Blog

In anticipation of the large number of aircraft operating to and from areas hosting major sporting and entertainment events, the FAA has published updated procedures in its April 23, 2020 NOTAM to enhance safety and minimize air traffic delays.

• 2020 NASCAR Coca-Cola 600
• 2020 NASCAR Firekeepers Casino 400
• 2020 U.S. & Canadian Military Demonstrations

THESE PROCEDURES MAY BE REVISED OR UNAVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT.  PILOTS SHOULD CHECK NOTAMS AND TRAFFIC ADVISORIES PRIOR TO DEPARTURE TO ENSURE THE MOST CURRENT INFORMATION. THESE NOTAMS DO NOT SUPERCEDE RESTRICTIONS PERTAINING TO THE USE OF AIRSPACE CONTAINED IN FDC NOTAMS.

Official airport, navigation and chart data for the FAA's 28-day AIRAC cycle beginning 04/23/2020 became current today as of 09:01Z.  This includes updated georeferenced data for airport diagrams and instrument approach procedures available in iFlightPlanner for iPad and iFlightPlanner for iPhone.

Anytime you access iFlightPlanner or iFlightPlanner for AOPA from your desktop, laptop, or smartphone browser you can be confident you're seeing the most current and accurate data available.  To ensure iFlightPlanner for iPad is current, simply tap "Check for Updates" in the upper-left corner of the Downloads tab.  The app will quickly tell you which packages need to be updated!

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.

When AOPA announced that the legacy software powering AOPA’s popular online flight planning tool would be discontinued by the end of April, the associations information technology leaders were already hard at work finding a replacement to meet AOPA members’ needs. That replacement flight planning tool became available on April 22.

iFlightPlanner: Intuitively plan routes over hi-res charts with graphical weather overlays.

As the legacy flight planner sunsets, AOPA leaders expressed deep gratitude to Boeing and its Jeppesen team for their long support of the historic AOPA product and their help in transitioning to a new membership offering.

While working on the transition to a new planner, we listened carefully to feedback about what members value most for flight planning tools in an online or desktop environment. The result is a new partnership with iFlightPlanner that combines a new technology platform with a core set of features that AOPA members have long been asking for. iFlightPlanner, an Ann Arbor, Michigan-based firm, is providing a unique version of its flight planning platform exclusively to AOPA members free of charge.

“AOPA is pleased to offer members access to a very capable web-based flight planner, customized with many features especially for AOPA pilots,” said Jiri Marousek, AOPA senior vice president of marketing. “Beginning April 22, members can use a customized version of iFlightPlanner accessible through any web browser on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. We have been working with iFlightPlanner to offer several new features not previously available, including options free to AOPA pilots that are otherwise only included in paid versions of their products.”

The planner combines the newer technology and graphical capabilities of iFlightPlanner with their version of a select set of features that were most commonly used by AOPA members in the legacy system. One of the most important additions will be a powerful web interface with FAA-produced aeronautical charts and other visual displays related to weather, airspace, and airport services designed to provide pilots the most current information to effectively plan their flights. READ MORE »

In conjunction with AOPA's announcement of the customized version of iFlightPlanner now available to its members free of charge, iFlightPlanner has revised its available membership tiers.

Most notably is the introduction of iFlightPlanner Core, a set of essential flight planning tools with integrated web and iOS capabilities for $49.99/year.  Pilots flying with iFlightPlanner Core have access to interactive route planning with graphical weather overlays, the ability to retrieve certified weather briefs from Leidos Flight Service/1800WXBRIEF, and flight plan filing from any internet-connected device.  With wireless 2-way sync between iFlightPlanner for iPad and iFlightPlanner for iPhone, iFlightPlanner Core members can take their planning on the go with GPS moving map functionality for a true electronic flight bag (EFB) experience.

Enhanced functionality previously available through iFlightPlanner Premium and iFlightPlanner Premium Plus have been combined into a single iFlightPlanner Premium membership for $99.99/year.  Lead by multi-leg flight and fuel planning capabilities, an integrated weight & balance caluculator, pilot logbook, and georeferenced airport diagrams and instrument procedures in iFlightPlanner for iPad and iFlightPlanner for iPhone, iFlightPlanner's top-level membership is now more affordable than ever!

What's happening to my iFlightPlanner membership?

iFlightPlanner Free members now have access to iFlightPlanner Core, free for 60 days!

iFlightPlanner Premium members now have access to features previously reserved for iFlightPlanner Premium Plus members!

iFlightPlanner Premium Plus members now have access to all the features they've come to know and trust for less than $100/year!

iFlightPlanner's freely available charts interface with basic route planning will continue to be available at iFlightPlanner.com/AviationCharts.  Pilots who wish to upgrade their flight planning experience with iFlightPlanner Core or iFlightPlanner Premium may do so HERE, with AOPA members saving 20% on all annual memberships.

Current iFlightPlanner members with questions about their individual membership are encouraged to contact the iFlightPlanner Crew directly by clicking HERE.

iFlightPlanner for iPad users may now download airport and navigation data as well as aeronautical charts, georeferenced airport diagrams and terminal procedures for the FAA Data Cycle that goes into effect on April 23, 2020.  Simply tap the button in the upper-left corner of the Downloads tab to "Check For Updates".

Pilots using iFlightPlanner.com on their desktop, laptop, or smartphone will see the iFlightPlanner Cloud automatically make the transition to the new data at 9:01Z on April 23.

Follow these 4 steps to authorize iFlightPlanner to request regulatory compliant weather briefs and file flight plans on your behalf through Flight Service/1800wxbrief.

1.  Go to https://www.1800wxbrief.com and log in using your Flight Service credentials.
2.  From the Account menu select Service Provider Authorization, shown here:

3.  Click Edit, then enable iFlightPlanner by selecting "Yes" using the available radio button, like this:

4.  Click Save.

Next, ensure the email address you use to access Flight Service/1800wxbrief is the same in the Flight Service Info section within iFlightPlanner.

1.  Navigate to My Settings using the My Account menu in iFlightPlanner or iFlightPlanner for AOPA.
2.  Match the email address you successfully used to log in to Flight Service/1800wxbrief to the address in the Leidos Flight Service Info section.

3.  Click Validate User Name to confirm your iFlightPlanner and Leidos Flight Service accounts are connected.
4.  Click Save Settings in the lower-right corner of your My Settings page to save your settings.

Completing these steps will connect your iFlightPlanner and Flight Service/1800wxbrief accounts, however, please don't hesitate to contact us or the AOPA Pilot Information Center should you have any questions!