ForeFlight rolls out another big app update
The new chart overlay feature allows you to view approach charts right on the moving map.
The 2013 edition of AirVenture Oshkosh may have wrapped up yesterday, but the new iPad product announcements continue to roll in. ForeFlight today released another update to their popular flight planning and navigation app, making it the sixth significant update of the year. ForeFlight Mobile version 5.3 adds some exciting new features, including the ability to display instrument approach charts and airport taxiway diagrams directly on your moving map. It also includes a firmware update for Stratus 2, enhancing its GPS performance. Let’s look at each new feature and how you can take advantage of them.
Approach Charts and Taxi Diagrams on the Moving Map
ForeFlight Mobile Pro level subscribers now have access to a new feature that allows you to overlay geo-referenced approach charts and taxiway diagrams directly on the moving map. This adds a new level of situational awareness for pilots flying IFR, and is additionally useful for all pilots when a taxiway diagram is needed at larger airports. There are five ways to access this feature in ForeFlight:
- When in the Edit view of the top flight planning window on the Maps tab, tap one of the airport identifiers from your flight plan in the route planner. You’ll see a new option in the list called “Show Plate.” Tapping this will display all the procedures for that airport, and selecting one will load it as an overlay on the moving map. If the airport has a taxiway diagram, you’ll see that as an option too when initially tapping the airport ID in the route planner.
- When viewing the same route planner box on the Maps tab, tap the Procedures button at the right side of the screen. Select Show Plate, choose one of the airports in your active flight plan, and then select the plate you want to display on the map from the list.
- Tap an airport directly from the moving map, and select the Info tab at the bottom of the window. Scroll down to the Procedures section, and select Approach. Next to each chart you’ll see a new option at the right with the word Map and an arrow; tapping this will load that chart on the map.
- From the Airports tab select the Procedures list, and then Approach. Next to each approach chart you’ll see the new Map button, which will display that chart on the map.
- When viewing a chart directly in the Plates tab, tap the arrow/box button at the top of the screen. Select the “Send to Map” option to display that particular chart on the map.
This feature works with ForeFlight’s catalog of over 13,000+ geo-referenced charts and 700+ geo-referenced airport diagrams on the moving map. Keep in mind it is not designed to work with procedures like SIDs and STARs since these are not drawn to scale. When viewing a chart on the map, tapping it will load a pop-up window with options to turn the view off, display it full screen or to load a different plate. The opacity of the plate overlay can be adjusted with a slider in the gear icon at the top of the Maps view.
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- Chart with Hazard Advisor
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- Chart with weather and track-up
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- Track-up view on taxiway diagram
There are some great benefits to overlaying the chart on the map, including:
- Track-up or north-up approach plates: when plates are on the map, you can fly them in track-up forward, track-up centered, or north-up modes.
- The ability to overlay both internet and airborne ADS-B or XM weather on approaches: overlay flight rules, NEXRAD radar, and see weather conditions at nearby alternates.
- Approach plate hazard awareness for terrain and obstacles: if Hazard Advisor is active, terrain and obstacles are colored, raising situational awareness.
- Traffic on the plates: if you have a Stratus or Stratus 2 portable ADS-B receiver and an ADS-B out equipped aircraft, see traffic targets displayed on the approach.
- Route overlay on top of approach plates: with the approach plate on the map, it is easy to add approach waypoints to your route that line up with the selected approach path.
New Instrument Panel design
The bottom row of flight information shown on the Maps and Plates tabs has been improved. It now uses a transparent design to allow a partial view of the map behind it, and in landscape orientation you’ll see an expanded set of 8 instruments now displayed. A new Instrument button was added to the top menu bar to show or hide the instruments.
Flight Alerts
Pilots who use ForeFlight’s integrated IFR flight plan filing tool will receive a helpful new alert in the latest update. The app is now able to receive updated expected routing information when it becomes available from the FAA’s flight plan system. You will receive a notification directly on all the devices that have ForeFlight installed, and you can send this new route information directly to the moving map. The flight plan form will also be updated, adding the expected route and a link to FlightAware for flight tracking. This feature requires a Pro subscription.
A new Aerial Map view displays satellite imagery in the Maps tab.
Aerial Maps
When connected to the internet you can now enable a new Aerial Map option. This displays detailed satellite imagery on the map, and can be useful when flight planning to get a better feel for the airport layout, and where FBOs and other airport features are located. Due to the large size of the map, the app cannot save the entire aerial map for use in the air. It will however cache the areas that you previously viewed, which will remain accessible later in flight
Direct Connect to Dual GPS
Last month’s ForeFlight update added a direct connect feature to the Bad Elf GPS receiver, which allows the app to bypass the GPS bug inherent in the iPad’s operating system. This new 5.3 update enables the same direct connection with the popular Dual XGPS150. To enable this feature you must first update the firmware on the XGPS150 from Dual’s website.
New Stratus Firmware
Finally, the latest ForeFlight update includes new Firmware (version 1.3) for Stratus 2 owners. This fixes GPS performance issues that some experienced when flying above 35,000 ft. Here’s a quick video explaining how to update the Stratus 2 firmware: How to update Stratus firmware.
Foreflight does it again!!!
These improvements are incredible!
these improvements are now becoming confusing to this “older” operator. I still like FF, though.
I would highly recommend 4flight to anyone,I am on my 2nd year subscript with them,they have always answered all of my questions immediately.i don’t think you could get better service any ware.
Thank you 4flight. Blue sky’s
I’ve had a chance to partake of the customer service at ForeFlight and must say they are incredible. Quick to respond and they go out of their way to solve any and all issues. Bravo ForFlight!!
Foreflight’s responsiveness is great and it’s features make it almost perfect.
However, they need to support more ADS-B receivers.
I use an Avidyne system in my Cirrus but I very much prefer the Foreflight system. The new features are perfect for IFR operations. I am thinking of canceling my Jeppesen and XM subscriptions.
Good job
Where the heck is the instrument button added to the top of the menue bar ? Instrument on all the time prefer to hide after checking.
The button is on the top between the route edit/info button and the favorite button(stars)
Ok, I read the item above about a new direct connection to the Bad Elf which bypasses the GPS bug in the iPad. I use a Bad Elf that plugs into the power port. Does that mean my Bad Elf is being affected by some bug in the iPad?
No, this refers to the wireless Bad Elf Pro. Your plug-in Bad Elf will work just fine.
Had an issue with 5.3.2 unable to download low ifr charts. Went through a couple cycles of “help”. No joy. What a surprise to find there is a 5.3.3 available which solves the problem.
36 hours later still no contact via my case number to let me know there is a solution to my problem. Second time I had an issue with no answer from support……
Foreflight is not great at support. That is the downside!!
Foreflight is great at support. They have always answered my question quickly and with clarity.
How do you set-up to automatically display airport’s taxiway diagram upon landing?
Can’t wait to try out the new features in flight.
I apologize! I was referring to Wing X. Geez! I take it back. Foreflight is great at communicating and is the breakaway leader in these apps!!
Love ForeFlight, but like the above older person, all these changes do stress the “mature” mind!
Joe
The “chart with hazard advisor” image above looks like a disaster waiting to happen. What good is the approach chart paper blocking the underlying chart? How much more crap can you get on one display?
I love foreflight, but I have to agree with 2 comments above. It is getting rather complex in the ways to work these newer functions