My favourite aviation apps and sites - The Flying Reporter

[@theonlyJBS]

I’ve just started training for my LAPL, about 4 hrs in only but hey it’s a start. As a 15 year old I think (without being stereotypical about ages and technology) sky demon has been a lifesaver for me. I presume obviously at some point I will need to learn how to use a flight computer and charts (I know how to read a map and compass but everything else is completely new) but certainly for starting out just having what is effectively a Google maps of the sky makes initial control learning far easier even if it is only vfr. Love the video as always!!🙌

[@TheNervousPilot]

I’m completing my LAPL and you don’t need to learn the vagaries of the flight computer - it’s fine to use a flight calculator e.g. CX-3 for studying and the Nav / perf exams

[@theonlyJBS]

@@TheNervousPilot Oh really? Thanks for the info that’s saved me a couple quid as I’ve actually just bought all the knee boards log books etc. Thanks!

[@kylebhada6914]

I am 17 and will do my ppl skills test soon. Definitely the paper map is a good skill and should be the main map you use, I use SkyDemon as a secondary backup which is very helpful to. Good luck for LAPL. How many hours do you have ?

[@theonlyJBS]

@@kylebhada6914 I have 5 however my last 3 have been cancelled due to COVID and weather related issues. My instructor tells me I’m we’re we’re ahead in terms of content anyway for going solo at Easter (my 16th) so not to much of an issue but hoping my lesson scheduled for this Sunday goes ahead :). Good luck with your PPL and exams!!

[@kylebhada6914]

@speedbird001 RFS, thanks and I completed all 9 exams last year just before they made it all online. Good luck on first solo

[@meznaric]

Would also recommend Windy for weather. You can look at forecasts and current conditions for wind, cloud base, visibility, etc. Can also see wind as a function of pressure altitude.

[@df3yt]

Windy sucks for altitude forecasts though. EG I fly from a base of 5000ft yet the 5000ft forecast is vastly different to the "surface". Windy used to have an option for 1500 AGL and 6500. Technically these should be the same after all my elevation isn't a peak or something but a large area half the size of Britain yet they are often vastly different. Also showing 2000ft and surface vary. This while the entire area on my screen is 5000-5500AMSL. The devs also don't understand my questions regarding this. Then comparing GFS vs ECMWF they are often opposites of each other and despite the "docs" ECMWF is often way worse than the current wx.

[@meznaric]

@@df3yt The altitude you see in Windy is pressure altitude not actual altitude. What they show for "5000 ft" is the 850 hPa isobar. The forecasts are not produced by Windy but by large models (GFS, ECMWF), so are the same no matter what platform you use to display them.

[@df3yt]

@@meznaric Now we talking...after years and multiple emails I never had a proper answer from them! I understand about the dataset and no matter the platform. It does create confusion with the way it's worded though. When we call the met office they give forecasts at different altitudes this is how I though windy displayed the data. Thanks for this despite your original post being a year ago!

[@chrisellaoptic]

Loving the new "feel" of the videos with this one! 👍 Excellent and highly useful information for everyone, particularly myself being a ~30hr PPL student just starting land aways etc

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Chris.

[@Senseigainz]

Another quality video! You are inadvertently convincing me to return to GA flying. Keep at it. - B737 Captain.

[@BritishAvgeek]

Aerops... Brilliant!

[@twalsh51]

Yes AEROPS is a brilliant idea and easy to use and many thanks Jon for the heads up..... BUT....... there are not many airports on the system which hopefully will increase.

[@peterandersson3812]

Nice video! I haven't been to Popham since I worked in the UK in the summer of 2005: except for the new tower everything looks the same. If you thought runway 26 was a bit tricky with its slanted final, you should try 03: you need to be just at treetop height south of the A303, set the engine to idle and glide down to the touchdown point which will, it feels, move away from you: it's downhill. But not too difficult: I could do it with only a year of post-PPL experience. Would love to go back!

[@AlexanderJBarrett]

Very useful vid, thanks Jon. Let's hope more airfields adopts Aerops!

[@DeadReckoner]

Did the intro make anyone else think of Jurassic Park? Great video, as always!

[@ratters33]

Golden! Thanks Jon.

[@Captain_Al_320]

I’ve been using Aerops for a while and it’s very good and I hope more UK airfields will use it.

[@pitchnpower]

Quality stuff as usual, thank you John.

[@musoseven8218]

Jolly useful video that, I wondered if anyone would ever come up with a landing fees and fuel app - jolly useful, thanks for sharing 👍😊

[@stuartlloyd2000]

Haha, I looked out of the window yesterday morning and saw that weather!

[@allanforbestv]

AEROPS seems like a great idea, why wouldn't you. So I did, but was really disappointed to see that only a handful of UK fields and strips have got onboard. You would think that something as simple, functional and useful would fully adopted. How do we get more uptake and make everyone's life's much simpler???

[@TheFlyingReporter]

That's the purpose of my association with Aerops...to raise its profile.

[@stratotramp6243]

Agree, In a microlight all those heavy pound coins are using up my precious fuel weight allowance. 🤣

[@Peter4545]

AEROPS installed, thanks for the videos

[@stuartessex4535]

Thanks Jon! That was fascinating, especially for a technophob like me who does actually still use a chart!🤣🤣🤣 Love the 'Pay As You Land' app, great idea....... Stu

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Thanks Stuart.

[@stratotramp6243]

I love charts as keen hiker. with OS. Something satisfying about a map, but annoying in the cockpit if you have to fold! Made the mistake of using a quarter mil. Sky Demon is great for reducing pilot workload so you can put a bigger focus on Aviate and Communicate, and a bit less on navigate. Autorouter is a new one to me thanks 👍liked the app at the end. Landed well as it wasn't just "get this!" and was a thoroughly useful video.

[@aviatorsteve5649]

Nice landing Jon !

[@flyingphobiahelp]

Nice approach/landing.. kinda like the challenging old Hong Kong airport.

[@ufm10xxl27]

Good man yourself Jon, greetings from the west of Ireland

[@CharlieLamdin]

I agree, can’t believe we all used to fly around with only charts!

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Did you like how I spoke about 5 years ago being the old days!

[@asmundlunde7762]

This is gold:) Thanks for sharing!

[@kilianswannet379]

The ability to pay for fuel would be super useful in place like eg France where you need a specific card (BP or Total) to get fuel instead of allowing a normal credit or debit card.

[@coenkuijpers1800]

Coming in like a bush pilot 😉

[@essajaafar8606]

Dear Sir which device adsb capable with SkyDemon thank you

[@TheFlyingReporter]

www.skydemon.aero/inflight/traffic.aspx

[@dansage]

How do you get the plate overlay at 1:39?

[@mikecoffee100]

Good apps to be sure but using a chart and compas and stop watch from time to time isn't too bad either

[@markmarks]

Great vid as ever, some useful sites I'd not considered before. But, jeez, delete some emails :)

[@andrewuk2743]

AEROPS looks good but I live on a farm with no house number or street name so won’t let me open a account . Maybe something they could look at .

[@TheFlyingReporter]

Have you raise a support email with them? They'll help you out for sure. [e-mail]

[@petewilson5094]

I do enjoy watching/ FRs video clips of flying around the U.k. I wonder if he's ever flown in the United States ? Ftom what I've gleaned " (all due respect)" Seemes General Aviation is not at at all respected as a viable entity,poorly organised Airspace/ommunications system. Perhaps exploring/expiring the U.S. FAA GA system will be of immense value. It appears as though General Aviation us for the privileged to go for a flying stroll.