No EFS like aivlasoft needed

[metzgergva]

I also use Aivlasoft EFB and very happy with it. I set it up on my laptop talking to my FSX PC via the network. I have all I need for flight planning on the laptop, including the Navigraph charts I use in case I want to look up something. It also connects to AS2012 for giving me the actual weather for the proper runway selection. Great tool for IFR flying!

[kavehmz]

Unless you've used real EFB software as a real pilot for an airline, how can you say that Aivlasoft's EFB is less/more realistic then what's used in current aviation?

 

Pete mentioned by looking at many available videos from airlines. They are a great source. Some tools are far from what real pilots do and some very near. It is kinda like the situation we have with different plane addons.

 

I use FSKneeboard2 on the iPad......it's great IMHO

This one is cool. I wish they release it for android tablets too (I am not very positive as number of android tablet users are lower than ipad).

 

While I can't judge your preferences when it comes to some 'simconstances', I wanted to add that Aivlasoft's EFB is one of the few software packages around which allows for a 30 day full feature test. No regulations and limits of any kind, you even cause web traffic for the dev when using the online feature.

 

I should have test the trial you are right. I thought I will give it s shot and if I did not like it cancel it.

 

The OP probably has an ulterior motive for some reason, why else sign up to AVSIM and make your very first post about not liking a product. CoolP just beat me to it but its so true there is a 30 day fully functioning demo there is no excuse to waste your money.

 

My reason was that after watching http://www.fsbreak.net/ yesterday, I bought this product and when I found the product with highest price in market has such limited functionality (but is eye-candy I must confess) I was wondering how is that real pilot may say even playing with simulator actually will ruin the skills.

 

I think with a good set of tools that should not be the case. At least in many ways. I bought topcat today and I cant say the same thing about topcat. It is actually has some knowledge to absorb for me.

 

All and all, I am trying to create at least my own set of more realistic tools if possible and if someone likes to help and introduce. tools like FSKneeboard that GHarrall mentioned or topcat or navigraph. I am compiling my list.

 

And in many way in different stages tools should be different, Maybe few month ago the EFB I mentioned could be interesting for me too. But know I just have fun by making stuff more near to real ones.

[CoolP]

So you've bought it yesterday after that special episode of fsbreak (I don't know what they've said there, recommendation maybe?), then you ran it and obviously did not 'absorb' the fact that you can test it for free. Now today, you blame it for being eye candy and warn others about it speaking about a limited functionality.

 

I'm still not questioning your preferences, they are as personal as can be. But we may agree that your ways of absorbing the one thing and leaving out other vital ones is at least to be called unique.

 

Did you take a look on what the tool actually does (rendering charts on the fly) and where the data comes from? Just asking because that 'limited functionality' may very much derive from what is accessible for sim pilots (Navigraph data) and what not (Jeppesen data), just to give a few examples.

 

EFB can even add some values due to the ways of calculating the charts, instead of just displaying a pdf or another source on different zoom levels. So our friends with the old planes, not being run in the rw any more, e.g. can fly some radials and distances. Sim realism. I like that. B)

 

You can also grab weather data, even from addons, or receive an overview of the procedures available at your intended arrival airport. It may display your preferred online traffic if you like and you can superimpose your plane's position at times. It also features a flight information panel, allowing to plan ahead on the fuel and the descent for example.

 

For sim pilots flying alone in a two or three man cockpit, this may come in handy. The magic of that soft is the on demand data philosophy with an active link to the sim. My Concorde loves that EFB and while it wasn't cheap, it's way cheaper than running static charts or the latest soft from Jeppesen with current data. We may agree on that.

 

So we shouldn't communicate the case as if you would receive wrong charts or the command to fly upside down or something. The 'eye candy' with the big buttons allows touch screen users to work with it by the way.

 

Besides, I think that a day or just some hours of testing may not establish the full picture of that soft. Hence the 30 day test period mentioned. Maybe you get back to it, after trying some more.

[Pete Dowson]

But take a look at it in videos. It is basically the Jeppesen charts that we have in navigraph presented in the best way for pilots. The information that pilot must absorb is again the same as real charts. The other EFB I was talking about doesn't give us neither the same layout nor information of the same. It just make us lazy to search a plan auto enter it and then follow exact location of flight in the screen with again limited information.

 

Hmm. I enter my plans on the CDU, or load up company plans already saved there. Then run a converter whch provides the same plan to the Aivlasoft EFB, and to Radar Contact (for ATC), The charts I really miss having on the EFB are the SIDs and STARs, which I need to reference when the runways are assigned. Yes, I wish the Aivlasoft EFB would show these -- they have the methods to select them and therefore include them in your plan, but no preview at present so you know the best one to select.

 

The ground charts on the EFB are good enough to take the place of printed ground charts (and have the advantage of matching your installed scenery exactly), and the approach charts are excellent with the simultaneous vertical and map views plus all the usual information you need for a manual precision approach.

 

Before Aivlasoft EFB I used to print the ground charts and the SIDs and STARs and all the approaches. Now I only need the SIDs and STARs (and only for those airports I'm not familiar with in any case) -- and then only so I can make the right choice when there is one to make.

 

If you are complaining that it makes life unrealistically easy by plotting your position on the charts too, I should point out that I am a long-time user of Jeppesen FliteMap which does exactly the same thing, and has been used by professionals for many many years. I have a Europe Corporate edition which has facilities for including airliner performance data (the non-corporate edition only does GA). It also gets real-time weather and uses this in the plans it computes. It is plans from that program which form the basis of my "company plan" library in my FMS, which I can call upon through the CDU. I wrote a program ("FStarRC") to extract plans from FliteStar and FliteMap into PLN and APL format long ago (FS95 days), and that is still in use, updated for the current version 9.5 or later FliteMap.

 

I don't pay a subscription for my Jeppesen data, but purchase a (still expensive) one-off update every 2-4 years, just so it doesn't get ridiculously out of date. I did ask them if I could do the same sort of thing with the iPad edition, but they refused point blank to consider anything but a full regular subscription. And when the data expires on the iPad edition you cannot use it any more, unlike the PC edition.

 

So, in conclusion, the EFB is a way of reducing the amount of paper which has to be used and carried, and the Aivlasoft EFB makes a good start in this regard. I would love to be able to preview the SIDs and STARs on it as well, and maybe that will come one day. but meanwhile it is saving paper.

 

Regards

Pete

[Andydigital]

Pete in EFB you can use the STAR or SID overview button to help you choose the most appropriate procedure for your flight plan.

 

[Glynn]

hello

I have looked at Aivlasoft EFB and tried the demo, very nice but for my needs FScommander over WideFS provides everything I need, along with my collection of charts on the laptop.

Here is FScommander previewing SIDS for RWY 8 at EGKK after D/l the latest Metar

 

 

[kavehmz]

I don't pay a subscription for my Jeppesen data, but purchase a (still expensive) one-off update every 2-4 years, just so it doesn't get ridiculously out of date. I did ask them if I could do the same sort of thing with the iPad edition, but they refused point blank to consider anything but a full regular subscription. And when the data expires on the iPad edition you cannot use it any more, unlike the PC edition.

 

Pete as you said a realistic Jepessen App + Chart is kinda like an expensive dream. For me too. But old charts are available almost in the same format in apps like FSKneeboard (I really wish they had an android version now). Those are the same charts that real pilots use with the same format.

 

Format is important as real pilots talk about our bad habits of wrong muscle habits and our eyes can't see the information in real charts,.... It seems we (simmers) are used to stripped down, wrongly formatted info getting from other apps instead of real sources (charts).

 

I thinks apps like FSKneeboard that give us the charts in original format with make the experience more realistic.

 

Again arguing too much is pointless. You know for sure quality of different apps and addons we have are not the same. It is like arguing about usability of default FSX 737 and an addon like PMDG 737GN. We can argue both do fly somehow. But you know there is a world of difference between these two and later actually is increasing our knowledge about two model of 737! Our argue here is like this.

[Pete Dowson]

Pete in EFB you can use the STAR or SID overview button to help you choose the most appropriate procedure for your flight plan.

 

Wow, i didn't know that! I've been going back to "Route Setup" ... "Modify" to select the SID. STAR and Approach! And i've been using the EFB from the start. Thanks! I should read the manual again, obviously. Only read through it the once when i first got it and evidently didn't take everything in!

 

Thanks again!

 

Pete

[kavehmz]

hello

I have looked at Aivlasoft EFB and tried the demo, very nice but for my needs FScommander over WideFS provides everything I need, along with my collection of charts on the laptop.

Here is FScommander previewing SIDS for RWY 8 at EGKK after D/l the latest Metar

 

 

 

Cool, This one realistic or not looks feature full. I think I can actually learn something from this one! Mad Dog can you export the data from it like charts or generated maps? I couldn't find the feature in their site.

[Pete Dowson]

But old charts are available almost in the same format in apps like FSKneeboard (I really wish they had an android version now). Those are the same charts that real pilots use with the same format.

 

Not for Europe though, and I only fly in Europe. i use Navigraph charts which are not quite as professional as Jeppesen, but not bad.

 

US and Canada flyers are spoilt by the immense number of free on-line charts you can get. It's all quite expensive elsewhere until Navigraph came along.

 

I have no room for a PC or laptop or keyboard or mouse inside my cockpit, unless I chuck my co-pilot out ;-). I have the EFB charts on a 10" Lilliput touch-screen on the left wall of the cockpit , next to where my headset hangs when not in use.

 

Now i know how to preview SIDS and STARS on the Aivlasoft EFB I'm well set! ;-)

 

Pete

[CoolP]

Wow, i didn't know that!

So much for the 'limited functionality'. :lol: Yeah, I know, it wasn't you, Pete.

[kavehmz]

Not for Europe though, and I only fly in Europe. i use Navigraph charts which are not quite as professional as Jeppesen, but not bad.

 

US and Canada flyers are spoilt by the immense number of free on-line charts you can get. It's all quite expensive elsewhere until Navigraph came along.

 

I have no room for a PC or laptop or keyboard or mouse inside my cockpit, unless I chuck my co-pilot out ;-). I have the EFB charts on a 10" Lilliput touch-screen on the left wall of the cockpit , next to where my headset hangs when not in use.

 

Now i know how to preview SIDS and STARS on the Aivlasoft EFB I'm well set! ;-)

 

Pete

 

Yes, I also fly Europe mainly and end up with navigraph charts as the best options. I am try to put them in my tablet thought. You must have a very busy cockpit there ;). Don't tell me you also have a kinda realistic cockpit!! I am still far from that point. :D Too expensive for me!

 

Spoiled Americans have always better resources :D. They are lucky.

[Glynn]

Cool, This one realistic or not looks feature full. I think I can actually learn something from this one! Mad Dog can you export the data from it like charts or generated maps? I couldn't find the feature in their site.

 

Hello

No way to export charts or maps unfortunately.

I use it only for flight planning and moving map over WideFS, as a moving map running on a second PC it is superb

I love the appearance of Aivlasoft EFB and it would be a must buy if I could justify the cost, but FScommander is doing everything that I need really.

FScommander has some nice features though for the price, and for proper charts I have Navigraph nDAC3 running on the laptop as well

[andrewr]

So, in conclusion, the EFB is a way of reducing the amount of paper which has to be used and carried, and the Aivlasoft EFB makes a good start in this regard. I would love to be able to preview the SIDs and STARs on it as well, and maybe that will come one day. but meanwhile it is saving paper.

 

 

I was told of this last week and can't believe I'd also missed this feature...

[Glynn]

Hello

A nice source of UK charts that I also use is the NATS site

http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=6&Itemid=13.html