Looking for good online flight planner

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

I was a big user of the AOPA flight planner 1.5 . But last week, without notice, they ditched it in favor of a new one. Unfortunately, the new one doesn't work. It wiped out everybody's stored routes, pilot profiles, and aircraft profiles, and it doesn't let you do anything on the new site until you update them. The problem is, even if you enter your correct DUATS access code and password, it will report that you didn't, and block you from going any further.

I've been planning a flight from MSP to PHX for the last month and I want to leave on Tuesday and now I need to find a new service.

Please note: I don't have an iPad, so that option is out of the question for now.

I'm looking for a site that allows mousing over a route and dragging it to new points.

I'm aware of the usual great flight planning sites in terms of weather -- Weathermeister etc. -- and those are great. But they're not route-planning products per se.

EAA at one point had one but dropped it, now AOPA is just messed up. They acknowledge it's a mess and vow to fix it, but I'm kind of in a hurry here.

Any suggestions?

[DanH]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

I'm looking for a site that allows mousing over a route and dragging it to new points.

Skyvector.com

[JonJay]

Originally Posted by LettersFromFlyoverCountry

EAA at one point had one but dropped it,

Hmmm, I am surprised to hear that. I have not been in it for a few months but I just loaded it and it worked fine. All my old routes still saved. It is the Aeroplanner product.

[LettersFromFlyoverCountry]

Skyvector is OK for charts. Don't see any place to store performance profiles for the plane.

I may have to hit the Apple store.

[60av8tor]

Can't help with other programs, as I use an iPad, but my account is now working as before. I tried using it about 2 weeks ago and it was a mess - as you mentioned. Another error I found, is that when exporting into .gpx format to load into my EFIS, it exported the file, but when attempting to load into the EFIS, my EFIS found no aviation data.

I just looked at my account and it appears to be working 'semi' normally. Some of my old plans are there (not all if memory serves) and when I exported the .gpx file, the file was 127 bytes vs. 1 byte previously, so I imagine it will load properly into my EFIS.

A few ongoing issues that I see are once a plan is created, I cannot alter the cruise altitude planned or the airplane (the plane is not a big deal now that I own, but was used when renting). Also when submitting the plan you cannot alter the information; only choice is to submit or print. To change these parameters, I would have to create a new plan. Maybe I'm missing someting..?

[Kahuna]

Weathermeister.com has everything I need and in a format, language and interface I enjoy and have come to rely upon. Has your plane profiles, weather, stored routes, maps, fuel costs via airnav feeds, flight plan filing, all kinds of great stuff. AND he is an RV'er. Only time I have to go elsewhere is for international flight planning and filing. I use fltplan.com for that.

[DaleB]

I've been using fltplan.com. It doesn't do the mouse-drag-rubber-band thing -- don't I wish -- but it will store your routes, performance info, etc. It's free.

[Strasnuts]

Fltplan.com is free and is what I use for corporate flying when we don't use a planning service like Arinc. Needless to say I use it for the RV-10 too.
Fltplan has aircraft models stored and you can share your performance numbers with other users. It has an option of saving the flight plans with airport diagrams and notams for the cockpit when phone service or wi-fi is not available on your Ipad. I use my personal computer most of the time to file an IFR or view a VFR plan then I save it and can easily look it up on the ipad when in the cockpit. This is nice when there are a lot of NOTAMS at the intended airports. The more you use fltplan.com the more you see all the services they provide. If you fly out of the country a lot you can pay them to file your eAPIS too. This is great if you fly the same passengers out of the country.

[DanBaier]

Showing off my "geezer" status - I still use the old Cirrus program (DUAT - was GTE or CSC or something). It can be downloaded from http://www.duats.com/classic/cirrus.shtml - scroll down the page. They also still support the airport / navaid database.

It's easy and allows for rubber-banding a route. You can also download the weather briefing (including images) and a flight plan log. It handles filing of flight plans.

Dan

[RV7Guy]

I like Weathermeister and use it. I bought an iPad 3 last year and have ForeFlight. This is a one stop flight planning tool.

When you can, pick one up. The Foreflight subscription is very cost effective.

I do recommend the smaller iPad as it is a little easier to deal with in the cockpit and it's size is still very functional.