MBDiagMan
Final Approach
I have used Foreflight since 2011. I too have tried several other apps including Garmin Pilot, and have yet to find anything that beats Foreflight. Maybe with Boeing in the picture that will change.
Have you ever heard a pilot say "I use XYZ app but I hate it......" ?
Those that use Foreflight will say it is the best.
Those that use FlyQ will like it better.
Those that use FltPlan will say the same.
Keep in mind that the likes/dislikes are based on someone else's preference.
If you want to go with the crowd, Foreflight is by far the largest
If you are looking for value, check the others Foreflight is expensive.
A major factor to consider is how the company will update and support the product.
Features and improvements are important.
Do they fix glitches quickly when a new version is released.
It is not fun to have an app that doesn't work when you are in the cockpit.
Do they support open architecture? If the next new product you want isn't compatible (ADS-B) you might get locked into buying something you don't want.
I know this post is a bit old but I’m trying FlyQ for a year after using foreflight for about 5 years. The Boeing acquisition was enough to push me over the edge to FlyQ but I’m currently planning on going back to foreflight after the year is up.
My biggest complaint right now is missing information where the sectionals stitch together.
In the attachments you can see that the tower height information is missing. The dotted line note is cut off which says pilots are requested to avoid flight in this area under 3000ft.
I emailed FlyQ and wasn’t impressed with their response. I never experienced this issue on Foreflight or even fltplan go. FYI this is near KDKX.
Response:
The FAA charts do vary between North/South sections or adjoining charts. This phenomenon went largely unnoticed until technology allowed the stitching of the charts. Having said that, our team is looking into ways to address this.
Double tapping on a object like a airport or navaid calls up the information.
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I also miss being able to scroll through altitudes to see winds aloft on the charts, weather planning info, lightning layer, glide advisor. Not a fan of the extra steps to get a “flight plan” on the map. Some of this may just be that I was used to foreflight. I am curious to see what the next version of FlyQ brings.
Some people prefer to support small businesses. Foreflight quit being a small business when they sold out to Boeing.I have to ask, how, in what way did the Boeing acquisition push you over the edge? Nothing to date has changed. Really curious, do you know something we don’t?
I have to ask, how, in what way did the Boeing acquisition push you over the edge? Nothing to date has changed. Really curious, do you know something we don’t?
Boeing was the needle that broke the camels back in a sense. I did not love how FF kept coming out with new features in higher packages and kept trying to push people to upgrade. It felt like when they started out they were more GA friendly and were improving the base packages.
Boeing was the needle that broke the camels back in a sense. I did not love how FF kept coming out with new features in higher packages and kept trying to push people to upgrade. It felt like when they started out they were more GA friendly and were improving the base packages.
I just felt like they were moving more and more towards focusing on business and corporate clients and away from little guys like me. As a business decision it makes sense, that’s where the money is and likely why Boeing bought them.
The Boeing acquisition solidified in my mind a shift in the user base they are targeting and I just don’t see many upsides for the little guy.
At this point I may still go back to foreflight because I loved the UI and product. I’m trying explore other options in depth though.
ForeFlight has done this for a LONG time. Before Performance existed, the Pro package got a lot of new features first, because they cost a lot of money to develop and ForeFlight wanted to give the reward to those who were financially supporting them at a higher level. Many, if not most, of those features eventually trickled down to the basic version.
The Performance version definitely got its start aimed squarely at those who are operating turbine or turbo equipment, as choosing the correct altitude to get the optimum speed and/or fuel burn can make hundreds of dollars worth of difference for those people in a single flight. That doesn't mean that the old performance engine still in use for Basic or Pro is any worse, it just doesn't make a big enough difference to matter when you're going to end up in a relatively narrow range of altitudes anyway.
Now, of course, every business exists to make money, and so I see ForeFlight appearing to try to sell the Performance version to everyone, but they're doing the same thing they've always done: Add the biggest/coolest new features for those who cough up more money first. They *ARE* adding new features to *ALL* the versions with every release... But of course, they're hyping up the new features of the Performance version the most, because they would like you to give them more money. Again: It's a business.
What I think is kind of silly is that everyone is still getting new features, but because they don't get ALL the new features, they get mad. Did your version get worse? No. It got better, just like it always has. Do you want/need some of the new features now? Maybe try an upgrade. Again: It's a business.
In the grand scheme of things, ForeFlight, while they are (repeat after me a business, they have been excellent corporate citizens, supporting numerous aviation podcasts, scholarships, and other initiatives that are good for GA. They've had excellent support. They've been the leaders in the EFB market since day 1 because they're made up of GA pilots who are really enthusiastic about their product and use it themselves.
So, I continue to enthusiastically support them back. The Boeing acquisition hasn't changed a thing yet. Surely it will at some point, but until then I'll remain an enthusiastic supporter of a great product made by a great company.
Some people prefer to support small businesses. Foreflight quit being a small business when they sold out to Boeing.
So in reality, you are taking it out on Boeing, even though the changes and packages you speak of, came before Boeing’s acquisition of FF. That makes sense...NOT!
I’m neither a fan or hater of Boeing and until such time their direct input changes FF for better or worse, is when I’ll express an opinion. As another poster stated, nothing has changed yet.
Your view I get.
Somedudeintn’s view, doesn’t make sense.
In a sense I suppose you are correct. But I would argue that the Boeing acquisition was made possible by the changes in Foreflights direction. The acquisition led me to believe that that they will continue to devote more and more resources to corporate and less towards GA.
I could very well be wrong and I certainly haven’t written foreflight off. I’m just trying to test out some other EFBs before I go back to foreflight.
Woah dude, chill a bit. I fully understand that foreflight is a business and I don’t fault them for their strategy. I’m happy you continue to like the direction they are going and I’m not trying to make anyone else’s decisions for them.
This post didn't age well.Sorry, didn't mean to come across as aggressive in any way. I'm chill. I just wanted to provide some of the history of what some other folks have been complaining about, because it really doesn't indicate that ForeFlight has "given up" on small GA in any way.
I just want everyone to remember: "They" are us! The founders of ForeFlight, Tyson and Jason, are small-GA pilots like the rest of us. Tyson bought a Diamond Star a few years ago once ForeFlight got profitable; I believe Jason had an SR22 prior to founding ForeFlight. When I was down in Houston for Christmas, I went for a $100 hamburger with Josh Berman in his Lance. ForeFlight isn't some big faceless corporate entity, they are a group of GA pilots just like us who are lucky enough to have a career building and supporting a product for GA. Yes, they've added features for military and commercial users (and even have separate versions of the product for them), but that's what you do for your business to thrive so you can continue to have fun building the thing that you use yourself when you have fun as a GA pilot.
I started with FQ, and bought their lifetime membership. I talked to the developers at AOPA. I like it a lot. It would be my choice for VFR. But for IFR, you can't beat FF. I like the weather presentation of FQ better. It has the bigger wind arrows on the map which make it easier to figure out which way to land. The color coding of the airport circles is better. FF has the airports color coded, but where some of the airports remain blue ever when the airport is clear and a million.
If you are interested in flying approaches and departure/arrival procedures, there is nothing better than FF.
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If you are interested in flying approaches and departure/arrival procedures, there is nothing better than FF.
That's neither a Foreflight nor FlyQ not even iPad specific issue so...I have flown IFR with a tablet for the past 11 years in the same position on the yoke as I used to put paper approach plates in a clip. That's on all of the IFR singles I've flown except for Diamond and Cirrus (no yoke). I haven't had a problem with important instruments being blocked or needing to strip things out of the panel.You're basing this on only using FlyQ and FF? Might want to try all the options out there before making that statement. Especially since it's almost impossible to put an iPad at eye level scan unless you strip everything out of the panel. Unless you think turning your head or looking down while hand flying in IMC is the best way to do things.
That's neither a Foreflight nor FlyQ not even iPad specific issue so...I have flown IFR with a tablet for the past 11 years in the same position on the yoke as I used to put paper approach plates in a clip. That's on all of the IFR singles I've flown except for Diamond and Cirrus (no yoke). I haven't had a problem with important instruments being blocked or needing to strip things out of the panel.
I also have a Flightstream. So the flight plan goes from FF on the iPad to the GNS 530. This system is ideal for me. I have another iPad on the copilot side set up identically. The Flight Stream echoes the flight plan to the copilot where she monitors the flight. If anything goes wrong with my iPad, I have another one within reach that is set up identically to the one in front of me. The ability to modify flight plans on the fly in FF is fantastic. I usually have the Flight Plan bubble up in FF, and it's just a swipe or a little typing to make changes. I can't imagine an easier way to fly IFR without having a mind reading device.
Foreflight has free instruction videos online. I found them easy to follow. Using ForeFlight without understanding all of the features is silly IMHO. Things in there like glide advisor, wx info, obstacles, etc could save you.I know I am in the minority here, but all I need from a software is to show an airplane icon on the map. The simpler the interface the better. I am no expert on FF, but every student I have flown with who uses FF struggles to find things because it has so many options and menus. One student offered to buy me an iPAD and FF subscription so that I can learn it and teach it to him. I didn't take up on that offer.
Most FF users all say that nothing beats it.
Does that still ring true when the iPad overheats, poops, and goes dork up?
I also have FF on my iPhone as a backup.Most FF users all say that nothing beats it.
Does that still ring true when the iPad overheats, poops, and goes dork up?
That's actually all I require from my backup - basically approach plates and georeferenced is a nice plus. I used to have more but I downsized last month when I realized I've needed to use an EFB backup once in eleven years.I know I am in the minority here, but all I need from a software is to show an airplane icon on the map. The simpler the interface the better. I am no expert on FF, but every student I have flown with who uses FF struggles to find things because it has so many options and menus. One student offered to buy me an iPAD and FF subscription so that I can learn it and teach it to him. I didn't take up on that offer.
Can't you say that about every system in your airplane that you rely on?Most FF users all say that nothing beats it.
Does that still ring true when the iPad overheats, poops, and goes dork up?
Foreflight has free instruction videos online. I found them easy to follow. Using ForeFlight without understanding all of the features is silly IMHO. Things in there like glide advisor, wx info, obstacles, etc could save you.