Warning! ATC Privatization Imminent

As AOPA, Flying Magazine, and others have just warned, the outgoing House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R, PA) has inserted a last-minute amendment into the FAA Reauthorization bill now before Congress that would place the U.S. air traffic control system under the jurisdiction of an airline-dominated board of directors within the Department of Transportation rather than the FAA.  In other words, effectively privatize ATC.  And definitely bad for GA!

The bill could be voted on as early as Wednesday.  Please use this link to find your House Representative and urge them to vote against the bill.

For more info: https://www.flyingmag.com/ga-leaders-urgently-warn-atc-privatization-imminent

April 26, 2018 ChartData Released

The next FAA data cycle begins next Thursday, April 26, 2018.  We try to release ChartData the Friday before the new cycle starts.  As that’s today, the new data is now ready for download.  However, be sure not to fly with this data until April 26.

Important notes for FlyQ EFB user:  Please do not download this new data if you plan to fly before next Thursday as the app does not have any concept of “current” versus “next” data cycle.  However, FlyQ EFB downloads TFRs, fuel prices, and weather automatically so rest assured that this data will always be current even without doing a manual update

As a reminder, we just added approach plates, airport diagrams, SIDs, STARs, etc. for Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Belize!  You may remember that we also recently added this same data for the Bahamas.  All of it for no additional cost.

European data will be available shortly.  Australian data is unchanged this cycle.

If you’re using another data provider, check with them about availability.

Also, read this terrific post from Keith R if you use our ChartData Manager application for Windows to update your data.  It explains how to automatically download data and even copy data to a card or USB memory stick without any clicks!  No need to sit there and wait for data to download or copy.

If you haven’t already done so, please be sure to update your ChartData before you fly.

• In FlyQ EFB:  Tap the ChartData Manager icon (the “down arrow” icon), review which states you have selected, then tap Update Now.
• In FlyQ InSight or FlyQ Pocket: Select the Downloads tab on the bottom of the screen and tap Update Now.
• In FlyQ Online:  Nothing to download.  Just go to https://flyq.seattleavionics.com and the new data is automatically used when the new cycle begins on Thursday (but not before).
• For apps and devices that use our Data Manager, run the ChartData Manager (or select Settings from the little icon at the lower right corner of your Windows screen) and tap Update Now.
• In Voyager, select Update Data from the Tools menu then choose the All Monthly ChartData item.

If you need to renew your subscription, click the appropriate link below:

• FlyQ EFB
• Voyager
• Aspen
• Dynon
• GRT
• Bendix-King AV8OR ACE

Note that FlyQ Online (our Web-based flight planner) ChartData is enabled automatically on the day the new cycle begins (next Thursday) so what you see is always the current, legal data.  Unlike data for our apps and devices, we do not release FlyQ Online ChartData ahead of time since there is nothing to download.

Pizza and Karaoke!

When you think of Sun ‘n Fun, you probably think of planes and sun. Yes but there’s more. For dinner tonight, the team and I went to a truly great pizza place called KC’s Artisan pizza. We’ve been there many times in past years. Outstanding pizza!

But never on their new Karaoke night!  Never had so much fun eating pizza in my life.

BendixKing + Seattle Announce New BendixKing xVue Touch System

Lakeland, FL (Sun ‘N Fun): Yesterday, BendixKing, a unit of Honeywell (NYSE: HON), introduced the xVue Touch, an all-new primary flight display for experimental aircraft.

Available now, the new cockpit technology provides builders and pilots with a powerful and intuitive touchscreen flight display built with superior craftsmanship, at a very affordable price.  The new flight display represents a major milestone for BendixKing as its first product specifically launched for experimental category aircraft.  For more info, see the press release or detailed product information.  If you’re at Sun ‘N Fun, see the device live at the BendixKing booth (A34-36) or learn more at the Seattle Avionics booth (C22).

Of course the xVuew Touch is powered by Seattle Avionics ChartData!  Comprehensive US annual subscriptions are just $99/year and European annual subscriptions just $199! Available now.

US Customers

• Annual ChartData subscriptions with VFR and IFR data are available for just $99. Buy Now
• Covers all 50 US states.
• Each ChartData subscription includes:
  • Geo-referenced, seamless Sectionals for all 50 US states.
  • Geo-referenced airport Diagrams: Contains BOTH the full set of airport diagrams that the FAA produces (currently about 700 Class B, C, and D airports) and the approximately 5000 Seattle Avionics-produced airports. Both sets are geo-referenced.
  • Geo-referenced, seamless IFR Low Altitude Enroute charts for 49 US states (Hawaii has no IFR Low charts).
  • Geo-referenced, seamless IFR High Altitude Enroute Charts for all 50 US states.
  • 12,000+ geo-referenced approach plates, SIDs, STARs, and MINs.

European Customers

• Annual ChartData subscriptions with VFR and IFR data are available for just US $199. Buy Now
• Covers 53 European countries (See European coverage area details).
• Each ChartData subscription includes:
  • Geo-referenced airport Diagrams.
  • 18,000+ geo-referenced approach plates, SIDs, STARs, and MINs.

 

Sun ‘n Fun!

Sun ‘n Fun is almost upon us – in fact some of our team is already there (did they leave town early to get away from the Seattle rain?).  Festivities begin this Tuesday in Lakeland, FL.

• See us at Sun ‘n Fun in booth C22.
• Attend one of our four seminars during the show.
• Get show-only special deals on the Merlin ADS-B, new FlyQ EFB version 3.0, and all our products!

Come see us in Booth C-022 (Hangar C) to learn about all our products, take advantage of our great show-only specials, or just meet the team.  We’ll also be giving several seminars during the week that cover topics near and dear to our hearts.  The Friday one, Using Augmented Reality in the Cockpit, was recently presented at another show to a standing room only crowd.  Rooms are expected to be packed for all four seminars so come early!

Seminar Schedule

Date/Time	Topic	Room
Tuesday, April 10 1:00 PM	Combining Online Flight Planning with iPad Apps	CFAA-1
Wednesday, April 11 12:00 PM	Intro to FlyQ EFB	CFAA-4
Thursday, April 12 12:00 PM	Advanced FlyQ EFB	CFAA-4
Friday, April 13 12:00 PM	Using Augmented Reality in the Cockpit	CFAA-1

All the talks are in the CFAA (Central Florida Aerospace Academy) building a little away from the rest of Sun ‘n Fun.  Leave some time to walk there as it’s a bit of a hike.

Combining Online Flight Planning with iPad Apps

FlyQ is a family of products, not a single product. This special presentation shows using the web browser-based FlyQ Online on your PC or Mac to create a plan that avoids bad weather and minimizes fuel cost then use FlyQ EFB 3.0 to execute the flight.  Also discusses using other online planners and shows using FlyQ Online to export flight plans to ForeFlight and Garmin devices.

Tuesday, April 10.  1:00 PM.  CFAA building, Room 1.

Intro to FlyQ EFB

FlyQ EFB is the highest-rated major aviation app because it’s so easy to use.  Our exclusive “Rule of 2” design philosophy means that all major functions are no more than 2 touches away so you fly the plane, not the iPad.  This presentation covers all the major features so you can download a free trial and get flying immediately!  Also covers new features added in FlyQ EFB 3.0 such as new iPhone support, Augmented Reality, and the Flight Data Recorder.

Wednesday, April 11.  12:00 PM.  CFAA building, Room 4.

Advanced FlyQ EFB

FlyQ EFB has emerged as one of the most popular iPad apps around, mostly due to its ease of use.  But it has a lot of power, too.  We’ll peel back the covers on some of its more advanced features and show how it integrates with FlyQ Online (PC and Mac).

Thursday, April 12.  12:00 PM.  CFAA building, Room 4.

Using Augmented Reality in the Cockpit

Put that camera in your iPad and iPhone to good use. With FlyQ EFB’s new Augmented Reality (AR) feature, the app blends live video from your phone or iPad with computer generated airport markers. Now you’ll literally see the airports not just guess where they are. See why Robert Goyer (Plane and Pilot) and Dave Hirschman (AOPA Pilot) are raving about it.

Friday, April 13.  12:00 PM.  CFAA building, Room 1.

Approved iOS 11.3

Seattle Avionics has approved the use of Apple iOS version 11.3 with current version of FlyQ EFB for iPad/iPhone, FlyQ InSight for iPhone/iPad, and SmartPlates & Charts for iPhone/iPad.

How to find the version number for FlyQ EFB

1. Open FlyQ EFB app
2. Go to the Settings screen (gear icon)
3. The version number is at the top right. Example: v3.0.1

How to find the version number for Apple iOS

1. Open the Settings app
2. Go to General
3. Go to About
4. The iOS version number is under ‘Version’. Example: 11.2.1 (15C153)

How to update a Seattle Avionics app

1. Open the App Store app
2. Go to ‘Updates’ screen (bottom right)
3. Look for the app icon and tap on ‘UPDATE’

How to update Apple iOS

1. Open the Settings app
2. Go to General
3. Go to Software Update
4. Tap on ‘Download and Install’

*Please note that beta (aka “test”) versions of Apple iOS are not finished, have not been fully tested, and contains bugs. Seattle Avionics does not support beta versions of Apple iOS for use with any of its apps.