Blog

by Russ Niles, AVweb

Assuming Presidential approval, The FAA has funding security for nine months after the Senate passed the so-called "Cromnibus" spending bill that approves appropriations for most government departments through September 2015. The vote on the $1.3 trillion spending bill was held late Saturday and rejects an administration user fee proposal and gives the FAA approximately $440 million more than the administration proposed.  The FAA gets $15.72 billion and includes money for NextGen implementation.

The National Air Transportation Association (NATA) stayed up late Saturday night to follow the legislative process and President Tom Hendricks said the relative stability is welcome. "Taking such action funds important priorities such as NextGen and removes the budgetary uncertainty the agency faces when operating under short-term funding bills," said Hendricks.

Dovetail Games gave flight sim fans a lift for the holiday season with the announcement that Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition will launch on December 18 at a spectacular introductory price.

Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Steam Edition delivers an authentically accurate aerial experience for simulation enthusiasts and those with a passion for all things flight.  Pilots can climb into the cockpits of over twenty aircraft, from commercial and fighter jets to single-engine private planes and helicopters. More than 80 missions will test players in a variety of ways, including search and rescue challenges, test pilot scenarios, races and more. The game features updated multiplayer functionality, Windows 8.1 support and over 24,000 airports, delivering a beautiful, connected world and vast horizon begging to be explored.

» iFlightPlanner Integration with Microsoft Flight Simulator, X-Plane

This year the Jardur Watch Company is offering a 20% holiday discount on its premium, Degreemeter model.  The Degreemeter is the first aviation chronograph launched under the revitalized Jardur Watch Company, the Degreemeter, pays homage to the original World War II era Bezelmeter 960 while incorporating all of the advancements in materials, manufacturing methods and design features which comprise state-of-the-art watchmaking.

This watch features a degreemeter, unelapsed hours meter, integrated chronograph, date display and non-reflective crystal making it the ultimate pilot's timepiece.  The $650 savings is available only to the first 18 customers, and included with the purchase of each watch is one (1) year of iFlightPlanner Premium Plus, an additional $139.99 value!  

Visit the iFlightPlanner Shop for more details!

Official airport, navigation and chart data for the FAA's 28-day cycle beginning 12/11/14 became current today as of 09:01Z.  This includes updated georeferencing data for airport diagrams and instrument approach procedures available in iFlightPlanner for iPad.

Anytime you access iFlightPlanner.com or mobile.iFlightPlanner.com you can be confident that you are seeing the most current and accurate data available.  To ensure that 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.

iFlightPlanner for iPad users may now download airport and navigation data as well as aeronautical charts, airport diagrams and terminal procedures for the FAA Data Cycle that goes into effect on December 11, 2014.  Simply tap the button in the upper-left corner of the Downloads tab to "Check For Updates".

Pilots using iFlightPlanner.com or mobile.iFlightPlanner.com from their smartphones will see the iFlightPlanner Cloud automatically make the transition to the new data at 9:01Z on December 11.

by Rick Durden, AVweb

Operation Good Cheer, the annual delivery of donated toys by general aviation aircraft to foster children in Michigan, is short 30 airplanes and pilots of the 100 it needs to get toys to over 5,248 children this Saturday, December 6.  Each foster child has a sponsor who has purchased, wrapped and delivered gifts to the Oakland County International Airport (KPTK) where they will be loaded into airplanes flown by volunteer pilots to airports across the state.

Operation Good Cheer is looking for another 30 pilots who have access to aircraft this Saturday and want to play Santa for children who might otherwise not receive gifts at Christmas. Volunteer pilots are asked to complete a Pilot Application at the website of the nonprofit association that organizes the toylift, Child and Family Services of Michigan, or simply fly into KPTK by 8:00 AM Saturday and advise ATC that they are there for Operation Good Cheer.

Upgrade or extend your iFlightPlanner membership to iFlightPlanner Premium for $69.99 or Premium Plus for $119.99 thru December!  That means for less than $10/month you can experience iFlightPlanner Premium Plus, which includes "the best georeferenced airport diagrams and instrument approach procedures available on the iPad" and the fully-integrated flight planning resources at iFlightPlanner.com, for an entire year!

In the middle of your paid subscription with a competitor's flight planning product?  No problem!  Take advantage of iFlightPlanner's Competitive Trade-Up Program and trade-in your existing subscription.  We'll extend your new iFlightPlanner Premium membership by the time remaining on your competitive subscription, up to the length of the iFlightPlanner membership you purchased.  Complete details of the program are available at iFlightPlanner.com/Upgrade!