AOPA Flight Planner shutting down - iFly General Discussions

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AOPA Flight Planner shutting down

3/8/2020 8:13 PM

Rick Davis

Joined: 11/24/2016

Posts: 8

AOPA Flight Planner shutting down

I saw on the AOPA website that they going to eliminate the Flight Planner feature. http://aopa.org/news-and-media/all-ne...anner-to-sunset Jeppesen is not going to update the engine that powers the flight planner so AOPA is caught between a rock and a hard place.

That has long been my favorite planning system. I have tried SkyVector and FltPlan.com and don't particularly like either, at least not from a tablet. Using iFly for the flight plan and then going to 1800wxbrief is an option I guess. I like the briefing in the iFly app but would like to be able to see airmets, sigmets and TFRs graphically.

The article does not say anyting about the AOPA weather tool so it may stay.

What is everone else using and what do you suggest?

Thanks,

Rick

3/9/2020 7:12 AM

Jeff Scorse

Joined: 3/6/2019

Posts: 63

Re: AOPA Flight Planner shutting down

I very good discussion to have. I've been using my iFly on a computer for flight planning, then transfer the plans to my phone, then to my tablet or directly to my tablet if I have it handy. The only big issue I have is when I want to file (IFR) my plans. iFly only allows for one plan at a time, and most of my flight include at least two plans, often 4 for a typical PALs flight. In that case I use the WX Brief tool "directly". I've tried to use the very weird and combersome FltPlanGo but it bypasses Leidos (again.. strange) which makes it all the more challenging. I'd like to have a single solution to this (which I know is the "Apple" product), but I just can't go there. I view this multi-plan issue is one of the biggest stumbling blocks in my current flight planning routine.

3/9/2020 5:55 PM

Michael Marra

Joined: 3/26/2014

Posts: 706

Re: AOPA Flight Planner shutting down

Rick,

I have been with AOPA 30 years and this comes as no surprise to me...they make decisions like that from time to time, so about 10 years ago I stopped relying on the AOPA planning system. Just too unreliable for me after the 2nd or 3rd time they changed or cut planning services.

Anything "free" like that is just too unreliable in the long run, IMHO. To me, it was a "nice to have" thing with the $25, 30, 39, 45, 60 dollar membership over the years. (They also cut out the printed AOPA Airport Guide, which I really liked to keep in the plane for when batteries died or with power/cell outages).

I now plan on the iFly and save all my routes here. Soon, when SkyVector works to transfer plans, that will be another place to rapidly plan and keep flights we do over and over.

I am sorry it is being cut from our membership as well...the next thing to go will be the magazine and we will have to just look at it "online." (Hope not!)

Best wishes, Mike N714AJ

3/9/2020 6:52 PM

Rick Davis

Joined: 11/24/2016

Posts: 8

Re: AOPA Flight Planner shutting down

Mike,

I agree. I have been with AOPA since 1990, so 30 years. There have been some improvements and some of the things I liked went away. I really like the iFly planner so that is not really a problem. I did like the briefing generated through the AOPA planner better though. I also like being able to do it from a desktop computer.

It will be interesting to see how long the weather lasts. It seems like the weather chart updates are not spot on. One has to wonder if that is next. I need to work with Skyvector more. My biggest problem is that I really don't like Leidos. I was pretty happy with DUATS but that went away as well. Such is life.

Regards,

Rick Davis
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