SkyDemon Mobile Overview

SkyDemon Mobile brings navigation and charting features normally only found on high-end hardware to any Windows Mobile 5+ or Windows CE 4.2+ device. This includes mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and personal navigation devices (PNDs) such as car satnav units.

Although designed for in-flight use, full route-planning facilities are provided meaning you do not have to import routes from the desktop version of SkyDemon or any other dedicated planning tool. Routes can be planned intuitively on the main map or via a dedicated route editor. An alternate destination can be specified for a route, and of course a "route direct" feature allows you to quickly set a new route direct to a nearby airfield of your choice.

Once a route is loaded, briefing facilities for checking NOTAMs, TAFs and METARs can be used to ensure the flight can be conducted safely. If your device has internet connectivity this briefing can be conducted as you are waiting for takeoff or even while airborne. On a long journey the facility to monitor the developing weather at your destination can be very valuable.

Once airborne, safety features such as airspace warnings, obstruction warnings and terrain warnings help to look after you while the device continuously logs flight parameters for later analysis. The direction indicator shows your track over the ground and helps guide you towards your next waypoint, or the compact course adjustment indicator simply shows any necessary corrections. Flight instruments monitor the distance and time to your next waypoint and the end of your planned route. Your current position relative to the nearest well-known waypoint is obtained at the touch of a button should ATC request it.

As airfields are approached, the extended centreline of the nearest runway is automatically drawn onscreen to help facilitate early lineups. When lined up on the extended centreline a glideslope is plotted in the approaching features view, helping to establish a steady approach to the runway threshold.

Every pilot wants a different combination of features from a GPS device, and SkyDemon Mobile is designed to offer all the features of market-leading GPS units, leaving the choice of hardware up to you. You may decide that screen size, battery life, sunlight readability or processor speed is most important, but whatever your decision you can be assured that the software you are running is the ultimate for VFR navigation.

Next: Navigation Features