By Howard Deevers
It is totally amazing how many things we can do with our cellphones and other devices with an app. Of course, you need to have that app installed in your device and know how to use it. Everything from grocery shopping to paying your bills has an app.
ForeFlight is on my iPads, but not on my cell phone. Just recently ForeFlight sent a message that I can get weather cameras at airports all over the country on ForeFlight on my iPad. I really like my ForeFlight account and use it for flying and flight planning all the time. When I have internet service, I can get weather all over the country on ForeFlight. There is so much information available in the menu bar that if you tried to use it all at one time it would be confusing. For those of you that have ForeFlight, I am not telling you anything that you don't already know.
I have two iPads that I use all the time. One has a larger memory than the other, and the larger memory one has cameras in the information bar, but the other one does not. I went to the cameras and checked on how they might help in flight planning. There are many cameras located all over the country, but NOT every airport has one (or more), and they are not all located right at an airport. Some are a few miles away, but still give you a view of what is going on in that area at that time, or close to that time. Some images were 20 minutes old and only showed one direction. Still not a bad idea to know this, but how do I use it in flight planning?
Most of the cross-country flights I plan will have at least 3-hour legs. Looking at a possible destination airport at 1700Z does not mean that its status will be the same 3 hours later, nearer my planned arrival time. While watching some of these cameras, they changed images, so they must update on a schedule. Again, not much help to me with my immediate planning.
I know you can do your own weather briefing on the iPad as well and even file a flight plan on that device. None of this wonderful technology will ever replace the live conversations that I have with Fight Service. The only app needed is: 1-800WXBRIEF. Many conversations with a Flight Service specialist have convinced me that I can't replace them with an app. They have helped me find ways around the weather, avoid really dangerous weather, and enjoy the really good weather, all on the phone. And, at many times, I am speaking to a briefer that has actually flown in the area I am calling about.
On a recent IFR flight, I was going to file for 6000 feet in route. The briefer suggested that I would probably do better at 8000 feet, although still in the clouds. Not all of us fly jets or high-performance single engine airplanes. We need all the help we can get.
I found the cameras on the ForeFlight app entertaining and fun for viewing other airports far away, but not something I could easily use for flight planning at this time. Maybe I will find it more useful in the future. Remember that FAR 91.103: “Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight.” The regulation goes on to list things that must be included. I wonder if cameras will be added to that list in a future change to FAR regulations? Our apps and iPads are very extensive in the information they already provide. Would those items be included in the FAR?
I do like all of the technology we have available to us today. Some of it is fun to use and just speculate on a flight. Cameras just added to that for me. I hope you enjoy them too.
For more information on aviation safety come to a Safety Seminar presented by your ARIZONA PILOTS ASSOCIATION, and the FAASTeam. They are free. Check the web site for the location and time near you, and don’t forget to bring your wingman!