24 April 2013
Jeppesen took the early headlines on the opening day of AERO with the launch of a trial version of its new mobile app for the iPad, Mobile Flite Deck VFR. In what appears to be a truly intuitive and impressive product, Jeppesen has included features for flexible route planning, en route charting, terminal charting and text information, with the promise of more features to be added – including weather – over the coming months.
Jeppesen explained that the app was developed after extensive consultation with GA pilots, with the emphasis on following the real order in which they do things with regards to both planning a flight and actually flying with an iPad app.
The result certainly looks good during demonstrations, using seamless charting so that when you zoom in there are no pauses and the additional information that comes with it is shown clearly, right down to the airport layout with taxi routes etc, meaning there’s no need for extra charts. Zoom into the airport, tap on the airport icon and you’ll receive information such as opening times, fuel availability, frequencies available…
While the app will be introduced initially in Germany, France, Austria and Switzerland, with the launch due for early May, the UK should follow shortly after, hopefully some time around June. As for the price, a year’s subscription for the German edition will be around €199, with a slightly lower price predicted for the UK charts.
Mobile FliteDeck VFR will be available for a free download and trial phase through the App Store.
<a href=’http://www.jeppesen.com/flitedeck-vfr’ target=’_blank’>www.jeppesen.com/flitedeck-vfr</a>
