New Logbook software

darthpanda

darthpanda

New Member
Just a little background - I'm writing a piece of logbook software. Why? you may ask. Well because I'm a little underwhelmed by the competition, to put it mildly. So I plan on bringing my experience as a software developer to the aviation field and build something that I'm not only proud to sell, but proud to use.

So my question to you that use software for logging or have considered it -

1. What do you really like about the current of offerings? What can you not live without?
2. What do you think is missing?
3. Do you think the prices of logging software, such as logbook pro/AvJournal/Safelog, is it reasonable?
4. What devices do you use typically? Computers, iPads, PDAs, iphones, Android phones, etc.


Thanks for anytime you spend on this. Cheers! :beer:
 
I use an ipad (getting rid of my blackberry asap for an android phone) and a pc.

One thing that I would want (though it wouldn't stop me from buying one necessarily) is auto population of required hours for different ratings for the FAA paperwork.
 
additional or customizable columns for stuff like tailwheel, hi-performance, multi, complex, glider, glass cockpit, technically advanced...
 
The feature I like about Safe Log is that it is very easy to input my flights. It keeps the last few airplanes and airports I have flown to next to the airplane and airport entry areas and I can simply click it and move on.
 
ColoradoPilot said:
I use an ipad (getting rid of my blackberry asap for an android phone) and a pc.

One thing that I would want (though it wouldn't stop me from buying one necessarily) is auto population of required hours for different ratings for the FAA paperwork.
Click to expand...

Which type of Blackberry are you getting rid of? I'm trying to narrow a search on a phone to change to.
 
I'm using Logbook Pro on my laptop/PC, and tying out a demo/lite version of LogTen on the ipod touch i'm carrying.

I like the ease of entering flights into the LogTen program.
Yet the price of the full version (which does have some more interesting/useful features) is still high considering my normal program is Logbook Pro for PC.
Alot of cost for something i basically just jot down the flight info into, to-transfer/type it later into the PC program.
 
NC_BE300 said:
I'm using Logbook Pro on my laptop/PC, and tying out a demo/lite version of LogTen on the ipod touch i'm carrying.

I like the ease of entering flights into the LogTen program.
Yet the price of the full version (which does have some more interesting/useful features) is still high considering my normal program is Logbook Pro for PC.
Alot of cost for something i basically just jot down the flight info into, to-transfer/type it later into the PC program.
Click to expand...


This is what I've been finding, the prices don't correlate with the functionality offered. They are fairly basic programs with no real "heavy lifting" being done so I'm wondering why the prices are so high, relatively speaking. I understand the ROI on such things is hard to gauge, but if I can get cheaper I certainly will. A little competition never hurt anyone after all.

Keep it coming guys, this is good stuff!
 
For the Airline pilots it would be great if it could interact (more than a copy and paste import like most have now) with all the scheduling software that the airlines use. Even better if you can get it to work like this on the iPhone and mac in real time. For example, when my schedule comes out it would be nice if it would automatically add all the flights and scheduled departure and arrival times into the program and my iphone calendar through the internet without me having to do any copy and pasting. Then once the flights are completed it automatically updates the actual out and in times, the tail number flown, and who the crew was. All of this info is updated on the company sites as soon as you block into the gate so essentially as soon as you turn your phone on you could have all your times updated for you automatically. All you have to do is log the approaches and instrument time if any after you land. I use Logten on my mac and have the iPhone app as well and its a great combination, it tracks duty times and currency right from the iPhone and the actual Mac program does even more. I don't really have any complaints about the Log Ten combo and I don't even know if its feasible or possible to do the above but if it would I'd be all about switching. If you're really serious about it look at the big hitters, Log Book Pro, Log Ten Pro, etc... And find their shortcomings. Improve on those aspects and you'll have a viable product.

Also find a way to get some weather radar on the mobile program. Try to bundle it with more features than just the typical logbook stuff. If I could open up the iphone app and after logging my times, check the weather at my next destination, check if there are any EDCT times, maybe even check the gate it would be pretty cool...
 
NC_BE300 said:
Which type of Blackberry are you getting rid of? I'm trying to narrow a search on a phone to change to.
Click to expand...

The first gen of the Storm, and I had a curve before that that got replaced just as often under warranty. Very unimpressed. Though the email client on it is supposedly unparalleled.
 
Honestly, I think your project bound to fail. Back in the 1990s you could whip up a small app (such as a pilot logbook app), and sell it for 10 bucks a pop and make fairly good money. Now-a-days, most smallish apps, thanks partially to the open source movement, partially to the bit torrent movement, don't really have a market any more. Think Firefox, google search, facebook, twitter, instant message programs, skype, etc. Imagine is someone made a browser that they wanted to sell to users for a nominal fee? Even if it was leaps and bounds better than Firefox, not many people will switch over. See: Opera.

You may get a few dozen sales depending on how much you sell it for, but don't expect much. Especially considering the logbook market is already flooded with crap to begin with.

My advice to you is to attack this project of yours not as a business trying to make a profit, but rather as a developer with (presumably) donating a great idea to the world that will revolutionize the world of pilot logging. See: Guido Van Rossum, Linus Torvalds, etc.
 
uhhhhh you guys, flightlogg.in does ALL that stuff- customizable fields, 8710, currency, etc etc etc

and its FREE.

im going to keep using the free choice.
 
TwilightFan91 said:
You may get a few dozen sales depending on how much you sell it for, but don't expect much. Especially considering the logbook market is already flooded with crap to begin with.

My advice to you is to attack this project of yours not as a business trying to make a profit, but rather as a developer with (presumably) donating a great idea to the world that will revolutionize the world of pilot logging. See: Guido Van Rossum, Linus Torvalds, etc.
Click to expand...

I've released open source software for the past 10 years under the LGPL license. Although it's great to assist the world, it doesn't buy avgas, which is what I need to sell software for :) Flying is expensive!

As for failure, I'm prepared for that. That's the risk of any venture and I weigh these things like any business would, with a risk versus reward calculation. I don't feel the risk is too great.
 
SoCalAprch said:
For the Airline pilots it would be great if it could interact (more than a copy and paste import like most have now) with all the scheduling software that the airlines use. Even better if you can get it to work like this on the iPhone and mac in real time. For example, when my schedule comes out it would be nice if it would automatically add all the flights and scheduled departure and arrival times into the program and my iphone calendar through the internet without me having to do any copy and pasting. Then once the flights are completed it automatically updates the actual out and in times, the tail number flown, and who the crew was. All of this info is updated on the company sites as soon as you block into the gate so essentially as soon as you turn your phone on you could have all your times updated for you automatically. All you have to do is log the approaches and instrument time if any after you land. I use Logten on my mac and have the iPhone app as well and its a great combination, it tracks duty times and currency right from the iPhone and the actual Mac program does even more. I don't really have any complaints about the Log Ten combo and I don't even know if its feasible or possible to do the above but if it would I'd be all about switching. If you're really serious about it look at the big hitters, Log Book Pro, Log Ten Pro, etc... And find their shortcomings. Improve on those aspects and you'll have a viable product.

Also find a way to get some weather radar on the mobile program. Try to bundle it with more features than just the typical logbook stuff. If I could open up the iphone app and after logging my times, check the weather at my next destination, check if there are any EDCT times, maybe even check the gate it would be pretty cool...
Click to expand...


Wow you really have some great ideas here. Would you mind if I checked in with you as I build this tool, to show you what I'm building? Getting user feedback early on is, in my experience, the best way to approach building an application. Particularly when you need "domain knowledge", such as that inside the mind of an airline pilot.
 
Michigan_Flyer said:
Keep it a little more user friendly for non computer experts.
Click to expand...

This is one of my main goals. The existing logging software is not very user friendly in most cases. I have a few designers I work with to create the user interfaces and work through the interface issues. They are really good with creating usable tools; but I will also need early feedback to make sure I'm on the right track so I'll display a prototype when it's available.
 
I finally found an Android program that will export to LBP, but it leaves a lot to be desires when compared to APDL. As far as logbook software goes, I'm happy with LBP, so it'll take an awful lot for me to switch. I've already paid the money for LBP and I get lifetime updates for a program I'm happy with. Now, if someone will come out with an APDL-like app for Android, I'd shell out cash for that in a hearbeat. The Droid program I've got now just does basic flight logging, but it doesn't track Whitow, 30/7, required rest, etc like APDL does. But it will export to LBP which is my other "must have."
 
darthpanda said:
Wow you really have some great ideas here. Would you mind if I checked in with you as I build this tool, to show you what I'm building? Getting user feedback early on is, in my experience, the best way to approach building an application. Particularly when you need "domain knowledge", such as that inside the mind of an airline pilot.
Click to expand...

PM me if you have any questions or want feedback. You have a wealth of all sorts of aviation brains to pick here.
 
kellwolf said:
I finally found an Android program that will export to LBP, but it leaves a lot to be desires when compared to APDL. As far as logbook software goes, I'm happy with LBP, so it'll take an awful lot for me to switch. I've already paid the money for LBP and I get lifetime updates for a program I'm happy with. Now, if someone will come out with an APDL-like app for Android, I'd shell out cash for that in a hearbeat. The Droid program I've got now just does basic flight logging, but it doesn't track Whitow, 30/7, required rest, etc like APDL does. But it will export to LBP which is my other "must have."
Click to expand...
Sorry to bring up such an olllld topic, but kellwolf, what is this android software that exports to LBP??
 
I just got logbook pro, I'm on day 2 (taking it slowly) of entering my stuff. Its time consuming but and not the most user friendly but it will be really easy once i get to my stuff that's online. I wouldn't say im drinking the lbpro kool-aid yet though.
 
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