SkyDemon Plan Documentation: Ready to Fly
Exporting to Devices
SkyDemon can automatically export your route to a number of different GPS devices that you can then use in flight to take you through the exact route you have planned. To configure your device, Device Connectivity Options from the Setup menu. You can choose between a SkyDemon Mobile device, a Garmin device or a SkyMap device. Depending upon which device you choose, there are some connectivity options that can be specified.
SkyDemon Mobile
To export to a SkyDemon Mobile device, first ensure the device is plugged in and connected via ActiveSync (or Mobile Device Centre in Windows Vista or later). Alternatively, if your device does not support ActiveSync connection, just insert the SD card on which SkyDemon Mobile is installed into your PC. Then in SkyDemon Plan, simply click the Sync button on the toolbar. The following actions are performed during a sync:
- Your route library is copied from your PC to the device
- The latest NOTAM, TAF and METAR are copied from your PC to the device
- Your user waypoint library is copied from your PC to the device
- The latest charts are copied from your PC to the device
- Flight logs are copied from the device to your PC
When the sync is complete (it only takes a few seconds) your device will beep and let you know that new data has been found.
Garmin Devices
We provide support for exporting routes to Garmin handheld aviation GPS devices. First ensure the device is plugged in and has been recognised by Windows. Then in SkyDemon Plan, click the Send to Device button on the toolbar. Your route will be automatically named and exported, and will be available for selection from the route library on the device.
If the export is not successful, your device may be connected on a nonstandard port. You can change the port used by SkyDemon to communicate with your device in Device Connectivity Options window. By default it is set to "Auto" which connects by USB to Garmin devices.
SkyMap Devices
These popular devices such as the IIIc are supported for direct route export within SkyDemon Plan. Ensure your device is connected to the COM port specified in the Device Connectivity Options window, then click the Send to Device button on the toolbar. You will need to specify which slot to export the route into on the device.
Exporting to Other Software
SkyDemon is all about planning your flight, so we want you to be able to take your plan and use it in as many places as possible.
We support saving routes in GPX format, which is an industry standard format for representing routes, and RTE format, which is used by many handheld devices. To save in either of these format, choose Route -> Save As and then pick the format from the dropdown at the bottom of the Save window.
You can also open routes in these formats, though be aware that the formats do not support advanced SkyDemon features such as fuel planning and aircraft modelling, so any such information you may configure might be lost.
Filing a VFR Flightplan
SkyDemon can file a VFR flightplan electronically once you have planned it, with only a couple of clicks of the mouse. This service is charged for separately; you purchase a block of credits and use a credit each time you file a plan. To open the flightplan form, press the Flightplan button on the toolbar.
The flightplan form will appear familiar to anyone who has filed a flightplan before, except that most if not all details will have been automatically filled in by SkyDemon. This will be the case as long as you have planned a route, and your aircraft has been configured with all flightplan-relevant fields filled in.
At the bottom left of the window there is a status indicator that updates as the form is filled in, telling you when the form is complete and valid. Next to this is a label indicating how many flightplan credits you have in your account; if you have no credits, you cannot file a plan. The Submit Plan button is only enabled when the flightplan form is complete and valid, and when pressed your flightplan is immediately sent to all ATC units concerned.
Once a flightplan has been filed it can be subsequently delayed, cancelled or closed by managing it in our customer website, at the flightplan management page. This is a standard web page which can be used on any device with internet-browsing capability, which means you can even access it from your mobile phone if necessary.
Addressing
Click on the Addressing button to show the addressing window, which contains all the addressees automatically decided upon for the route you have entered, and gives you the opportunity to add extra addressees if you require.
Form Fields
Detailed discussion about the format of a VFR flightplan is beyond the scope of this documentation. SkyDemon is designed so that when you open the flightplan window, all fields are automatically filled in for you.
The cruising level for your flight will be set to VFR by default, which means an explicit level is not stated. If you wish SkyDemon to output the specific level(s) you have planned, go to the Planning Options window, accessible under the Setup menu, and change the option there.
GPS Navigation Facilities
SkyDemon Plan includes most of the GPS navigation facilities of its sister product, SkyDemon Mobile, which is designed for use on handheld devices. We include the functionality in SkyDemon Plan so customers with netbooks or tablet PCs can use same tools without needing to purchase an additional device.
To use the GPS navigation functionality your device will need some kind of GPS device, obviously. To set this up, open the GPS Navigation Options window from the Setup menu. You will see two options for configuring the hardware: the port and baud rate. Your device manual or software should tell you the values to use here. Then, on the main menu, click the Start GPS button to switch SkyDemon into navigation mode. You will see the display change and all being well, once a GPS fix has been obtained, you will see the aircraft symbol on the map and your PC has been transformed into a powerful in-flight navigation tool.
The GPS navigation functionality provided by SkyDemon Plan and SkyDemon Mobile is virtually identical, so for a better understanding of how to use the facilities, please refer to the SkyDemon Mobile Documentation.
Simulation
If you don't have any GPS hardware but just want to play with the GPS navigation features, you can turn on the simulator. From the Go Flying menu select Start Simulator, and the software will change to navigation mode just as if it were receiving GPS data. The aircraft can be controlled with the keyboard: left arrow turns left, right arrow turns right, up arrow increases speed, down arrow decreases speed, plus increases altitude, minus decreases altitude. You can also press Q to advance the aircraft by one mile, if you're impatient. All the warnings and navigation aids will be active as if you were in flight, but a flight log will not be produced.
The simulator is a great way to try the SkyDemon navigation facilities before choosing to purchase the SkyDemon Mobile software or a SkyDemon Mobile device.
Flight Log Analysis
Maintaining a collection of logs of all the flights you have undertaken is a great way to remember them. SkyDemon Plan makes it easy to download logs from your GPS device or import them from file into a library, and explore them on the maps.
If you are using SkyDemon Mobile, your flight logs are automatically copied into your library when you sync with the device (see above). If you are using a Garmin or SkyMap device you will need to open the Analysis menu and choose Retrieve Log from Connected Device to see a list of available logs on your device. You can choose to save a copy of the log in your library when you select one.
To open a flight log from your library, open the Analysis menu and choose Open Flight Log from Library. Your entire library is displayed, including the start and destination waypoints, date of the flight and its distance. To open a flight log from a GPX file, open the Analysis menu and choose Import Flight from File. You will be prompted to locate the file.
When a flight log is opened, it is displayed in the main map as a coloured line showing the route flown, and also in its own dedicated window as the bottom of the screen, similar to the Enroute Features window, showing a vertical profile. This provides a definitive record of how the flight interacted with terrain, obstructions, airspace and other features. When you move the mouse cursor around in this window, the status bar shows you the parameters at that point in the flight: altitude, speed and elapsed time (where available).
