Published in Midwest Flyer – August/September 2020 issue
ForeFlight, in partnership with FlightAware, is now providing live global traffic streaming for all customers with its new Internet Traffic feature.
Internet Traffic is tied to the same Traffic map layer used to display ADS-B traffic, and that layer is now accessible any time the user has an internet connection on the ground. The layer will automatically switch to showing only ADS-B traffic when the user connects to an external ADS-B In device.
ForeFlight displays both airborne and ground traffic received via the internet, just like it does ADS-B traffic, with the altitude and tail number of aircraft available at a glance, and many other details available with a tap for most traffic targets.
ForeFlight uses the distinct position reports received from FlightAware to interpolate each airborne target’s movement and displays it smoothly on the map.
Internet Traffic is included in all ForeFlight subscription plans.
Slide-Out More Menu & Edit Tab Order
Tapping the More tab in the bottom-right area now displays a compact menu on the right side of the screen so users can view it without leaving the page they are on.
Downloads, Settings, and a number of infrequently-used tabs appear as modals that users can quickly dismiss by swiping down from the top. Other tabs, such as Checklist and Logbook, open in full screen, double-column layouts on iPad to better utilize available screen space.
The last tab a user opened from the More menu is always available just to the left of More with the new “Dynamic” tab, allowing the user to quickly jump between that and their other tabs.
Tap “Edit Tab Order” in the More menu to rearrange ForeFlight’s tab bar however the user likes, including tabs that were previously only available in More. Tap “Reset To Default Order” to undo changes made.
Tab order does not sync between devices, allowing the user to have different setups on their iPad and iPhone to match how they use them.
Other Notable Enhancements
ForeFlight on the iPhone now supports the FPL “Bubble Editor” on Maps, dedicated Plate and Scratchpad views, and all other previously iPad-only features with the exception of the Profile View.
Airports: The Frequencies, Services, A/FD, and More tabs have been combined into a single “Info” tab; the Forecast Discussion is nested under the TAF section; and the airport popup on Maps now uses the same layout as the Airports view itself, providing faster access to Procedures, Runways, and more.
Maps: The Edit, NavLog, and Profile buttons have moved to the right edge of the FPL editor. The user can hide or show the Aeronautical Map’s quick filter buttons on the left side of the screen using the new “Quick Filters” setting in Map Settings.
Support: This is a new tab available just above About in the More menu, with links to support resources on ForeFlight’s website and the in-app Pilot’s Guide.
Multitasking Support On iPad
ForeFlight on the iPad now supports iOS Multitasking, allowing the user to use ForeFlight in Split Screen or Slide Over with other apps at the same time.
To open ForeFlight in Split Screen with another app that supports it, the user can open either of them, swipe up slowly from the bottom of the screen to show the iOS dock, and drag the other app’s icon from the dock to either side of the screen and release it. Drag the separator between the two apps to change their relative sizes, or dismiss one app by dragging the separator all the way to one side of the screen.
Open ForeFlight at the top of any app that doesn’t support Split Screen using Slide Over. Drag the ForeFlight icon from the iOS dock to the center of the screen, instead of either side and release it.
Aircraft Type Restrictions In Procedure Advisor
Procedure Advisor displays aircraft type restrictions for standard instrument departures (SIDs) and standard terminal arrival procedures (STARs) so pilots can quickly identify suitable procedures for their aircraft.
Colored tags for Piston, Turboprop, and Jet aircraft appear beneath procedures that are restricted to the aircraft types shown.
Webinars showcasing these features are available for viewing here:
www.foreflight.com/support/webinars
https://foreflight.com/campaigns/on-frequency/
https://foreflight.com/campaigns/pilot-in-command/
