Flight Planning Software -vs- Old Fashion Lead

Approach Control

Approach Control

New Member
The more I go through my flight training DVD's, the more I can see things that could be automated, relative to flight planning and actual flight operations.

As I don't yet have enough aviation knowledge yet, to know what is minor -vs- important to flight planning and flight operations, I won't be able to ask all the right questions, I'm sure. But, I was wondering, is it worth the time, energy and effort in using flight planning software -vs- simply writing and calculating things by hand? As I progressed through the IFR DVD's, some things are begining to stand out in my mind even more.

The other question along these lines has to do with the output type of a computerized flight plan. What does this software actually do. I mean, does it create a printable color layout on 8.5 X 11 paper, that you carry with you into the cockpit, or does the software itself interface with your on-board avionics and then display on screen during the flight.

Is there a clear distinction between an on-board FMS and flight planning software that you install on your laptop or portable computer, just in terms of the flight profile itself (climb, cruise, descent and approach segments, etc.)?

I'm trying to get my head around the "when" flight planning software is useful and the "why" behind whether or not you use it, or just do things manually until you start operating more complex aircraft with on-board FMS. Or, do the two have completely different functions in terms of both flight planning AND en route flight operations/tracking/navigating etc.?

Thanks again and in advance for the help.
 
All of this will be clear as a bell as soon as you do one cross country.

Flight planning software is used in a preflight setting. As far as some type of screen in the airplane, that is just your GPS you can plug your route into the GPS, if equipped. Otherwise, you will be referencing your flight plan (-paper flight plan, even if have a GPS unit) with your paper charts.

When you get to the preflight planning stage, and when your instructor allows you to use a computer flight planner verses an E6-B, you will see a very large time savings. Typically if me and my students sit down to plan one of their cross countries, they can plan that for how ever long we will be airborne, we will need to spend the same amount of time on the ground planning by hand.
Things get easier as you go along.

As of now, I think you are confusing a few things.
When you get into the airplane, you will not be doing any "flight planning", all of that will be done prior to entering the cockpit.
 
My examiner (IFR) asked me why I did everything manually when I can simply plug it into Duats ...
 
I'm a proponent for becoming and maintaining fluency in the manual methods of flight planning and situational awareness.

When I started (not all that long ago) that's pretty much all we had. However, the technology is great. It works well and rarely makes a mistake.

Notice I said RARELY. If you fat finger an entry, or there is an "anomoly" in a database, your ability to get a rough estimate in your head seperately from relying on the automation might save your bacon. (Not that I've ever seen such a thing occur. ;))

As you gain experience doing all of it, the amount of work getting your rough estimate in your melon is easier over time.

Have fun in your training.
 
Approach Control said:
The more I go through my flight training DVD's, the more I can see things that could be automated, relative to flight planning and actual flight operations.
Click to expand...
One of my pet peeves about flight training is the failure to put some of the tasks in context.

Most of the things you ask about are automated - and automated very well in multiple software programs and online sources.

But you are at a stage where you are training and your brain is being worked at understanding and practicing the tasks. So you do flight plan calculations manually, plan student pilot flights with checkpoints every 10 NM, and a whole bunch of other things that you will approach in a different way later.
 
The automated flight plan merely spits out the numbers but you may not have a full understanding of the flight plan. If you spend time running the numbers, you will understand the how's and why's and you will be more familiar with the flight.

Once you have the foundation and understand what is happening, use the technology available.
 
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