I wonder if he could tell us how much the cost difference is? If we could somehow come up with the extra funds, a number of people here are software engineers that could help out...
"I've had many people suggest alternatives, but unfortunately there is no way to keep it going (for reasons I can't disclose)".
...thank a lawyer.Doesn't sound like that's possible:
"I've had many people suggest alternatives, but unfortunately there is no way to keep it going (for reasons I can't disclose)".
Not quite sure why you are linking ASA to FlightPrep. They are not the same company nor run by the same people. FlightPrep and its owners are no one I would ever care to talk to, let alone do business with for sure!! Not sure why you are talking about ASA.What a bummer. Runwayfinder was an easy to use, practical flight planning tool. I'm hoping Dave's expertise will find it's way into some of the other products we use (or will use...hint, hint, ). I use Skyvector but it's just not as good. This is what happens when a lawyer becomes an owner of a software company. The competition gets forced out of business, and we are all the worse for it. As far as I'm concerned, ASA is down there with JPI for similar reasons.
P.S. I'm needing a new logbook, and I'm shopping around because I don't want one that has "ASA" on it. Just having it in my flight bag would make me airsick before I leave the hangar.
Not sure why you are talking about ASA.
I am aware of the previous threads concerning FlightPrep. I contributed some to them myself. [edited: personal attacks deleted] I just find it difficult to punish a company (ASA) that only has a passing connection due to some "consulting" type of arrangement [yep, did it again...] You might as well boycott Ford Motor Company because they were a parent company to the company that manufactured the car that a certain Kennedy was driving when a certain tragic event occurred many years ago. That does not make sense at all to me.Sounds like he had a hobby that we all liked... Then he dealt with legal issues, now the impending AeroNav fees, and the last bit does seem like he can't transfer/sell ownership. So...time for him to move on.
I really love runwayfinder, but I can't fault Dave for finally walking away from what has likely become a time/stress/money hole.
"FlightPrep co-founder Roger Stenbock authors aviation training videos that are sold by ASA." per FlightPrep. And I think there was some other connection, but I don't remember.
There is a like a 100 page thread on it here where it's all hashed WWAAAYYY out though.
Nope. That is not what the FAA is proposing. The FAA is proposing the purchaser (aka the software companies/websites) pay to download the data from the FAA, and then pay an additional license fee for EACH USER who then uses that data.If the FAA is basically charging by download, allowing the purchaser to distribute/resell the data with no additional payments to FAA
I think the focal point here is really AeroNav - not so much FightPrep. The AeroNav fee changes seem to be more of the common denominator than the patent wars (which are probably being waged more quietly).
Specific to the AeroNav fees -
Runway Finder is going away.
Nacomatic is gone.
Chartbundle is going. (http://sdwflying.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2011-12-27T14:25:00-08:00&max-results=7)
For now, PDFPlates.Com, FltPlan.Com and NavMonster.Com are still chugging along. It's still unclear how the fee changes are going to affect them.
On the electronic front, I'm really hoping Naviator hangs in there.
Dan
As for PDFPlates, we're still waiting to see what the Aeronav fee structure will be before we make any decisions on the future of the website.
I'm having trouble following the money trail. Is this an FAA thing to offset the user fees they've failed to get or is it a funding issue for NOAA, where the data actually comes from?
Trying to get this tread back to the positive.
Runway finder has been a favorite of mine for many years. That was even before i knew it was a product of a fellow RVator. I wish Dave success or fun in his next hobby and hope it causes less headaches in the end.