ForeFlight Quick Tip: Where's the Airport ?!

Have you ever had difficulty spotting an airport? Many years ago on my first significant cross country and approaching Chadron, Nebraska - for the life of me I couldn’t find the airfield. Of course, appropriately humbled, I eventually did. In this quick tip we’ll explore a very simple yet awesome ForeFlight feature that is a nice visual add for our eyeballs. Welcome aboard! Wayne, GeezerGeek Pilot
International Flight Logistics
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Video Hardware and Software used for the GeezerGeek Pilot Channel:
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Video Chapters:
01:33 the "demo"
The Script:
Maps tab, FPL drawer, Edit
Procedure, Traffic Pattern... (select runway), (select desired pattern)
Add to Route
Track Up (upper right "target" icon)... to go back to North Up click the "N bearing" icon just below the target
(to tweak an existing pattern)
Maps tab, FPL Drawer, Edit
(select the traffic pattern from the route "bubbles") Expand
(select a point in that pattern) Direct to

[@kenwilkerson1043]

Just remember, when you insert the entry "procedure" into your flight plan on FF, the total maneuvering distance is then added to your "Distance Next" data block. So, when you contact the tower, or announce on CTAF, you have to mentally subtract the entry "procedure" distance from the distance next total to report your straight line distance from the airport.

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Ken, excellent point. For announcing location I'm in the habit of using DIS from the panel navigator. Thx for nicely adding to the conversation. Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@Parr4theCourse]

Yep, I use the distance rings for that….. But good point if you don’t….

[@grumpyguy01]

I'm glad I'm not the only one that sometimes struggles finding the airport! On cross-countries, I practice trying to spot airports along the route. Looking at the sectional for visual clues such as lakes, relationship to populated areas, etc... Thanks for the great video!

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Brad, thx for watching and your good comment. Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@99kevin99]

Nice! Been using Foreflight since 2019 and you just increased my situational awareness 10-fold with this tip. Thank you.

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Very glad you found the video useful! Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@johnniewalters3718]

Wow ! Thanks for sharing this tip. I did my long xc to a non towered airport that I had never been to. It was a struggle to find but spotted it 5 miles out. This is very helpful and thanks again for sharing it

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Johnnie, glad you enjoyed the video... happy flying! Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@caiolinnertel8777]

After a few years working as a Controller at Washington ARTCC (I've retired after 30 years) I found these issues totally disappeared. All that radar controlling really helped my fling.

[@patm95]

I could have used this today! Great tip!

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Glad you found it useful! Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@2Phast4Rocket]

wow very cool. I don't fly cross country much with rental airplanes before. Now that I have my own airplane, I can travel further and these are great tips for unfamiliar airports.

[@alexbauer1152]

Wayne, oh when you think you got ForeFlight figured you learn about another cool feature. This one is really cool and I never paid attention to it. I have been making scribbles on my knee pad instead. Thank you for sharing - Alex

[@Lagrange1970]

Awesome, thanx for sharing

[@PaulHuckaby]

What a great tip! I can’t wait to test it out

[@ayneedels7749]

Thank you.

[@tangocharlie9291]

It’s in Microsoft Flight Simulator, where I pre-fly all my routes. While also using ForeFlight. 😉👍🏻

[@Parr4theCourse]

Yep, Janis does that all the time when we fly into unfamiliar airports, we had one flying into Williston X60 we couldn’t see 2 miles out due to tree line!!

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Ron, especially in your midwest backyard it is often very difficult. Thx. Wayne

[@JoeCoolPilot]

Great tip! Thanks for sharing and fly safe!

[@jimjernigan3670]

Learned something new today. Thanks!

[@lechstryzewski9350]

Wow. It was worth getting out of bed this morning ........ I actually learned something !!!! - LOL - Seriously though, I never knew this. I will use this information from this point forward - for sure. Thank you for sharing !! Subscribed

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Lech, good morning to you 😀. Thanks for watching and the sub! Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@anthonyb4913]

Never knew about this! Thanks!

[@positiverateofclimb694]

Wish Garmin Pilot would have this option in the future.

[@orlandoorlandosan4628]

Super great info. Thanks.

[@luciaguilera7068]

Awesome information!! Thanks!!!

[@idsawtooth]

Nice tip, thanks!

[@blusheringnail]

thx for this information Ur almost at 2,000 subscribers!

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Thx, Zuri... 2000 will be cool! Wayne

[@blusheringnail]

no problem have a good day

[@rfriesen1644]

Great tip! Thank you for the videos.

[@sergegoldentul6385]

Thank you Sir!

[@breadave]

See on your approach into Santa Barbara foreFlight clearly displays the runway numbers. Not quite sure how to bring that display up?

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

In ForeFlight, More, Settings... filter for "EXTEND"... turn on Extended Centerlines. Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@breadave]

@@GeezerGeekPilot Great, thanks!

[@Cosme422]

Thank you for this video! Yes it would have been better with no music at all but still good content.

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Thanks, Luis, for checking it out. Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@sofloemir]

That controller is an ahole if u makes u enter a left base coming in direct like that LOL

[@xenimaging]

Great tips, I was already using the pattern feature, but never thought to switch off the north up on approach. Also, did you train out of KRNO? It’s my home base

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Yes, I trained initially out of Carson City and then Reno. Now living in Santa Barbara. Glad you found the video useful. Thanks for watching! Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@andycoy3196]

Hey, I just saw this on your channel and thought it was excellent. I was wondering if you know if there was a way to change the traffic pattern entry? My home Field is Montgomery. MYF and we typically fly right pattern to 28 right. Fore flight, for some reason, shows it to be left pattern traffic

[@andycoy3196]

Oh yeah I just didn’t scroll all the way far enough down I was on my phone not on my iPad

[@andycoy3196]

All good 🫡

[@user-jh5fm7ci6o]

That was a strange entry at the towered airport.

[@user-jh5fm7ci6o]

The towered airport looked kinda of complicated I was lost in the mouse click. Maybe use this for non-towered.

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

KCDR is indeed non-towered. Thanks for watching! Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@LesGainous]

Why did you not enter the pattern on the left downwind (KSBA)? Entering it on the base leg seems a bit more dangerous/risky, not to mention that Santa Barbara tower wouldn't want you doing that (or would they?).

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

KSBA is a towered airport and the ATC instruction was “Enter left base runway 25”. Thx for watching. Wayne

[@barryisaacson3841]

Great help, thank you, but the clicky demonstration went by very fast and could benefit from commentary as I am still not sure about the logic behind the procedure, which is how I drive this stuff into my head. Still very helpful though.

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Barry, good point. Can you try the following and see if it helps? Start the video at "the demo" 01:46... then on the lower right click the "gear" icon, Playback Speed, 0.5. If this doesn't do it, comment back here and I'll prepare a script. Thanks for letting me know! Wayne

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Barry, I went ahead and added "The Script" to the bottom of the video Description. Here's what was added (let me know if this helps): Maps tab, FPL drawer, Edit Procedure, Traffic Pattern... (select runway), (select desired pattern) Add to Route Track Up (upper right "target" icon)... to go back to North Up click the "N bearing" just below the target (to tweak an existing pattern) Maps tab, FPL Drawer, Edit (select the traffic pattern) Expand (select a point in the pattern) Direct to

[@barryisaacson3841]

@@GeezerGeekPilot Thanks, Wayne! I will definitely do that and report back. The part that I need to study, because I am not getting it quite yet, is towards the end when you make the base entry a direct nav point from your present position.

[@barryisaacson3841]

@@GeezerGeekPilot This looks great, thank you! Will re-watch the video ASAP. (ps I'm a geezer-geek too).

[@grant1856]

I wish you had announced what you were typing into your computer so that i could follow along. You lost me a bit.

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Sorry about that. Hope you still got the gist. Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@coachallison1143]

It's really scary to think pilots are out there doing this!

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

To each his own. I fly ~400 hours a year and this is part of my SOP at most airports (unless I'm shooting an approach). Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@Zelig2Cents]

GeezerGeek Pilot Thank you for sharing this Wayne! I really enjoy your content in general and great tips like this are extra special!

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

@@Zelig2Cents, thanks for the kind words... glad you enjoy the videos. Wayne

[@Zelig2Cents]

@@GeezerGeekPilot I've only spoken the truth and the truth is easy to speak. Plus, you're very deserving of the compliments. I will go one step further. I don't remember how I came across your channel, but I have been stunned by the uncanny common ground between your life values, geographic proclivities, and passion for flying with the those in my own life. I would say, so much so, that I would love to email you a bit about myself and see if you have some suggestions for my flying goals. Sometime within the next week I'll email you and God willing, maybe I can even make some contributions that help you as well. Yo conozco el estado de Sonora muy bien, especialmente Ciudad Obregón y los pueblos alrededor, San Carlos, y Hermosillo. Hasta el momento no conozco Baja California para nada, pero tengo muchas ganas conocerlo pero mucho! Me da mucha cosa la situación de los pobres en Mexico, pero como dice el dicho, "Dale un pescado a un hombre y podrá comer por un día. Enseña a un hombre a pescar y comerá toda su vida." Así por eso me encanta el paradigma de "Habitat for Humanity" y pienso yo que vale la pena aplicar este concepto a otros tipos de caridades. Pues, allí lo dejo por el momento, pero espero que estos commentarios te dan una pista de los temas sobre que me encantaría platicar contigo! Dios te bendiga Wayne!

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

Seguramente tenemos "values" común. Send me an email (my address is under "About") and we´ll share notes as well as values. Que tenga buen día. Wayne (DA40 KSBA)

[@tomg7116]

You seriously just found out about this? Been there for years.

[@GeezerGeekPilot]

I’ve indeed also been using it for many years; just thought of making a video. Thx for watching. Wayne