing someone say "The way in which (iFlightPlanner) simplifies everything is just astonishing - a lot of different operations are centralized through the site," is a great Wednesday surprise!

by Machteld Smith : AOPA Online

Get ready for a change in ATC terminology expected to take place on September 30.  Instead of the familiar phrase “taxi into position and hold,” the controller will issue “line up and wait” instructions to indicate that you may taxi onto the runway and wait for a takeoff clearance.

Just like “taxi into position and hold,” the new phrase is used when a takeoff clearance cannot immediately be issued because of traffic or other reasons.  So, although the words change, the meaning will not.

The new phraseology is also expected to minimize confusion with or misinterpretation of ATC instructions such as “position at hold” or “hold position.”

Here’s an example of how the phrase will be used:

Tower: “Diamond Star 334DS, Runway One Six Right, line up and wait.”
Pilot: “Long Beach Tower, Diamond Star 334DS, Runway One Six Right, line up and wait.”

This change brings the United States in line with standard International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) phraseology, and it will soon be incorporated in the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) and the Pilot/Controller Glossary.

For more information and updates to the AIM and Pilot/Controller Glossary visit the FAA’s Air Traffic section of its website.  Remember to “line up and wait” after September 30, and whenever you are unsure of an ATC instruction or clearance be sure to get clarification immediately.

During the process of building iFlightPlanner, we reviewed a number of GIS mapping software applications to help with various tasks, including the processing of digital aviation and aeronautical charts from the FAA. 

Now that we've completed our research and development in that area, we wanted to give a special mention to Global Mapper.  If your company or organization needs to work with geographical data in any image formats (PDF, GeoTIFF, JPG, etc), we definitely recommend you use Global Mapper.  Not only does it handle an incredible variety of image formats and projections with ease, their customer support is second to none, providing insightful answers to any and all questions at all times of the day.

And last, but certainly not least, Global Mapper's SDK makes it possible to integrate advanced mapping tasks directly into your own applications as well, which provides tremendous flexibility to developers.

» Learn more about Global Mapper's GIS software here

At iFlightPlanner, we'll constantly strive to squeeze as much efficiency as possible out of your pre-flight planning process.  Part of this is a constant effort to make parts of our site easier & quicker to use.

We've just launched an updated version of iFlightPlanner that includes an easier to use airport selector.  Once you click into a From or To Airport field, the box shown below will popup.  Your Favorite Airports (click here to edit your favorites), if you've entered any, will appear in the left hand column for easy access.  To find an airport, simply start typing either the airport code or the city name.  Airport codes will begin showing (as seen below) after 3 characters, cities after 4.

If you already know your airport code, no problem, just type the code and hit tab to jump to the next entry field.

We wanted to make it as easy as possible for our members to get right into their iFlightPlanner account, so we've setup my.iFlightPlanner.com as a direct link to your account overview page.

Simply bookmark my.iFlightPlanner.com.  In addition, if you click "Remember Me" when signing into your account, the my.iFlightPlanner.com link won't even require you to sign in again.

Thanks to one of our members for this great suggestion.  If you ever have any suggestions to help improve iFlightPlanner, please don't hesitate to contact us!

iFlightPlanner.com is excited to announce we'll be attending and sponsoring the EAA's AirVenture 2010 in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.  Known as the aviation event of the year, we knew we couldn't miss out!

Our Sponsorship

iFlightPlanner is the official sponsor of all AirVenture Arrival and Departure Signs.  We'll also be featured throughout the week on the 14 electronic billboards (including 2 jumbotrons) on site.

Friday at the Mobile Zone

If you'll be at AirVenture on Friday, make sure to stop by the Mobile Zone in Hangar C on Friday.  We'll be showcasing all of the iFlightPlanner features that are available on mobile devices, including iPhones, iPads, Droid-based phones, Blackberries and more.  We look forward to meeting a lot of you in person!

The Terrafugia Transition is not the sleekest looking aircraft or vehicle we've ever seen, but it just got FAA approval.  Is this a peek at the future?