Approach charts on Windows phone?

[neilpilot]

Can someone recommend a app for my Windows phone that would provide a backup source for IAPs?  Of course, free is always better.  I fly behind a GNS430W and realize that ATC can read me the chart in an pinch, but would prefer a backup to my iPad.

 

I've been flying with an iPad (first Foreflight, now FlyQ) for 3 years, and my backup printed approach plates are getting old.  They have never been needed.  I'd like to ditch the paper, and don't want to print backup plates before each trip.  I'm not concerned about en-route charts and other efb functions.

 

[Danb]

Neil you are serious?

[triple8s]

I use FlyQ on a minipad it has IAP "plates" and even shows the position on the plate which makes it too easy.........however........I like life, I have kids, and grandkids and I'd kinda like to put off the inevitable end of life for the time being so I would suggest to you to carry "current" paper plates and low enroute charts for where you are going to be flying. KNOW the approach, if I have to hold the chart and read what to do then I consider myself to NOT be proficient. In the event you dont care to hang around here as long as possible please do all us GA pilots the favor of choosing another way. Dont add fuel to the fire for those who would like to take away our freedom to fly. One through 4 is not an option.

 

1. Paper Low enroute charts
2. Paper IAP plates
3. Up to date 430 database (if equipped with a 430)
4. Current tested Nav radios
5. Ipad or other non certified nav aid (optional situational awareness tool)
6. Smart phone with aviation app (optional situational awareness tool)

 

KNOW the approach, any pilot that has to hold the chart and read what to do next is NOT proficient. I suggest anyone who flies hard IFR to strange airports oughta invest in a flight sim even if only a home PC and Microsoft flight X. Fly the approach.Know the approach.

[flyboy0681]

I use FlyQ on a minipad it has IAP "plates" and even shows the position on the plate which makes it too easy.........however........I like life, I have kids, and grandkids and I'd kinda like to put off the inevitable end of life for the time being so I would suggest to you to carry "current" paper plates and low enroute charts for where you are going to be flying. KNOW the approach, if I have to hold the chart and read what to do then I consider myself to NOT be proficient. In the event you dont care to hang around here as long as possible please do all us GA pilots the favor of choosing another way. Dont add fuel to the fire for those who would like to take away our freedom to fly. One through 4 is not an option.

 

1. Paper Low enroute charts
2. Paper IAP plates
3. Up to date 430 database (if equipped with a 430)
4. Current tested Nav radios
5. Ipad or other non certified nav aid (optional situational awareness tool)
6. Smart phone with aviation app (optional situational awareness tool)

 

KNOW the approach, any pilot that has to hold the chart and read what to do next is NOT proficient. I suggest anyone who flies hard IFR to strange airports oughta invest in a flight sim even if only a home PC and Microsoft flight X. Fly the approach.Know the approach.

 

I concur.

[Bob - S50]

His original question was looking for an app for his Windows phone.  I don't know of one.

 

Delta is having one developed by Jeppeson for the Surface though.

 

I don't carry paper either.  I carry two pieces of hardware (tablet and phone) and keep two programs on each (Garmin Pilot and Naviator).  That way if I have a hardware failure, I can use the other.  If I have a software failure (program crashes) I have a backup program.

 

Chances of both programs crashing on both pieces of hardware is close to zero.

 

I don't memorize the approach.  I do study it before I leave and again before I start the approach, but I don't 'know' the approach.  I'm looking for things out of the ordinary like steeper than normal descents I'll have to make for example.  If I have to divert (unlikely due to my personal minimums) I'm not planning on memorizing an approach to every potential divert base.  I do, however, have an idea of what types of approaches are available to likely divert fields.

 

In pilot training, a friend of mine and I would go to the link trainer in our spare time.  The one in the right seat would find the most difficult/unusual/demanding approach he could.  He would then postion the link 10 miles (2 - 3 minutes) from the IAF, hand the approach to the guy in the left seat then turn the link loose.  Two minutes to look over the approach (no autopilot installed) and then fly it.  Good training for unexpected changes (turn the airport around, close the runway due to disabled aircraft, winds out of limits, ceiling below minimums, etc).

 

In the real world I've diverted from DTW to MBS, from MSP to RST, and MSP to DLH.

 

Just my opinion of course.

 

Bob

[midlifeflyer]

Like Bob, I don't carry paper except for my "emergency" sticky note pad.  No crashes in the three years I've been using an iPad in flight. The difference with Bob is that my electronic backup is not only a different app but a different device using a different operating system.  

 

And like triple8s, I have no plans of dying in the near future either 

[Danb]

I guess we are all different,  I have electronic charts installed in the plane, carry 2 iPads ( and have had a failure on the approach) plus carry copies of the charts I may need in an event all fails,thats paper back-ups....never used them and hopefully won't have to, paper is cheap. The one use for the paper is to take notes on, review the charts during boring times in the flight, and to quickly gather my 8. blocks of info.Easily and quickly if you promote yourself to be systematic.

 

1..Localizer Freq

2..Final approach hdg

3..Airport elevation

4..Tower Freq

5..Dec height

6..Time to fly

7..Glide Slope intercept Altitude

8..Missed approach Procedure

 

 

SET IT UP >>BACK IT UP>>CROSS CHECK IT>>PUT IT AWAY

 

 

these simple but necessary if done during and early enough makes our chance for a successful outcome increase dramatically

 

Maybe Im stupid.. to cautious..but there are enough statistics out there to attempt us to mitigate ourselves

 

Just my thoughts 

[Marauder]

Try fltpln Mobile app. It is the third backup I carry behind the two iPads.

[marky_24]

Can't you just download the charts in .pdf files and use any .pdf reader on your phone?

https://www.fltplan.com/AwMainToApproachPlates.exe?CRN10=1&CARRYUNAME=PILOT&MODE=SEARCH&end=end

[neilpilot]

Neil you are serious?

Yes, I am serious.  

 

All I was asking was for a recommendation on the best way to use a Windows phone for backup IAPs.  Thanks Marauder and Marky for your suggestions.  

 

When I read some of the other responses, I come away with the impression that you feel that if you don't have 3-4 sets of backup IAPs you are doomed.   In a pinch, it's really not difficult to load the approach into the GNS430 & ask ATC to read back pertinent items from an IAP.  That's not something I want to do routinely, which is why I want a backup.  

[flyboy0681]

 ask ATC to read back pertinent items from an IAP.  That's not something I want to do routinely, which is why I want a backup.  

 

I'm wondering if that would result in "Mooney  687 Kaybeck, say when ready to copy down phone number".

[Hank]

Not if it happened after a (reported) equipment failure. Make a habit of it, someone will notice.

[neilpilot]

I'm wondering if that would result in "Mooney  687 Kaybeck, say when ready to copy down phone number".

I'm not really concerned about being asked to call.  If my iPad and phone IAPs crap out, and the weather prevents a visual, then a call after a safe arrival is a non-event. 

 

BTW I experienced a total electrical failure years ago in IMC.  I was left with my handheld Com and a non-aviation GPS.  I was already on a STAR into KDAL, and they provided vectors to final.  No phone call, no reports required, but that wouldn't have been a problem then either.

[Danb]

Neil, I was not trying to be an AH, but...why would one not attempt to be prepared as possible when venturing out obviously in IFR

conditions or there would be no need for the question...and in this electronic age paper is still useful..like I stated I have never had a need to have to go to them but for purposes of notes on charts doing the proper reviews..( Phones are quite small when trying to depict all the notations thin line feeder routes on and on..It wasn't a personal attack but just an observation. And no I don't feel doomed with extra backups...just more comfortable..such as my handheld,flashlights,some have Persosal beacons I'm sure they hope to never use....

[neilpilot]

Neil, I was not trying to be an AH, but...why would one not attempt to be prepared as possible when venturing out obviously in IFR

conditions or there would be no need for the question...and in this electronic age paper is still useful..like I stated I have never had a need to have to go to them but for purposes of notes on charts doing the proper reviews..( Phones are quite small when trying to depict all the notations thin line feeder routes on and on..It wasn't a personal attack but just an observation. And no I don't feel doomed with extra backups...just more comfortable..such as my handheld,flashlights,some have Persosal beacons I'm sure they hope to never use....

I understand, but I was only asking about info on a Windows app...............BTW, do you also fly with a backup transponder?

[Danb]

Yes

[Marauder]

I understand, but I was only asking about info on a Windows app...............BTW, do you also fly with a backup transponder?

I have one too. I open up the little side window and start yelling "I'm here, I'm here!"

[neilpilot]

I have one too. I open up the little side window and start yelling "I'm here, I'm here!"

It's not prudent to rely on a single window; suggest you consider a backup window on the passenger side.  

[midlifeflyer]

Neil, I was not trying to be an AH, but...why would one not attempt to be prepared as possible when venturing out obviously in IFR

I wouldn't want to be "as prepared as possible." Reasonably prepared for the level of risk I perceived, definitely. But one can go overboard as well. 

Wish I knew where it was or saved it but I recall someone taking a photo of his cockpit with mounted iPad, iPhone, 396 or 496, and a 430/530 suite. I wondered how he could find the time to scan the actual cockpit  instruments And even that wouldn't be "as prepared as possible" to others.

 

The definition of what is "overboard" as well as what is reasonable preparation will vary from person to person and the perception and acceptance of risk.

 

My personal risk analysis tells me that the likelihood of an electrical failure that ends panel navigation and communications failure without time to get to an acceptable diversionary at the same time as both my iPad primary and Android backup chart apps crap out also is highly unlikely. And if it happened, a bunch of paper charts would not help much. YMMV.

 

In fact I'm sure some would say I have gone a bit overboard in preferring my backup EFB to be running a different operating system or in using one at all given the Garmin avionics in the aircraft I typically fly.

[fantom]

It's not prudent to rely on a single window; suggest you consider a backup window on the passenger side.

Sure, to supplement my four GPS thingies, my iPad, my Mini, my iPhone and my ADS-B stuff floating around the cockpit.

Forget about keeping them all up to date (if I could afford it in the first place), the differing unintuitive switchology, my distracted head down tendencies, the confusion when the data presented disagrees, the panic of which to select when things go bad quickly and the odds of being hit in the head by a loose item in turbulence.

In CAUV I'm cool, my CFI pencil whipping buddy says I'm competent and my ego tells me I'm really good.

Yeah, right.

[wishboneash]

Too many GPS's and handheld devices (iPads/smartphones) can raise the stress levels if you try to keep all up to date, booted up and functioning properly. Back in the old days, I had a Garmin GPSMAP 195 for situational awareness and that was it. Priceless. In 2014, a fully charged Nexus 7 with its built-in GPS is my primary backup. A fully charged Nexus 4 with its own built in GPS, and a few useful apps that have barometric based altitude, an AI/DG using its built in gyroscope (which is pretty accurate) serves as a secondary backup. I can run Avare, Fltplan and Garmin Pilot on the Nexus 7. I also carry paper en-route charts and print out a few approach plates to unfamiliar airports. Good enough I hope!

[Bob - S50]

There's a world of difference depending on whether you are flying VFR or IFR.

 

I spent 20 years on the DC9 with 2 VOR's, 2 DME's, 2 Comm's, and an ADF.  For IFR, I'll take a rock steady GPS and a moving map over a waffling VOR signal any day.  Can;t tell you how many times ATC told us to turn right (or left) 20 degrees and rejoin the airway when we showed ourselves dead center on course.  Told them if what we were doing wasn't good enough we would take vectors through their airspace.

 

VFR, who cares.  Just stay clear of Class B, C, D airspaces and resticted, active MOA's, and prohibited areas and have fun.  A lot easier with a moving map though.

 

Bob

[laytonl]

Try fltpln Mobile app. It is the third backup I carry behind the two iPads.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1415295948.435549.jpg

+1

I use two iPads and fltplan.com on my droid phone. I don't carry any paper, I even use the foreflight scratchpad for writing down clearances, etc.

Lee