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  #1  
Old 07-06-2011, 08:44 PM
RV8iator's Avatar
RV8iator RV8iator is offline
 
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Location: Saint Simons Island , GA
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Default iPad and Foreflight

I was using my iPad and Foreflight on a flight up to Traverse City last week and encountered a situation that could have gotten me in trouble.

I had built a trip kit the night before consisting of all the approach plates, taxi diagrams and DP's and stars for the airports I was planning on using on the way up. What I didn't notice was that the cycle for the plates expired on June 29th with the new cycle starting on the 30th, the day I was leaving.

Everything was going smoothly until I tried to pull up the airport diagram for destination and the Foreflight said no data available and no internet connection. Had it been real IFR i'd have been SOL since I didn't have paper charts. I know I should have, but this was why I had filed on a clear day to test the iPad/Foreflight system.. Glad I did.

Now, is this the way Foreflight works? I will always check cycle dates in the future, but you could get in a bind flying out in the system on a multiday trip if your charts get dumped into the electronic trash bin on expiration day. Also, the airport I landed at, Dayton Wright Brothers Field had wifi, but boy was it slow. It took 20 minutes to download Ohio and Michigan.. Another lesson learned here.. Download early at home.

Just thought I would throw this out to see if I did something wrong in Foreflight, or does it really dump all your data on cycle change day.

All in all though, I love the SA that Foreflight gives you enroute. I have a bluetooth GPS that worked perfectly, and when I turned it off to save the battery, the GPS in the iPad never missed a beat.

The screen was adequate with the sunshade pulled up. It was never unusable, but could always have been brighter. I really liked have all the information available. I do have the PRO subscription so the moving map on the approach plates and taxiway diagrams is outstanding.

Would I buy it all again? You bet!
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  #2  
Old 07-06-2011, 09:29 PM
Daniel Hooper Daniel Hooper is offline
 
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Location: Dallas, TX
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Default

I get a download 'badge' on the Foreflight icon when chart updates are ready -- not sure how early it shows up, but I usually see them before the expiration date.
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  #3  
Old 07-06-2011, 09:32 PM
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dhall_polo dhall_polo is offline
 
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Location: Cumming, GA
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Default no - doesn't work that way.

I think someone from foreflight monitors the list and may comment. Once charts are downloaded, they stay on the machine until replaced by newer charts.

I just verified this. My charts are old, and I'm able to view everything. I do get warned that the data is expired, but that's a good thing.

BTW, Aviation Consumer just awarded Foreflight "Gear of the Year: Best App". I don't work for them - just a fan of the app and the guys that build it.

Don
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  #4  
Old 07-06-2011, 10:38 PM
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craigvince craigvince is offline
 
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Thumbs up

Yes, mine stay on after they're expired also, until new data is downloaded and becomes effective.

The new database is usually available 8-10 days before the cycle change.
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  #5  
Old 07-06-2011, 11:27 PM
SteinAir SteinAir is offline
 
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Location: Minneapolis
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Default

I think (but not absolutely 100% sure) that you get that message if you leave the wifi & cellular data enabled when you go fly without putting your Ipad/Iphone into airplane mode.....at least thats how mine works.

As others have said, the expired charts (if downloaded) don't dissapear and are availabe oir use. I know that because I was lloking at charts in the air on Saturday that have been expired for weeks.

Thats my take, but ther are many people here much smarter than me who'll know the details.

Cheers,
Stein
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  #6  
Old 07-07-2011, 05:27 AM
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Brantel Brantel is offline
 
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Default

What the others said...

They do not automatically delete themselves.
The software will prompt you when new ones are ready for download.
The new ones are ready at least a week before the old ones expire.
Stein may be correct, will have to test.
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  #7  
Old 07-07-2011, 06:52 AM
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Webb Webb is offline
 
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I may be wrong but I think the key words in the whole posting was "no internet connection".

Try turning the cellular data switch off (in settings).

For some reason in the back of my mind, something in mine didn't work properly until that was switched off.

Also, if memory serves correctly, the GPS doesn't work in airplane mode and wifi setting didn't affect it.
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Last edited by Webb : 07-07-2011 at 06:55 AM. Reason: additional info
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  #8  
Old 07-07-2011, 06:54 AM
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RV8iator RV8iator is offline
 
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Default Any other idea

why they would not display?

I had 3 other trip "Binders" under the plates button and those were all grayed out also.

I also searched airports and reselected the plates and got the message "Data not available". I had downloaded all the states that I thought I would fly over and could not pull up any plates. The charts were still there but had a different void date.

Is there something in the settings of Foreflight that I need to change?

Thanks for all the info on this.
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Jerry "Widget" Morris
RV 8, N8JL, 3,000+ hours on my 8.

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Saint Simons Island, GA. KSSI
PIF 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011,2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020

I just wish I could afford to live the way I do
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  #9  
Old 07-07-2011, 07:39 AM
David Paule David Paule is offline
 
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Location: Boulder, CO
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Airplane mode isn't for our flying - it's for when you're a passenger in a commercial aircraft and they say that if you've got gear that has an "airplane" mode, you can use it if that's invoked.
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  #10  
Old 07-07-2011, 07:43 AM
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w1curtis w1curtis is offline
 
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Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by SteinAir View Post
I think (but not absolutely 100% sure) that you get that message if you leave the wifi & cellular data enabled when you go fly without putting your Ipad/Iphone into airplane mode.....at least thats how mine works.
......
Cheers,
Stein
If you have a 3G iPad and utilize the internal GPS, you do NOT want to put it in airplane mode. Airplane mode also disables the GPS, you should instead manually disable WiFi and cellular data.

The WiFi only iPad does not have a built in GPS so with that model you can use Airplane mode.
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