No, sorry, it is definitely not a flight planner. This is the blurb from the EFB site...

 

Routes may be created from several sources. Either creating a completely new route or getting the route description from internet based services like 'VATroute' or 'RouteFinder'. Reading a predefined FSX-route is just another way to get a route description. All routes (independent from which source they came) can be saved as FSX route and therefore they are immediately available at the FSX integrated GARMIN GPS system.

 

If you choose to create a new route you have to choose the waypoints or jet routes yourself. It cannot generate a plan from A to B automatically. You have to use an external source as they state.

 

Neither does it pick the runways. It makes them available for you to choose which one. Neither does it plan fuel. It just reads what's loaded in your aircraft. It does give weather data and shows airport layout.

 

It's probably best if I give a link to the product and let people decide for themselves. http://www.aivlasoft.com/index.html

 

This is all because of a typo. My original post should have said EFASS is buggy. I went on to add that EFB is a good tracking option. All my criticism was toward EFASS. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

 

This is all because of a typo. My original post should have said EFASS is buggy. I went on to add that EFB is a good tracking option. All my criticism was toward EFASS. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

Ah, now that makes sense. Thanks for clarifying the situation.

I went ahead and got EFASS today...while it has issues, it does allow me to track where I am and see where ATC is.  It's cheap and I can use it as a "hop in and go" thing.   Tried to get the EFB demo but their registration server is down so...no joy at the moment.  The Q400 is not a "hop in and go" airplane and I'm tired of using SkyVector to flight plan so I am still looking for a better option.

I'm getting ready to try the Aivla EFB (bought a cheaper EFB, EFBFX and only later found out it was the wrong one), but they do have a 30-day trial, and they do claim to do fairly simple and easy networking between 2 computers. The first one I bought was only $25 - the Aivla EFB is more like $70 (USD).

 

As for the flight planning software, if you only fly GA aircraft, do not waste your money on PFPX - it is only geared for the big stuff. I have both PFPX and Flight Sim Commander, and FSC is perfect for the smaller stuff, from Cessna 172's and up. It will work with the heavys, but it excels with the singles and small twins, like the King Air. If you do get PFPX, also get Top Cat for the performance input (although it does a poor job of covering the newer aircraft).

 

 

As for the flight planning software, if you only fly GA aircraft, do not waste your money on PFPX - it is only geared for the big stuff. I have both PFPX and Flight Sim Commander, and FSC is perfect for the smaller stuff, from Cessna 172's and up. It will work with the heavys, but it excels with the singles and small twins, like the King Air. If you do get PFPX, also get Top Cat for the performance input (although it does a poor job of covering the newer aircraft).

 

Yeah, I got Topcat when I bought the NGX...don't have PFPX.  I got the demo of Aivlasoft EFB working yesterday so I'll be putting it through it's paces.  Does FSC help you pick SIDs and STARs?  That's one thing I need (everybody needs).  Rifling through SID/STAR PDF files takes entirely too long.  I'd imagine that a lot of pilots just ask someone else what they use.  Truly, I often wonder how much SIDs/STARs are used RW, especially for GA.  I was in military ATC 25 years ago and nobody used them except, probably, at large commercial airports.

 

Gregg

FS Commander does all of the SIDs/STARs, and will update with the Navigraph data. However, it won't suggest which ones to use. That's why I like Aivla's EFB, because it will visualize the ones you're thinking about, and give you an idea of which one to use according to your approach into the area.

The more I play with Aivlasoft, the more I am impressed. 

Okay, I've been putting EFASS and Aivlasoft through their paces.  In some ways they're similar.  They both have moving maps, they both let you create or get a flight plan, they both display what controllers are active on VATSIM and IVAO as well as traffic.  But there are a lot of differences between the products as well.  Aivlasoft seems more tightly intertwined with FSX than EFASS. 

• Aivlasoft 'feels' like a well done product.  Their graphics are really nicely done.  The integration of the approaches/SIDs/STARs is really nice.  EFASS doesn't have that, though, you can search for the plates on the web and store them locally.
• EFASS is more flexible with the flight planning.  Both use vroute, etc. to give you access to flightplans others have used.  EFASS, however, lets you create your own by typing it in.  Also, Aivlasoft automatically 'injects' the flightplan into FSX.  This is not always a good thing.  I wish it were an option.  I'd rather select the SID/STAR in FSX myself and there are times I'm using FSX ATC in VFR mode...I don't want FSX ATC ignoring my STAR when I get close to the airport.
• As was mentioned, Aivlasoft helps you figure out what SID/STAR to use.  That's really nice.  Helps a lot with planning.
• Both Aivlasoft and EFASS show active controllers and traffic on their maps.  The difference is, with EFASS, FSX doesn't have to be running to do that.  You can just start it up and get the picture for what's going on.  With Aivlasoft you have to have FSX running.  I, generally, start EFASS first to get the lay of the land.  If I'm flying VFR then I just use it.  If I'm flying IFR I'll switch to Aivlasoft.
• Aivlasoft is heavier on FSX on my system.  My framerates took a serious drop.  On the other hand, seemed like most of the hit was from the client which you can run on a second machine.  So, if you have a second machine, you're in good shape.
• Aivlasoft has checklists integrated and that's really cool and handy.  Love that.  You can even put emergency checklists in.
• Both allow you to update the NavData.  I did and it worked flawlessly for both.
• Aivlasoft's moving map is purely aviation...not much extra.  EFASS moving maps are more VFR related...you can see cities, towns, roads and even use satellite imagery.  So, if you're unfamiliar with an area, you can learn the name of the city you're flying past or what road you're following. 
• Aivlasoft will let you change frequencies for VATSIM/IVAO from their UI.  Just right click on the frequency and *poof* it's set in your aicraft.  This makes it easy to figure out what online controller you need to contact.
• Aivlasoft costs, roughly, double.

Summing it up, Aivlasoft is heavier on the PC, great for IFR.  EFASS is nicer for VFR and great for getting the online environment at the start of your flying day.  Aivlasoft has the bonus of having checklists and frequency changes whereas, EFASS you'd have to have separate checklists and figure out your frequency changes manually.

 

Gregg

You might want to try FSCommander as mentioned above, it does pretty well for both GA and IFR.

 

I thought that Aivlasoft was coming out with a V2 version of the EFB shortly?

Simbrief and VATSpy is all I ever need for IFR flying on VATSIM. If you're flying in the UK the NATS site even has a PDF that contains a list of preferred routes between pretty much every airport in the UK as well as route segments. This doc includes the SID and STAR if appropriate and in the case of route segments the start and end waypoint.

 

I find a lot of the overlap of these various programs to be part of why I never bother with buying any of them. I like my tools surgical in their precise utility. Simbrief for the OFP. Flightware or VRoute or the NATS doc for route planning. VATSpy for the ATC tracking.

 

http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=186&Itemid=258.html

That link plus Simbrief pretty much makes PFPX useless to me in the UK. Flightaware does the same for me in North America most of the time. Most regular services tend to include a STAR in the flight plan so I usually put it in.

 

I think you GA guys get really obsessed with the full colour GPS moving map don't ya.

 

 

I think you GA guys get really obsessed with the full colour GPS moving map don't ya.

 

Interesting you'd say that.  I never used one until I got to Europe and wanted to know more about what I was flying over...hence EFASS is really nice for that.  "Oh, that's Southampton...and there's Salisbury...EGGD is south of Bristol."  So much to learn.  I also wanted to know how accurately I could depend on my scenery.  As I get to know the area more I suspect I'll be relying on it less...maybe.

 

I bookmarked that site...it's a good one.

Gregg,

 

First, thanks for your kind words about AivlaSoft EFB.  It is a tool that's getting long in the tooth, but one that we hope still delivers utility for flight simmers.  It really turned me into an IFR-capable simmer.  ^_^

 

As to some of your points....

 

 

EFASS, however, lets you create your own by typing it in.  

 

Also, Aivlasoft automatically 'injects' the flightplan into FSX.  This is not always a good thing.  I wish it were an option.  I'd rather select the SID/STAR in FSX myself and there are times I'm using FSX ATC in VFR mode...I don't want FSX ATC ignoring my STAR when I get close to the airport.

 

 

You can enter an ATS route string into EFB at the Route Setup | Select dialog.  (As an example, "LFSB HOC UQ331 ODINA LSZA" is something I'll be flying in my afternoon.)

 

About the injections, this is an option that you can control from the DataProvider on your FS PC.  Go to Settings, Simulators and check/uncheck the option "Load / update Garmin GPS system".

 

You can also choose to save MSFS PLN files with or without procedures in the "Save" options dialog, however the GPS module currently always contains any added procedures.  (That will be changed in any future updates, and in EFB 2 .)

 

 

 

Both Aivlasoft and EFASS show active controllers and traffic on their maps.  The difference is, with EFASS, FSX doesn't have to be running to do that.  You can just start it up and get the picture for what's going on.  With Aivlasoft you have to have FSX running.  I, generally, start EFASS first to get the lay of the land.  If I'm flying VFR then I just use it.  If I'm flying IFR I'll switch to Aivlasoft.

 

 

I am not an online flier, so I haven't tested this since it was implemented - however I am of the thought that EFB would give some details while "outside of the simulator."  I will check with Urs to see if I am imagining this or not....  <_<

 

 

 

Aivlasoft is heavier on FSX on my system.  My framerates took a serious drop.  On the other hand, seemed like most of the hit was from the client which you can run on a second machine.  So, if you have a second machine, you're in good shape.

 

 

We have heard this from time to time, but for us (and most EFB users I assume) there is little to no observation of this.

 

EFB's Display Unit does use a lot of RAM however.  (It does not take VAS from the simulator though.)  I wonder if this could be related???

 

 

 

Aivlasoft's moving map is purely aviation...not much extra.  EFASS moving maps are more VFR related...you can see cities, towns, roads and even use satellite imagery.  So, if you're unfamiliar with an area, you can learn the name of the city you're flying past or what road you're following. 

 

 

When we approached Google to incorporate Google Earth / Maps into EFB, they wanted a license fee that... was more than the cost of most new automobiles.  So we declined at the time.

 

Perhaps they are working under different terms today, and also there are other options... Bing, OpenStreetMap, etc.

 

We will revisit this usage with EFB version 2.

 

 

 

I thought that Aivlasoft was coming out with a V2 version of the EFB shortly?

 

 

If by "shortly" you mean "in 2012" well that was the original plan.  :blink:

 

There have been 3-4 versions of "EFB 2" since then, each offering more items, but each in their own way not pleasing Urs & the testers... hence the "re-starts."

 

However Urs has committed to the current build.  Alpha tests should begin before the turn of the season, so I am provisionally hopeful for a release towards the Holiday season.

 

But I've been wrong before....  :unsure:

P*Funk,

 

 >Simbrief and VATSpy is all I ever need for IFR flying on VATSIM. If you're flying in the UK the NATS site even has a PDF that contains a list of preferred routes between

 >pretty much every airport in the UK as well as route segments. This doc includes the SID and STAR if appropriate and in the case of route segments the start and

 >end waypoint.

 

(I couldn't include your quote directly as the forum software gave me a sad error of...

 

merge_too_many_quotes

 

)

 

Anyway....

 

http://www.fly.faa.gov/rmt/nfdc_preferred_routes_database.jsp is a good resource for FAA-controlled routes.  

 

You can run queries using their web form, or download a CSV table of all routes if you ever fly on this side of the Atlantic.

Interesting you'd say that.  I never used one until I got to Europe and wanted to know more about what I was flying over...hence EFASS is really nice for that.  "Oh, that's Southampton...and there's Salisbury...EGGD is south of Bristol."  So much to learn.  I also wanted to know how accurately I could depend on my scenery.  As I get to know the area more I suspect I'll be relying on it less...maybe.

 

I bookmarked that site...it's a good one.

Heh, well that makes sense. My computer is such pants that I only have some nice airport sceneries, but everything in between looks like default so no point in gawking.

 

I'm a procedural guy so I spend more of my time in the abstract world of routing in my head. I might be convinced to err more towards VFR sensibilities though if I could just get a better PC.

 

@Travis

Thats wonderful. Exactly the kind of thing I hoped existed. I do fly NA alot, in fact until this month I hadn't flown England in a long time. 

 

I'll definitely check it out.

 

 

If that's all you want from a moving map application then look at FS Earth. It utilises Google Earth to show the location of your aircraft. Around $17. Check here for a free demo around Anchorage, Alaska. http://www.wideview.it/fsearth/

 

I finally got around to trying this.  It would be cool (might actually be cool) but...

 

• It is tedious to get set up and test.  Changing keys requires a restart
• You only get a 5 minute test around Anchorage and then it shuts off.  Seriously?  How can you ever test to see if it's going to work as needed?  Is the developer afraid everyone will just keep flying around and around Anchorage?
• I couldn't get the zoom to work no matter what I tried in those little 5 minute times.
• Seemed  to take a pretty good hit on the sim even when Google Earth wasn't running on the same machine.  (But I was getting to the end of my rope to test more to verify.)

I gave up.