Aviation Reviews

Click here to read the review	Aeroplane GPS Navigation One of the most fascinating parts of private flying is the process of planning a route, allowing for wind etc and then actually arriving on time. VFR (Visual Flying Rules) flying, when you can see around you, involves the use of compass and map and allows the use of navigation aids, beacons etc to verify position and distance. GPS is not part of a PPL (Private Pilots License) programme, and in plane GPS equipment is rare in the older club/ hire aircraft and specialist aviation GPS equipment expensive.

Click here to read the review	Garmin GPSMap295 Review The Garmin GPSMAP 295 is an excellent, professional, portable GPS navigation device. It is expensive to buy and maintain but will appeal to keen amateurs who want a ‘stand alone’ system with full support and excellent colour screen visibility. There will be an on-going debate about button pressing vs screen touching but the Garmin GPSMap295 is capable of simple and safe operation by a solo pilot or complex navigation with the aid of a co-pilot.

Click here to read the review	Helicopter GPS Navigation Patrice flies a EuroCopter EC120 Colibri over in Monaco similar to the one pictured on the right. The EuroCopter EC120 is quite a commonly known helicopter and can be found used in all kinds of uses from industry, Offshore work, to training, Corporate and Law Enforcement. Patrice has been great to share his experience and setup he uses when flying the EuroCopter EC120.

Click here to read the review	GPS For The Amateur Pilot Learning to fly is clearly one of the most demanding and enjoyable projects, with the normal objective of achieving a Private Pilots Licence (PPL). However most flying schools operate quite elderly aircraft without in-built GPS systems and PPL navigation training does not include GPS, nor is it encouraged as a "reliable" primary system. Training for VFR (visual flying) and IFR (instrument flying) relies on paper maps and runway layouts, plastic "flight computers" (to allow for wind direction and speed effects), magnetic and gyro compass, air speed calculation, timing and use of the various type of radio beacons depending upon the sophistication of the on-board instrumentation.

Click here to read the review	NavGPS Pro NavGPS is a well thought out and comprehensive aeronautical navigation system for Pocket PC's and works with most types of GPS Receivers. Versions are available for Windows (PC), ARM/ Xscale, MIPS and SH3. The system is available with vector based worldwide topographical maps and aeronautical data and can be downloaded from www.gonavgps.com . The cost is $199 for a single licence, with aeronautical info updated on a 28 day basis at a cost of $80 p.a.

Click here to read the review	Pocket FMS Pocket FMS is free but uses a shareware based (donation) system to help support the project. Pocket FMS supports both PC and PDA's and although is still in beta, is an exciting piece of navigation software. A most impressive, instinctive and practical start with a new piece of software and comforting to find a complete and up to date database of airports, including specific runways and VOR"s .

Click here to read the review	TeleType Aviation This product is part of Teletype "World Navigator" series which includes aviation, marine and street coverage, world wide version 092003. The package tested comprised 4 CD's with street level coverage for ALL of Europe as well as a world wide airport database. This comprehensive package is currently available at $224 for the software and $559 including a CF GPS receiver and booster antenna (Teletype 1851).

Click here to read the review	WinPilot VFR Review Peter has completed his in-depth WinPilot VFR 1.51 review. This reviews the software inside and out both from the ground and in the air, using it extensively in-flight. The review kit comprised a Compaq iPAQ 3850, a Leadtek 9531 GPS receiver and a normal, in-car Y lead adapted to plug into a 5 volt battery power pack. You will need a similar package. The VFR software was downloaded together with Europe.wa1 (compressed file of airspace data), UK.wp3 (UK terrain) and France.wp3. This, plus the password provided by WinPilot, is all you need to get started.