SkyDemon Forums / Discussion Forums / Suggestion Box

Helicopter Additions

Rogerm — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:45:01 GMT

Us Heli pilots often don't fly to airfields- just waypoints we create from Post Codes. Can the mobile version be enhanced to allow creation of a user waypoint from Lat Long and then the app enhanced to allow routing or direct to a user waypoint?

Feature Requests - Checklists + Bigger Buttons

neiloakley — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 10:21:06 GMT

Hi Tim

Yesterday i spent a few hours playing with PocketFMS and Skydemon on a 7" tablet PC running Windoes Embedded R3

I like both apps, but the maps on SkyDemon are superior as if you zoom in on PocketFMS to anything less than 6nm, the font and graphics appear blocky (like its an enlarged bitmap instead of vertor based)

However, there are features on PocketFMS i would love to see on SkyDemon (i'm still undecided which one to purchase so if these bits get added the choice will be clear)

1) Bigger buttons - on the 7" screen, the menu is barly 5mm tall and makes it difficult to select accurately using my finger in flight. I'm also prone to loosing the stylus. If all buttons were slightly larger, perhaps transparent and hidable it would be SO much easier to use in turbulent air. Example, when pocket FMS loads up, the buttons to accept or not accept the disclaimer cover one third of the screen. On Sky demon its barely 5mm by 20mm.

2) Checklists - PocketFMS give you rudamentary checklist options. But they have to be customised and integrated by the user. I'd love to see checklists in Skydemon, that can me easily modified (maybe from preset templates by aircraft) and sync's with the tablet PC. The checklist should then be easily accesible from the main menu when in flight (and again transparent so the map is always in site if needed)

What are the chances?

Many Thanks

Neil

Skydemon Icon .ICO

Bathman — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:34:17 GMT

I have my no brand Chinese sat nav set up to run a menu when it boots up and from that I can then press icons to start igo etc. I have also configured it to start skydemon in this way. Unfortunately I can't find a nice Skydemon icon that I can use is there one about?

More rotation options?

stevelup — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:49:31 GMT

Hi

I don't know if this is technically possible, but is there a way of having the 'rotate' function rotate to all four orientations? On my unit, the cables exit from the top of the unit and the display contrast is poorer than it would be if I could use it the other way up.

Cheers,

Steve

InFlight renameable .exe file

JonathanB — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 23:18:43 GMT

I've been playing around with getting the demo working on a WinCE GPS device (actually the Airspace Aware device), and one limitation is the fact that the launch .exe file has to have a particular name. It works fine when I rename SkyDemon.exe but then the sync function from the laptop won't find the software properly. I've ended up having to have two copies of the .exe file with different names to get around this.

Would there be any way to uncouple the name of the .exe file from the sync function? Would probably help the app to work on lots more WinCE devices that have similar filename requirements.

SkyDemon Inflight needs to be able to run on a Laptop

JamesD — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:12:50 GMT

I fly with a chart, Garmin GPSmap 196 and now my laptop with a sub £30 USB GPS unit plugged into it.

I had decided to spend £1000+ on a larger colour gamin unit. That was before I bought the GPS dongle for my laptop. Using Navbox to create a route, Memory Maps with the route from Navbox and the netbook I already had, I found that the PC could do just what I wanted the colour Gamin to do. Plot my position on the latest charts that were digitally stored in Memory Map when flying. I saved over £1000 and had brilliant results.

Now SkyDemon is here and it's much much better than Navbox and better value. Problem is InFlight doesn't work on a PC (though I bought that as well). I now use Skydemon to plan my flight - it's fantastic for that. But as I don't want to buy yet another PDA or GPS unit, I still have to resort to exporting the route and then importing to Memory Map. Worse as the export from the SkyDemon Plan doesn't seem to be readable from Memory Maps, I first export it to my Garmin unit, then import it from the Garmin to Memory Maps and off I go.

Now that tablets are on their way, with built in GPS, phone, a size manageble in a plane but bigger than a PDA, light and with good batteries surely it makes sense to put InFlight on a PC platform or as a poor substitute have SkyDemon Plan track using the GPS! Surely if you've got the software working on a cut down version of Windows it's not too much a step to run it on Windows XP, Vista or 7. It's a sensible move the only people who won't be happy would be Garmin!

Note I still fly with the Garmin as it gives me a few saftey feature (though I believe InFlight could replace those too).

Support for Android and IOS ?

godfrmi — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 14:19:00 GMT

Love the SkyDemon products. Easy and quick to use. Even got inflight running on a generic WINCE 6.0 device with minimum effort. However, it would be great to have support for Android and /or IOS.

Having recently converted to Iphone4 and played with the IPAD - the ease of use and set up is awesome. Although I understand that IOS Apps may not be the easiest to get approved by Apple.

There are also a huge selection of Android phones and small "APAD" tablets that would be ideal for SkyDemon.

Any plans?

aircraft position on screen

Bill Goldsmith — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 07:30:41 GMT

the latest software has the aircraft position at the bottom of the screen which is not good, it should be about a third up so that more map in your vicinity can be seen, like the version before.

Cheers Bill Goldsmith

Aircraft position on screen

AT3 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:26:43 GMT

Is it possible to add an option to display the aircraft in one of three positions, either the bottom of the screen (as it is now), approx 1/3 of the way up the screen and half way up the screen ?

I think this is a usefull feature, I know we don't care too much where we've been but it's really usefull to see more of the area over which you are flying sometimes rather than just in front of you, specially if you are doing short trips with tight turns.

Steve

chart printing

pink leader — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 22:19:34 GMT

It seems one cannot choose a specific printer for charts. I generally print plog on Laserjet (BW) but wd like to print charts in colour (either A4 laser or A3 ijet).

Maybe I have missed it. Alos it wd be good to be able to specify "Print whole route on XXXpages". And if I am asking for bells and whistles put on the Heading (M) and Mins against each leg .. well thats what I end up doing with a pen!!

SkyDemon for Mac

gaxor — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:50:14 GMT

Any Chance?

Gary

Include ATIS radio frequencies in printed Route Plan

derekf — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:21:29 GMT

Hi there,

As per the subject, can we get this included (tested on EGJB DCT EGJJ today)

Regards,

Derek...

skydemon plan plog ideas

screetch82 — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 05:51:04 GMT

HEllo there

(1) would it be possible to have demon plan use a template for the plog. I have created an excel template for A4 and probably will also for A5 where i normally enter my the route information. It would be great if this can be used as a template and just completed as this will have additonal Reminders, Information and also space for notes during flight.

(2) since i just got my ppl would it be possible to print a wind rose on it showing the wind straight from 0 to 360 degrees and also the max drift?

norman

inflight new features

screetch82 — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:09:38 GMT

- i would like to see more view screen. one showing just a compass, hsi etc (similar to oziexplorer)

- i emergency button listing surrounding airfield frequencies, dnd frequency and a position report

"4 miles SE of Aylesbury" - this should be easy to program

- i would also like to see the option of showing checklist which each user can programm for themselves

- more aircraft templates by default

- an arrow showing the wind direction (taken from the weather forecast)

- a home button for a direct leg to your home airfield

- a quick plan button using a bigger onscreen keyboard to type in waypoints easier aka a phone --> this needs to be more

friendly for big fingers

- more disused airfields on the maps as these are a good reference points whilst flying

- roads and motorways should be shown in different colours and line thicknesses

what do you guys think?

METAR Updates

Peter Dobson — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 09:10:33 GMT

Hi Tim,

Can you force a METAR update in SkyDemon? I notice that sometimes SkyDemon reports that METARs can be up to an hour old. How does SkyDemon normally schedule METAR updates?

BR PD.

Unit Preferences by Aircraft, not Global.

bsdchapman — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 23:14:00 GMT

Currently, the units (nm/sm/km, ltr/usg/imp, kg/lbs, and also hold time) are defined in the preferences for the entire program. As the units of mass/volume to be used in planning depend on the aircraft type (or rather, what's used in the pilots/operators manual), and the hold time changes depending on powerplant, could we have these preferences set within the aircraft definition?

Vertical Navigation

drianwilson — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 16:07:19 GMT

Tim,

The product continues to evolve and remains in my opinion first class, well done.

I planned a route from Caernarfon (EGCK) to Bembridge (EGHJ) and back. During this and the return journey it became apparent that it might be useful if some form of vertical planning element.

What I mean is that if during a leg of the journey I am climbing for an extended period (e.g FL95 !) at a lower airspeed (e.g 120kts) than my cruising airspeed (e.g 145kts) then this has a bearing on the time estimate of a leg.

Also if I choose to descend at cruising speed, thereby saving fuel, I don't benefit and "catch up" later on that leg.

May be the easiest way to implement this is to place a section on the airplane settings for speed in the climb, speed in the descent ?

Do you get what I mean???

Instruments

boredpilot — Sat, 08 May 2010 18:21:20 GMT

Hi ive been using this really well now for about 5 weeks, and yesterday my friend came up with a suggestion for the software, could we have a insturments page? like what you get on the 196 etc so you have a big HSI, Alt VSI etc with no map for those hard core chaps that dont need maps lol unlike me.

Weight/Balance for Lat and Long

Teglen — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:41:42 GMT

Hi,

To start with, may I say that you have developed a first class product here, I realise you're in the last stages of the initial release, but this is a truly great tool for VFR fliers everywhere. It already has lots to offer versus the competition, but with time it will blow them away. Just need to get some approved/easy to implement hardware recommendations and install guides (e.g. I'm a helicopter pilot, so I'm looking for something that is thin/light enough to mount onto a knee board, yet is big enough say 5-7 inches to be quickly/easily visible).

Feature requests:

1. Flying the Robinson R44 helicopter and planning weight and balance I noticed that you only have weights/arms that act on the Long axis... I don't know about fixed wing, but in helicopters it is also important to calculate the Lat weights/arms also! Is it possible for the Aircraft Manager and the Weight and Balance windows to accommodate this?

2. When entering weights into the Weight and Balance window, it would be good if the Fuel value would be automatically entered based on the selection from the Fuel window... otherwise one has to manually convert the weight of the fuel (that has been calculated automatically in the Fuel window) and then enter it manually. Just a simple time saving feature, but very useful. In the Aircraft Manager one could select the Loading Point (or points, see #3) that correlates to the Fuel calculation window?

3. This may make #2 more complicated, many aircraft have multiple fuel tanks, with different lever arms (and of course different weights depending on how they are filled). It would be really good to have SkyDemon have configurable fuel tanks (including min/max values).

Again, excellent product!

InPlan features

denopa — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 19:02:34 GMT

Great, great planner. hings that would be useful (to me at least)

- auto FPL submission, or at least generation

- auto GAR form

- download and store airport plates

- autofill winds from NWX (navlost.eu)

- get cloud tops forecasts from NWX

- allow more precise aircraft perf data (climb, descent) to fine tune fuel consumption and ETAs

InFlight Suggestions

drianwilson — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:43:03 GMT

Couple of observations so far --->

1) Suggest the airplane is coloured black or flashing black/white etc. to try to make it more visually striking

2) How about a direct to button on the main display perhaps?

3) In landscape mode that keyboard is way too small (at least on my 7" GPS unit I'm running this on) how about a setting to allow users to choose the size & position of keyboard on screen perhaps for data entry? Pushing the concept further how about when its time for date entry the whole screen is filled with a keyboard and the data entry/choice box that comes up, once you select your town/waypoint the keyboard and data entry form are gone and you are back to the map or route editor?

Does this help?

Ian

Suggested Enchancements

Capt Nik — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:31:18 GMT

Tim,

A joy of a tool, no real but just suggestions. If these have been made by others so be it!

1/Course line on chart., too pink not far off that of Notams etc. User selectable format or best contrast in black

2/ On PLOG/Flight Plan print remove "Radio Navigation Aids" hader box if these not selected by user. Precious space wasted on A5 PLOG sheet.

3/ On PLOG/Flight Plan "Show Notes" pre-choice allow user specify of notes size so as to print only one sheet as so many PLOG's are / can be. Linked to below 4/

4/ Allow User to select basic Airfield layout chartlet (logically the one that is available on the main map hover) and add it into the Notes section of the PLOG/FP. I have always drawn this basic layout on my FP's. Less need to have the Pooleys / whatever exept for more detailed reference.

5/On User Waypoints allow user addition of radio frequency.

Thanks for the opportunity.

Nik

Enroute features display

Topcat — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:28:11 GMT

Hi Tim,

Have to say I think Skydemon is the 'best in class', my only slight critisism/suggestion is, is it possible to have the enroute features 'running' both left to right and right to left as in east to west and west to east to match the direction of travel on the chart,(?)

Cheers,

Topcat.

Wind

Sussex Flyer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:31:56 GMT

Having only one value for the wind calculation is not practical since cross country flight can cross a variety of regions, see Metform 214.

Could the wind be entered from a right click on a route leg?

Ideas

nickt — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:22:01 GMT

Great program

IDEAS

PLOG IMPROVEMENTS

Add form 214 and 215 to Plog

Add route Notam and airfield Notam details to Plog

ENROUTE FEATURES

Allow the print out of Elevation PLOG using enroute features.(switch off blue sky for print)

Add in frequencys for LARS ATZ listening squarks etc

Ability to add notes before printing

GPS

Add gps link so the program can be used live with a PC operating system in the air.(Tablet etc)

MAPS

Some items are not geographcally correct (HULL GRIMSBY CLEETHORPES area)

Can it be made to swap between CAA charts?

Allow taging of a point with a photo (print out in plog option if used)

WEATHER

Overlay of Weather on MAP

Wind Vector

Regards Nick

Level

Sussex Flyer — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:36:54 GMT

Similar comment to "Wind", the opportunity to enter different flight levels/altitudes en-route via a right click would be really useful because level changes are necessary.

Airspace display

Microfright — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:04:28 GMT

Great software,

On the in flight application map would it be possible have a setting to only display airspace relative to your height (plus/minus a configurable height)?

Also buttons for the positions report and follow position to be more easily accessible.

Floating Arrow in Direction of Flight

NorthPole — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:27:02 GMT

Tim

Flew Sherburn to Caernarfon and back on Saturday using SkyInFlight on the Ipaq 314.

Greatly impressed with the instant view of Liverpool and Manchester Zone levels.

In the sunny conditions I still would like you to consider the floating arrow in direction of flight. (like in Memory-Map). In the sunny conditions over Wales, in my inverted 'gold-fish bowl' of a canopy of the Slingsby, it was difficult to see direction instrument and plane icon.

Otherwise I think it is fantastic.

Fuel Figures by Mass

bsdchapman — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 11:15:28 GMT

I know this was debated on the Flyer Forum, but I'd like to bring it up here too.

The M&B section includes the option to describe mass in terms of kg or lbs, but fuel figures are only available in litres and gallons. Could fuel flow options also include lbs and kgs please?

Some comments & suggestions

AT3 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:19:42 GMT

Guys, after running the latest version from Thursday last week I have a couple of comments....

1. it would be nice if the airspeed was linked to the aircraft selection rather than defaulting to 100kts each time I start the software.

2. maybe the height could also be retained or set in the preferances.

And that's it, very small picky points, everything else is great.

Steve

Zoom in and out buttons

AT3 — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:22:49 GMT

Guys, the new zoom buttons on the map are great, specially as I am using a small screen device, one suggestion for you though....

As the buttons are small it's quite hard to press them in flight, could you make the buttons semi-transparent and bigger ?

i.e. make the buttons take up a large part of the bottom of the screen, but be 95% transparent with only a small '+' or '-' shown on them, this would make them almost invisible to the eye but allow very easy zooming with fingers in flight.

Steve

Position Report

Phild — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 16:45:46 GMT

I like the new position report feature in InFlight but it is a pain to have to fiddle with the menu to get it to display. Usually when I want to know my position in that sort of format I have my hands full and dont want to be messing about with the GPS -I'd just like to be able to glance over and see immediately where I am.

Is it possible to have the position report constantly displayed, similar to the next waypoint display? It wouldn't need to be constantly updated - maybe every 30 seconds or so?

Posting Guidelines

Tim Dawson — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:58:12 GMT

Welcome to the Suggestion Box forum!

This forum is for suggestions for new features, new data, or other improvements that we can make to the SkyAngel products in future versions.

If you'd like to propose a new feature, please create a thread for it with a summary of what the feature will do as the thread title. We will use the number of positive replies to a suggestion to gauge the relative importance of all suggestions. That isn't to say we will automatically implement a feature with lots of replies, though; some features are simply harder to do than others.

We will be posting feature suggestions here ourselves also, to gauge how much people want them.

Please do not post here about supporting data for a new country within SkyAngel; the place for that is the Air Data forum.