DUAT or DUATS,.... usage tips requested.

Rob Schaffer

Rob Schaffer

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Well, as a student I didn't have access to the DUAT(s) system as my medical certificate was on file but not my student certificate. I sent in my information, but due to the pace of my training and the delay on their end, I didn't get in the system in time to use during my training.

So, here I am now as a PP, and I have access to DUATS. What is the difference, if any, between DUAT and DUATS access websites?

Any tips on using DUATS? I'm still exploring a little bit with the interface and I just downloaded the AOPA Real-Time Flight Planner as well.
 
I prefer DTC DUAT but because it worked better for me at slower bandwidth on aircards while mobil. It also works on my PDA.

The latter may be on DUATS by now, I don't know.
 
I've used both, and prefer DUATS, but that may be because I started with it, so I'm more used to it. User interfaces on both leave something to be desired. Frankly, DUAT may be more user friendly but, as I say, I kinda stick with what I know. At the end of the day, they both have the same information, it's just a matter of presentation.
 
Download the Golden Eagle software. It uses DUATS for the Wx source. There is a link at the bottom of the DUATS homepage to download this program. Best FREE online flight planner, IMHO.
 
The AOPA rag has an insert each month with DUATS tips. I use to save them, I'll try to remember to look this weekend.
 
Rob Schaffer said:
Well, as a student I didn't have access to the DUAT(s) system as my medical certificate was on file but not my student certificate. I sent in my information, but due to the pace of my training and the delay on their end, I didn't get in the system in time to use during my training.
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Really? I got my DUAT access as a student, with the student certificate number, but that was pre-9/11 and any pointless new security rules. I don't think DUAT has by PPL certificate number to this day.

I can't imagine the feds were fearful that the terrists might read NOTAMS and METARS but my imagination in that regard isn't too good.

They obviously had some miscreants hacking or DOSing the site which is why they have the warning now that it's federal site for official use only. I would more likely imagine some maroons thought it would be cool to automating using DUAT as a source of whatever data for their web site.
 
Rob Schaffer said:
Well, as a student I didn't have access to the DUAT(s) system as my medical certificate was on file but not my student certificate.
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mikea said:
Really? I got my DUAT access as a student, with the student certificate number, but that was pre-9/11 and any pointless new security rules.
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Read carefully, Mike... For some reason his student cert # didn't make it into the system.

Though isn't that the same as your medical? :dunno: I think I got on DUATS as a student.

I think DUATS is a bit more text-heavy than DUAT, and frankly neither one of them works the way my brain does, so I've made up my own set of web pages I can pull up with a single click and I simply use DUATS if I'm going to file a flight plan online or want to get a quickie nav log or an idea of exactly how long the flight will take.
 
flyingcheesehead said:
Read carefully, Mike... For some reason his student cert # didn't make it into the system.

Though isn't that the same as your medical? :dunno: I think I got on DUATS as a student.
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Normally it's the same, but if you were deferred by the AME, might they be different? In that case, you'd need to get the student certificate from the FSDO. I presume that Sport Pilots would have the same issue.
 
gprellwitz said:
Normally it's the same, but if you were deferred by the AME, might they be different? In that case, you'd need to get the student certificate from the FSDO. I presume that Sport Pilots would have the same issue.
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It's the other way 'round. Your first medical is your student certificate so there's only one number.

As far as I can think about it, the (first) student certificate without a medical buys you nuttin'. If you can't solo, what do you have?

Now, in my case I didn't finish before my first medical expired so I had two certificates, a second medical and the original student pilot certificate.
 
mikea said:
It's the other way 'round. Your first medical is your student certificate so there's only one number.

As far as I can think about it, the (first) student certificate without a medical buys you nuttin'. If you can't solo, what do you have?

Now, in my case I didn't finish before my first medical expired so I had two certificates, a second medical and the original student pilot certificate.
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That should have been reversed. The Student Certificate is valid for 24 calendar months while the Third Class Medical Certificate is valid for 36 calendar months, provided you're not.... olllllddd! :) Then, it's valid for 24 calendar months.

There was a proposal or at least a suggestion further up the chain to make student certificates valid for 36 calendar months to coincide with the Medical Certificate. I don't know where that stands.
 
KennyFlys said:
That should have been reversed. The Student Certificate is valid for 24 calendar months while the Third Class Medical Certificate is valid for 36 calendar months, provided you're not.... olllllddd! :) Then, it's valid for 24 calendar months.

There was a proposal or at least a suggestion further up the chain to make student certificates valid for 36 calendar months to coincide with the Medical Certificate. I don't know where that stands.
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OK. How long is a special issuance medical valid? Buehler?
 
mikea said:
It's the other way 'round. Your first medical is your student certificate so there's only one number.

As far as I can think about it, the (first) student certificate without a medical buys you nuttin'. If you can't solo, what do you have?

Now, in my case I didn't finish before my first medical expired so I had two certificates, a second medical and the original student pilot certificate.
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But if you don't have a medical, you would need to get the student pilot certificate from the FSDO before you could get access to DUATS. Not saying that this is the case for the OP, just that it's a possible scenario.
mikea said:
OK. How long is a special issuance medical valid? Buehler?
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It depends on what OK city says. Sometimes a year, sometimes the normal period. It'll depend on what they perceive the risk to be. Kind of why it's called a special issuance, no?
 
gprellwitz said:
But if you don't have a medical, you would need to get the student pilot certificate from the FSDO before you could get access to DUATS. Not saying that this is the case for the OP, just that it's a possible scenario.
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If you have the medical, you have the student certificate. It's on the other side.

What I'm saying; you can solo with a medical (which you have to qualify for) + the student certificate (which is the price of filling out a form) + endorsement(s). You get nothing but a number with only the student.
 
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First, thanks to those that posted. I've registered for DUATS and have been getting familiar with it.

As far as what happened, I don't know. I had a combination medical/student certificate, but when I entered the number it wouldn't come up. If you searched my name on the FAA registry, you would see that I held a medical certificate, but it didn't say anything about a student certificate. So, I followed the directions on the DUATs website about sending in copies of your information but by the time that was processed I already had my PP Certificate.

either way, now I have access so I'm looking to use it more for at home briefing and planning before I get to the airport and call the briefer.

I'll look into the Golden Eagle Planner,... the AOPA RTFP is pretty easy to use so far.

Thanks
 
mikea said:
If you have the medical, you have the student certificate. It's on the other side.

What I'm saying; you can solo with a medical (which you have to qualify for) + the student certificate (which is the price of filling out a form) + endorsement(s). You get nothing but a number with only the student.
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Mike, maybe we're talking at cross purposes. I was illustrating that it's possible to have a student pilot certificate issued before a medical. If you go in for your first medical and are deferred, or you opt not to go in because you are planning to fly sport pilot, you don't have a medical, with or without a student pilot certificate on the back. Therefore, to get that number, which you need in order to get on DUAT/S, you need to go to the FSDO. I don't think that the AME is going to issue a medical certificate, even if it says "not valid for any class", in order to give you the student pilot certificate. That's the function of the FSDO.

Looking back at Rob's initial post, he said the medical certificate was on file but not the student pilot certificate. My initial hypothesis about how that occurred involved getting them in the atypical manner I described. He didn't say who the medical was "on file" with, though, so I probably just misunderstood something and served to confuse the issue. Maybe Rob'll give us a few more details, not that it matters whatsoever. Enough of this thread hijack! Sorry!:redface:
 
Golden Eagle Vs AOPA RTFP?

I've downloaded GE a few times now -- maybe I didn't give it enough time, but I didn't see any advantages over the free AOPA flight planner which I use almost exclusively for IFR flight planning.

:dunno:
 
mikea said:
OK. How long is a special issuance medical valid? Buehler?
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Oops, sorry about that. It had been a while since I had read the earlier posts. Yep, SIs make it a pain to drop back to 12 calendar months.

I'm gonna have to deal with that on one my students and it wouldn't have to be that if the AME was worth a plumb nickel. Needless to say, that AME was dropped from our referral list. They were replaced with who may turn out to be our local version of Dr. Bruce. :)

Another student feared issues with blood pressure. His primary doc turned out to be a senior AME. The AME's response (paraphrased): "Don't worry about it. We'll get your blood pressure under control and you certified; without meds." He called Thursday to tell me he now holds a valid medical. Awesome!
 
mikea said:
Not 6 years without checking in every year.
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That is correct. That's why I thought I stated I've had 6 in the last 6 years. Now that I re-read the post, it wasn't as clear as it could have been.
 
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Another vote for DUATS and Golden Eagle. I like the fact that I can graphically display the weather alon my route of flight and get full briefings through Golden Eagle also.
 
Anthony said:
Another vote for DUATS and Golden Eagle. I like the fact that I can graphically display the weather alon my route of flight and get full briefings through Golden Eagle also.
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Same here. I use it. I didn't like the AOPA flight planner when I last tried it a couple of years ago. Maybe it's gotten better over the years.
 
I use DUATS Golden Eagle as well. Like someone else said, it may be mostly a habit. I've used their product for several years. Prior to high speed, the DUATS interface would work off line. You could put in your proposed route of flight, etc. and then download all the weather information. IIRC, DUAT could only be used on line and dial up didn't work very well. DUAT now has an interface similar to Golden Eagle, but habits are hard to break. It may be as good or better than Golden Eagle, just haven't tried it much yet.
 
AWACSEng said:
Download the Golden Eagle software. It uses DUATS for the Wx source. There is a link at the bottom of the DUATS homepage to download this program. Best FREE online flight planner, IMHO.
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I agree. It is much better than RTFP from AOPA and it works off line. Plus you can buy add ons if you so desire.
 
dmccormack said:
Golden Eagle Vs AOPA RTFP?

I've downloaded GE a few times now -- maybe I didn't give it enough time, but I didn't see any advantages over the free AOPA flight planner which I use almost exclusively for IFR flight planning.

:dunno:
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Works offline, easier route editing, I like the chart display better, and it has a profile view.
 
Rob Schaffer said:
What is the difference, if any, between DUAT and DUATS access websites?
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The FAA pays both companies to do basic briefing and flight plan filing. Everything beyond that is additional services which the companies tack on to (hopefully) entice you to purchase their add-on services. If you spend a little time poking around the sites you'll see that competition is a wonderful thing. DUATS has built their add-on model around their Golden Eagle flight planning software which has already been discussed in this thread. DUAT has focussed more on on-line services: they have lots more depth for doing your flight planning right on their website. They also offer briefings on your PDA's tiny screen - a benefit when you're on the road. Between the two there isn't a right answer - check them both and and see what suits your own style.
 
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I've downloaded GE a few times now -- maybe I didn't give it enough time, but I didn't see any advantages over the free AOPA flight planner which I use almost exclusively for IFR flight planning
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You might want to give it another look. There was a major new release recently and now you can buy inexpensive NACO charts and use them on the screen. You can also print them as part of the trip pack feature. You can subscribe to the electronic version of Flight Guide too .
 
I was thinking about why I liked GE more than the AOPA product, and they are similar, but Scott hit the nail on the head. Another nifty feature is the Trip Pack that can be created to include a route overview, flight plan, nav log, and a few other items. I started with the AOPA RTFP, but the GE just seems to fit my personal prefernces more. Both are good products.
 
AWACSEng said:
I was thinking about why I liked GE more than the AOPA product, and they are similar, but Scott hit the nail on the head. Another nifty feature is the Trip Pack that can be created to include a route overview, flight plan, nav log, and a few other items. I started with the AOPA RTFP, but the GE just seems to fit my personal prefernces more. Both are good products.
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Thanks for the feedback on the differences.

I suppose it's mere personal preference -- I carry charts and IAP books, so all I need is a Flight Plan printout and Nav log (which contains winds aloft data if downloaded).

I used to carry a ton of paper and printouts. No more. IFR and Sectional charts in an a/c pocket, Approach books within reach, and an AOPA RTFP Nav log on the kneeboard do it for me. I write my clearance on the back of the nav log (if there are changes -- which happens-- I don't need that printout anyway).

If I have a short clearance void time, I'll do rule-of-thumb calulations to the first fix or so, and then do the rest once established in cruise.

I like poring over maps as much as anyone, but once aloft I try to keep it simple.
 
Dan, you are correct. It is nothing more than personal preference, for me at least. Odd thing is I don't use either of them for actual planning. I use GE for a general overview for distance, time, weather effect, etc. But I still plot ithe route and wind the plan via traditional methods including sectionals and the good ole' whiz wheel. Still think I trust myself more than the computer. And to think, I'm of the computer gereration. Oh, well.
 
smigaldi said:
I agree. It is much better than RTFP from AOPA and it works off line. Plus you can buy add ons if you so desire.
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Does Golden Eagle support SIDs and STARs? RTFP doesn't support entry of any user elements unless you rubber-band the course (unless there's a way I've not found).
 
Why yes, yes it does. I belive that is a feature you may have to subscribe to though.
 
One thing that affects me--DUATS/Golden Eagle have private airports in their database--DUAT/RTFP does not. Don't know if that would change with the pay versions.

Also, the navlog print out in DUATS looks exactly like the navlogs that John and Martha use in their video courses that I studied for my PPL! Hmmm. Coincidence? I don't think so. Anyone else notice this?
________
herbal vaporizer
 
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You can change your userid to any valid number. When I first signed up with DUAT (at an AOPA convention), the guy used my THEN telephone number. At some point in time, that became meaningless. My DUATS id was equally meaningless as it was system generated and I had to refer to the card they sent everytime I went to use it. So now both DUATS and DUAT have the same number (and no, it's not 12345678, although I could remember that).
Most of the planning software let's you view the DUAT(S) reports online. RTFP let you select which one you want to use. I originally found DUATS satelite images didn't download well so opted for DUAT. Voyager from Seattle Avionics also lets you select which to use.
You should run a couple of tests between the two to see which output you like better. Also, pick up a couple of the flight planning software products and see how they work with them.
 
I use the free version of voyager from Seattle Avionics (which uses DTC DUAT as the backend for filing and official briefings).

I like it a lot better than the AOPA RTFP, and I can't remember what I thought about Golded Eagle.

--david
 
I'll be interested in seeing the new AOPA RTFP currently in Beta. Problem is, it's apparently an Internet app, which isn't very helpful when you're stuck without an internet connection. I presume that they'll still give you the option to use either DUAT/S as the filing service.
 
NO!... Not .... LM AFSS!!!!! How dare you?!?!?! J/K To each his own I suppose.
 
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