Airspace 3d augmented review for fellow pilots

[Ncm722]

During my time at ATP, I wished there were a better way to visualize airspace beyond a flat sectional chart.

Toward the end of my training, I started developing Pilot3D, a free tool that visualizes airspace in 3D in real time.

The goal is to help pilots better understand where they are, what airspace they're in, and what's around them.

I've attached a screenshot to give you a look at what I've been working on. I'd love to hear feedback from fellow pilots, CFIs, and DPEs. What features would you find most useful?

 

[mightynimbus]

I'll get back to this when I have been drinking

 

[Boris Badenov]

^ I mean I agree because I haven't flown VFR for 25 years, but it's a cool idea.

 

[CFI A&P]

Interesting idea, and while airspace isn't simple - it isn't the most difficult thing we have to understand. I think this adds unnecessarily complex distractions.

 

[bp]

i don’t understand what the point of this is, are you playing tron in flight with a yoke ipad or is this a ground training tool

 

[woodreau]

Outside of primary flight training once you start flying anything with a turbine engine you don’t really care about airspace.

i mean we do care about airspace but not really. Only time I might care is when NorCal drops us below the B floor and I might spend some brainpower to remember that I should probably slow to 200.. but too much effort to remember that and we just keep flying our 250. And it turns into a TMAAT you violated a FAR…

 

[Roger Roger]

Outside of primary flight training once you start flying anything with a turbine engine you don’t really care about airspace.

i mean we do care about airspace but not really. Only time I might care is when NorCal drops us below the B floor and I might spend some brainpower to remember that I should probably slow to 200.. but too much effort to remember that and we just keep flying our 250. And it turns into a TMAAT you violated a FAR…

I see you too have flown into OAK and SJC

 

[JordanD]

I see you too have flown into OAK and SJC

Took me way too many times flying into SNA before I realized the LAXBB fix on the arrival supposedly means “LAX Below Bravo”

 

[Ncm722]

Thanks for taking a look, everyone. To answer the question: it's meant mainly for ground training and preflight, not for staring at in the cockpit. The idea is to picture the shelves before a flight, especially for student pilots who are still learning to read a sectional. Fair point that it's not something airline crews need day to day. It's advisory only and not for navigation, so the official charts and your EFB always come first. If anyone tries it and something looks off, Settings > Send feedback in the app goes straight to me."

I have made several changes to the online app which can be found here pilot3d.app