Flight Planning

UDaviator

UDaviator

Domo Arigato, Mister Roboto
What are you all using for planning and weather? Ive always used DUATS but are there better sites that ya'all are using!? Or maybe newer? Thanks!
 
skyvector.com for high level "where do I want to go today" flight planning
aviationweather.gov and the composite "WunderMap" from wunderground.com to get the big weather picture
tfr.faa.gov to check for any red circles in the area
duats to get an official full briefing with notams
fltplan.com if I want a detailed log and filing
 
csc duats' flight planner for my flight planning.
I don't understand how anyone can stand to use fltplan.com. I've been trying to use it for years, but it's hideously ugly and doesn't give me much that I need functionality-wise.

Every time new flight planning software (or a new site) comes out, I take a look ... but in the end, I'm still using csc duats' "low altitude airway auto-routing", aviationweather.gov, airnav.com and tfr.faa.gov and that's it. I don't "get" the rest of them. They just don't seem to work any better for me, and some of them cost lots of money.

~Fox
 
And that reminds me -- While I acknowledge that many people, if not most people, love fltplan.com .. -why-?? I go to the website and practically want to close the browser in self-defense. It doesn't seem to offer anything that other sites don't, except for lots of flashing and garish colors and different-sized text and obscure, weirdly-placed entry boxes, with a grossly inconsistent and confusing UI.
 
Let's face it. Some people want a pretty face. Others want functionality. Fltplan.com excels in generating IFR flight plans that work since you can select from those that have actually been issued. And the generated flight log is both usable and surprisingly accurate.
 
MidlifeFlyer said:
Let's face it. Some people want a pretty face. Others want functionality. Fltplan.com excels in generating IFR flight plans that work since you can select from those that have actually been issued. And the generated flight log is both usable and surprisingly accurate.
Click to expand...

I've never had filed -> cleared -> flown match enough to make any of that useful. Even if I get cleared as filed (Which does happen often enough with csc duats' auto-routing...), I'm invariably amended, vectored, or often given 'direct' my destination when just off my departure airport.

It's not so much about a "pretty face" as it is about a face that's been intentionally tattooed and pierced and modified until it looks like something out of the seventh circle of hell. I'm ok with a "plain face", and in fact I prefer it. It takes work to make a site as truly ugly as fltplan.com. csc duats, otoh, is an example of 'plain but functional'.

See? I don't need a "pretty face". ;>

(By the way, I can readily accept that the differences in liking fltplan.com versus disliking it can easily stem from the fact that despite my best efforts I am still not flying for a living, and thus my flights are of a different nature, but would it kill them to invest fifteen minutes into a little CSS rather than making the entire site one big table with skittles colors and blink tags?)

~Fox
 
I agree 100%. I use fltplan.com exclusively for domestic flight plans but it is terrible from a user experience perspective.

It is the Internet version of a DC9 cockpit. Functional but ugly, designed by engineers rather than pilots. Part of the problem is that we have become so accustomed to the clean, crisp presentation that is part of the Apple experience and that is now being duplicated by PC and software manufacturers. "Links" seem clunky and old tech, whereas shiny buttons, thoughtfully placed make more sense.

I'm glad fltplan.com is free -- so I don't complain. But surely they realize that their interface is poorly designed.
 
It depends on the flight/conditions but at least 1 or a combination of them all...
DUAT.com= TFR, metar,taf,fa, notams. (It's easy to print and take with)
Aviationweather.gov= metar,taf,fa, radar, satellite, weather charts, Sigmets, etc.
1800WXBRIEF
Wunderground wundermap is awesome!

Bare minimum for local flights even if just staying in the traffic pattern= radar, metar, taf, notams, TFR.
 
Fltplan.com gives me everything I need. I used to use Duats, but with fltplan, everything i need is right there. I think it has a better presentation personally.
 
fltplan.com is the best,

Two minutes and I have my flight planned, filed, wx brief, navlog and wx/notams printed, Radar reviewed. Route reviewed on Google earth/sectional/low enroute, and flight is put on company's schedule. A FBO brief is faxed to the destination FBO advising services I want, and I print off a passenger briefing card that explains weather at destination, length of flight, and other info I want them to know about. Navlog tells me how much fuel/time I need at different altitudes, so I know what is the most efficient altitude.

Literally all in 2 minutes.

I then receive a text message showing me ATC's planned route (always know what the clearance is before I ask ATC for it.) And if there are any traffic holds in place, or if a reservation is required to land (like Jackson Hole or Bozeman requires sometimes).
 
Fly_Unity said:
fltplan.com is the best,

Two minutes and I have my flight planned, filed, wx brief, navlog and wx/notams printed, Radar reviewed. Route reviewed on Google earth/sectional/low enroute, and flight is put on company's schedule. A FBO brief is faxed to the destination FBO advising services I want, and I print off a passenger briefing card that explains weather at destination, length of flight, and other info I want them to know about. Navlog tells me how much fuel/time I need at different altitudes, so I know what is the most efficient altitude.

Literally all in 2 minutes.

I then receive a text message showing me ATC's planned route (always know what the clearance is before I ask ATC for it.) And if there are any traffic holds in place, or if a reservation is required to land (like Jackson Hole or Bozeman requires sometimes).
Click to expand...

I agree 100%. It's scary how accurate the times and fuel burns are. I don't know why anyone would use anything else.
 
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