Foreflight being acquired by Boeing

[AviatorJ]

This will probably be less detrimental than people think. It would not be in anyone's best interest to start changing Foreflights operations. Boeing will make it it's own business unit and leverage the technologies both with their products and government EFB contracts.

[mturnerb]

Originally Posted by pilotyoung

Here is a repost of some remarks I put on Facebook a few minutes ago.

I am a total outsider but when a big company like Boeing buys a successful, small company like Foreflight, they start changing everything to make it like the big company. They forget that the reason the small company is successful is that it had a company culture that favored innovation, rewarding and recognizing employee contributions, etc. Over the last 20 years I have watched many very good FBO's be bought by the large chains and then service went to pot. It will be interesting to see how this purchase affects Foreflight. I think the result will be good employees leaving to go to another small company that has the culture they like.

Several years ago I was at Oshkosh and went to the Foreflight booth. I talked with Tyson Wheils, the president of Foreflight. At the time I was a corporate pilot and we used Jepp charts and Foreflight, which only had the government charts. I suggested to Tyson that they make available the Jepp charts in their product for subscribers of Jepp charts. He said they had tried to do it, but Jepp wouldn't allow it. I ask him who at Jepp would not allow it and he gave me a name. I went directly to the Jepp booth and ask for that person (I don't remember the name). I told him I thought they should work with Foreflight so that their mutual customers could use the Jepp charts within Foreflight. He said they would not do that as their product was as good than Foreflight. He said they were doing further development on it and it would better. I told him he was shooting at a moving target as Foreflight was continuing to improve their product also. As we all know, a couple of years ago Jepp allowed Foreflight to display their charts.

But my point is that large companies usually think they know best. So when they buy a smaller company, they impose their ways of doing things on the small company and it usually stifles innovation. It will be interesting to watch this the next few years.

One more comment about the press release. I worked for a company that was bought by a larger company in the late 90's. For the six months that preceded the closing of the sale, we were told one story. The day after the closing, the story completely changed. I learned from that that during a purchase, you can't believe one word the buying company says. You have to wait and see after the deal is completed.

Tyson and his team did a wonderful job developing Foreflight. Hopefully they did as good job in negotiating the sale and have restrictions in the agreement to protect the product, employees, and their customers.

Precisely. I am a Boeing fan when it comes to their big iron but they have no idea how to succeed and innovate in the space that Foreflight occupies and moreover, may have no interest in doing so. They may be buying FF for market share, for technology, for human capital or other reasons that have nothing to do with keeping the current customer base happy. I hope I'm wrong!

[tsneidin]

Is the GDL-39 compatible?

Originally Posted by dstclair

OK -- Shameless plug..:

[Bavafa]

I really liked Foreflight but the price was just too high compared to others.

[RV6_flyer]

Originally Posted by rocketbob

...

Avare is free and open-source and will run on a $50 Amazon fire tablet.

...

How does the Amazon Fire Tablet get location?
(Where does the GPS position source come from?)

[rocketbob]

Originally Posted by RV6_flyer

How does the Amazon Fire Tablet get location?
(Where does the GPS position source come from?)

GPS in Stratux.

[dclaffey]

I see a lot of worried people about the foreflight acquisition. I can understand your worries, but in reality nothing else has changed other than ownership. I am an avid FF user and was actually first introduced to it while serving in the military. FF developed a military version just for the Air Force and we used it while flying VFR in the UH-1 helicopters in D.C. I was so impressed that I started using it in my GA flying as well. I have been an avid user since some of the first releases and have seen prices continue to rise over the years. I bring this up because several of the cost increases are due to cost being passed on to users such as chart costs. With Boeing owning the platform there is no need for them to pay for charts so this may help control some costs. Now for the rest...I am an engineering manager at Boeing and believe me this acquisition came as just as much a surprise to me. That being said I ask that you give FF a chance. I have some very sound reasons for this. Boeing is split into 3 divisions, BCA (commercial airplanes), BDS (military), and BGS (Global service). The division that purchased FF is BGS. This is Boeings newest division and was formed to provide services to the entire aviation market (just like FF does). As an engineer for Boeing I can say that there is a large demand worldwide for digital flight bags in all markets. This purchase simply propels Boeing to the front. I see the commercial version getting more robust, but I truly don't think the GA version will get negatively affected. One can hope.

[Kalibr]

Just ask yourself this

?Did the B company buy FF to develop it for the GA market??

You know the answer. Enough said.

[Paul 5r4]

I didn't use FF but my experience in life is big isn't always better. Especially in subjects like this. Look at the big GPS glass cockpit provider... pretty cooperate environment from most posts I read right here on VAF. With most all of their competition you can call and ask to speak to anyone and after a short hold you have them.

I've worked for the same company, and I won't say what type, I should say the same job since 1990. The first half of that time, the company was a locally run company. Always very very employee friendly and even more customer friendly. We were taken over about 15 years into my employment with them by the, (3rd largest I think), corporation in America that runs these types of business. Same as previously mentioned all talk and hype and promises in the beginning and after the first year there were definite changes and non were good for employees or customers. Everything took on a very VERY cooperate mentality and continues to the present day. Makes me sad too. I use to enjoy it but not so much anymore.

I've often wondered/worried that some big kid on the block will try to acquire the big D, my favorite in glass cockpits. Sure hope that never happens.

Regarding Boeing and FF.... as others have posted, we'll just have to wait and see.