Foreflight / iPhone Poll

[cnoe]

This topic came up and it seems like many would like to have AI/SV functionality on their iPhones. 

I will pass the result on to Foreflight if enough people vote.

[carusoam]

I don't use Foreflight...

to get the results of the pole, I need to select something.

Best regards,

-a-

[bradp]

Anthony  not sure why but in the mobile version you can see results without submitting.  There's a button below. 

 

Cnoe- you might do well to post the same poll on POA and BT forums.  

 

-B

[Hank]

I like my Galaxy, and don't' use ForeFlight.

But for those who do, my wife's iPhone 6 [new in April] is for sale. We just switched from AT&T to Verizon.

[midlifeflyer]

I use ForeFlight but not on a phone (Android). But I am not looking for attitude-capable apps for my phone.

My feelings about it, FWIW: I really like the existence of a backup HSI in case of a partial panel emergency. I had it on my Garmin GPSMap years before iPad was invented and practiced with it periodically for the same purpose.

I have SV in Foreflight for two reasons: (1) Foreflight doesn't give me that backup HSI without it.  (2) It looks cool when I show it to others. I can also see it as safety feature for VFR flight in marginal conditions (I won't say "scud-running" ;)) to keep and eye on those towers.

Other than it's use as an emergency backup for an aircraft system failure (and periodic practice for that purpose), I only rarely open it up in flight at all. And I don't feel I need for a backup for the backup.

[Seth]

Stratus has an AHRS app.  I downloaded it and tested it this past Friday.  You do not need a Foreflight subscription.

I am mounting/velcroing/ram mounting my old iPhone 5 as an AHRS unit on the copilot side of the cockpit and have the app on my phone as well.

I am also getting the ram mount for my iPad mini 2 and that will have the synthetic vision / AHRS in Foreflight.

 

I also have a Garmin Aera 560 interconnected to my 430w that has an "HSI" panel in case I need it.

 

 

-Seth

[bradp]

I'll test a setup similar to Seths this upcoming weekend.  When I tried the first time I had FF SV running on an iPad and was trying to use the stratus AHRS at the same time on an iPhone.  I don't think this worked as both apps were seeming to try to communicate with or calibrate the AHRS.  I didn't try very hard to figure out what was going on but am happy to try it out again.  

[carusoam]

Keep an eye on processing speeds.  If multiple displays are connected to the AHRS device, something may be slowed down communicating the attitude data.

I would want to know what I have working and that it isn't a second or two behind. That would be too much delay in bumpy IMC to do any good as a back-up attitude indicator.

Older versions of Garmin portable devices were too slow at 1-2hz to deliver useable attitude information.

Looks like an acceptable limitation of portable devices or a reason that certified devices cost so much for only doing a few less things...

Best regards,

-a-

[Ned Gravel]

Partial panel is easier in IMC with something like the Stratus EFIS on an iPad or my iPhone and I would readily use it if I had it, but not having it is something we have trained for.  Foreflight's most important contributions to me are, in order:

• EFB
• Geo-referenced plates
• Moving map with all the waypoints in North America.
• Route planning (including in-flight)
• Weather for strategic updates (not tactical use - weather planning is done before departure)
• Scratch pad for clearances

BTW:  I do have the Stratus with the connect to both iPhone and iPad and it is really cool.  

[Seth]

11 hours ago, bradp said:

I'll test a setup similar to Seths this upcoming weekend.  When I tried the first time I had FF SV running on an iPad and was trying to use the stratus AHRS at the same time on an iPhone.  I don't think this worked as both apps were seeming to try to communicate with or calibrate the AHRS.  I didn't try very hard to figure out what was going on but am happy to try it out again.  

Let me know what you find out.  I think the Stratus gives out information to multiple devices at once.  Maybe a software update for the Stratus?  I'll have to check this out next time too, prior to mounting.  

[Hector]

Just to point out, the Stratus app for the iPhone is essentially an AI which is great, but not the same functionality as SV. I have a backup electric AI in my plane so hopefully would never need to use the Stratus app for backup although it is very nice to have just in case. I was mainly looking to see if I could display SV on the iPhone so I can keep the iPad in full screen mode for approach plates. Seeing the runway in front of you in SV when you can't see anything outside is kind of cool and somewhat reassuring -

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Seth]

22 hours ago, bradp said:

I'll test a setup similar to Seths this upcoming weekend.  When I tried the first time I had FF SV running on an iPad and was trying to use the stratus AHRS at the same time on an iPhone.  I don't think this worked as both apps were seeming to try to communicate with or calibrate the AHRS.  I didn't try very hard to figure out what was going on but am happy to try it out again.  

Also, I haven't got the setup yet.  Just tested my iPhone6 and it worked.  So now I'm going to setup my iPhone 5 for continuous use in the Mooney.  Also, the benefit is that though it has no plan, if I am in range of a network, it is still an emergency contact device as it'll still dial 911.

 

-Seth

[Seth]

32 minutes ago, Hector said:

Just to point out, the Stratus app for the iPhone is essentially an AI which is great, but not the same functionality as SV. I have a backup electric AI in my plane so hopefully would never need to use the Stratus app for backup although it is very nice to have just in case. I was mainly looking to see if I could display SV on the iPhone so I can keep the iPad in full screen mode for approach plates. Seeing the runway in front of you in SV when you can't see anything outside is kind of cool and somewhat reassuring -

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I would love this on foreflight with SV.  The issue is, foreflight only allows 1 iphone and 1 ipod touch on each account.  Even if the iphone is a deactivated iphone.  I've asked them to allow for a deactivated iphone to be considered the ipod touch, but have recieved no responses.  That way pilots can use their two and three year old phones for their aircraft and actually have an extra lifeline if needed.

 

Please do push for SV on the iphone.  I'm sure it'll be a lot more data to store on the phone.

[bradp]

The reason I like keeping SV on during approach plate briefings is it minimizes risk of spatial disorientation during the time that eyes are away from the primary instruments (at least that's what I tell myself).

 

Seth the database is about ~256mb for SV. Mine kept hanging so I paid attention to how big it was

[cnoe]

FYI, Foreflight was cordial in their prompt reply to our poll results. 9 of 20 respondents said they'd like to have Foreflight SV on their iPhones.

I may post a similar poll on BeechTalk if I can find the time.

 

Thanks for the great feedback! I've added your suggestions to the system we consult when planning new updates to the app.

Let us know if there is anything else we can do for you.

Janessa Mehalko
Pilot Support Team
ForeFlight, LLC

[Seth]

That's the same response I get for suggestions or request but then never get any follow up.  If it's a question that the customer service people can actually answer or troubleshoot, they respond personally.

This is a standard response for "noted, we'll pass it on" and you get no more follow up.

with items they can indeed help me with, they are very quick and courteous via email.

 

-Seth

[gsxrpilot]

I work for a technology vendor and completely understand ForeFlight's situation here. Suggestions will come in from customers and it has to be filtered through a process. First of all, it's likely that the product roadmap for the next 12 to 24 months is already defined. Any new features are first evaluated based on customer requests. Secondly an estimate of work effort required, has to be done. That can take some time and will consume resources its self. After the work effort is defined, then an ROI analysis is done to determine the business benefit. This is of course, weighed against all the other new features that are under consideration. Assuming everything is still Go at this point, it's added to the roadmap. It then goes into development, followed by an internal beta test, and finally a public beta test. Finally the feature is rolled out to the subscriber base.  

Customers are involved only at the very beginning and then again at the end maybe at the public beta test.  So while it looks like these requests are dropping into a black hole, it's not usually the case.

[cnoe]

3 hours ago, Seth said:

That's the same response I get for suggestions or request but then never get any follow up.  If it's a question that the customer service people can actually answer or troubleshoot, they respond personally.

This is a standard response for "noted, we'll pass it on" and you get no more follow up.

with items they can indeed help me with, they are very quick and courteous via email.

 

-Seth

Paul is likely right about the "process" but I might be able to glean some more info along the way. I'm fortunate that my plane shares hangar space with their CEO's Diamond DA40 in Houston on occasion and it's not uncommon to bump into Tyson there. He's very nice and happy to talk about Foreflight though he certainly doesn't give up secrets. Still, when I've asked him about future updates in the past I could get a feel for what might be coming soon. He's not a personal friend whom I would "call", but if I see him around I'll certainly ask him when we're going to see SV on our phones. And hopefully his response will give some indication.