Flight plan online?

[helojunkie]

As a totally separate (but hopefully sort of on topic) request - does anyone here that uses fltplan.com have the performance set up for an M20M? I utilized fltplan's built in performance for the Bravo, but I suspect it is wrong based on the fact that it is giving me the exact same performance cruise numbers (time & FF) for a flight at 7,500' and one for 17,500' - I am sure that has to be wrong.

 

Thanks!

[201er]

Quote: Bnicolette

No, I guess you certainly don't have to use an "official" source, but certainly are required to know what the wx is doing?  I think Doc was just trying to say that if you use an official source that it would be able to be proved that you indeed checked the weather.

Sec. 91.103 — Preflight action.

Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight. This information must include—

(a) For a flight under IFR or a flight not in the vicinity of an airport, weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives available if the planned flight cannot be completed, and any known traffic delays of which the pilot in command has been advised by ATC;

[PTK]

Quote: 201er

Exactly. You're not required to get a briefing. VFR in vicinity of an airport you need nothing more than to spit on your finger and hold it up to the wind. For xcountry VFR, you merely have to become familiar with available information including weather reports and forecasts but does not mean you need a briefing. You can call the AWOS at your departure and destination and go by that.

[201er]

Are you required to have a current sectional onboard?

[bnicolette]

Quote: 201er

[Hank]

Quote: allsmiles

Well, they do require it but take a look at another example. That of Take Off minimums where the regs do clearly specify. According to the regs the standard 1 mile visibility for singles and twins does not apply to Part 91!  Aren't Take Off procedures intended for ALL pilots? But I know you are kiddding Mike!

[PTK]

Thanks Hank. I know about Departure procedures and climb gradients. I was referring to take off minima. It's an example where the regs "allow" or don't prohibit,  zero zero for part 91 but not necessarily a smart thing. 

[jlunseth]

Quote: helojunkie

As a totally separate (but hopefully sort of on topic) request - does anyone here that uses fltplan.com have the performance set up for an M20M? I utilized fltplan's built in performance for the Bravo, but I suspect it is wrong based on the fact that it is giving me the exact same performance cruise numbers (time & FF) for a flight at 7,500' and one for 17,500' - I am sure that has to be wrong.

 

Thanks!

[David Mazer]

Quote: helojunkie

As a totally separate (but hopefully sort of on topic) request - does anyone here that uses fltplan.com have the performance set up for an M20M? I utilized fltplan's built in performance for the Bravo, but I suspect it is wrong based on the fact that it is giving me the exact same performance cruise numbers (time & FF) for a flight at 7,500' and one for 17,500' - I am sure that has to be wrong.

 

Thanks!

[danb35]

Quote: 201er

Are you required to have a current sectional onboard?

[danb35]

Quote: allsmiles

I know Fltplan is official! I use it always.

[PTK]

No, there is only one official source. It is NOAA's NWS. It is where all "official" weather comes from and recognized as such by the FAA. It is this data that, under the hood, is disseminated by live WX BRIEF, DUAT, DUATS, Fltplan.com etc. 

[jetdriven]

Does that include ADDS?

 

[PTK]

You know it Byron!

[testwest]

Yep, mrjones30, you can do all of your planning and filing online, free. Helojunkie, I don't have an advanced profile for the M, however....

+1 for www.fltplan.com for planning.  I do have an M20J donor profile for fltplan.com, and am glad to share it.

Go to www.fltplan.com, click on "Edit Aircraft" hyperlink on the lower left. Enter your M20J data, then "Press Here When Done". It will take you back to the home page. Then, click the "A/C Performance" hyperlink. Choose the M20J you just created, then go to "Method 1: Copy performance data from another profile". Our donor username is testwest (of course) and the N-Number is N201JX. Keep the ICAO data and hit the "Copy Profile" button.

Feel free to modify the profile, ours is set up for a Vz 113 kt climb at max power, target EGT and the speed drops off as the 500fpm perf limit is reached, and eventually goes to Vy. Our ~65% cruise fuel burns are not LOP so it should be reasonable for someone using, say, best power from the POH.

I'll use the TAFs and METARs from fltplan.com to determine if I need an alternate for the plan, but sometimes I parallel over to...

+1 for aviationweather.gov for detailed weather.  I especially like the flight path java tool that shows precip, icing, winds and other info. The detailed flight path info may constrain how I plan the flight, so often I parallel the two on two tabs in my browser.

and then +1 for www.duats.com for filing to file and print a weather brief. I like the direct access that duats.com provides. You could use DTC DUAT (www.duat.com ...provided under contract to the FAA by Data Transformation Corp, see here https://www.duat.com/faq01.phtm#dtchistory ) instead of CSC DUATS (www.duats.com ...provided under contract to the FAA by Computer Sciences Corp, see here http://www.csc.com/about_us/flxwd/40542-timeline ) both separate and distinct companies do provide the same service. I happen to use CSC DUATS because I use it at work.

Hope this helps. And for subsequent posters, lets try to keep this thread on track, focus on answering people's honest questions and try not to devolve into regulation sniping. I would invite you to look at posts by KSMooniac and FlyDave (not just in this thread, but in hundreds of others) as pretty good examples of accurate and well-toned posts. Thanks.

[jnisley]

I've used iPad/Foreflight HD for all my trip planning, briefing and filing since 2010, it's a great product, very easy to use.