ForeFlight made a big splash this summer with the release of version 8, which delivered a new data-driven aeronautical map layer. While the new map generated most of the hype during the announcement, there were many other enhancements you may have missed. Here are 8 features in the latest version of ForeFlight to check out on your next flight.
Embedded airport diagrams The Aero layer also includes airport diagrams right on the Maps page – no need to visit the Plates or Airports pages. Just keep zooming in on an airport and you’ll see a geo-referenced airport diagram, complete with taxiway labels and FBO locations.
New dedicated alert settings page (with new TFR alerts) ForeFlight continues to add new in-flight alerting features with each release. In an effort to declutter the main settings menu, ForeFlight created a new dedicated Alerts screen accessed from the settings menu. Here you can customize your alert preferences, and enable the new TFR visual and audio alerts, which were also added in ForeFlight 8.
Two-thirds view on iPhone With today’s iPhone screens approaching the size of the iPad Mini, ForeFlight added a new two-thirds view to the map screen to make better use of the large display. Tap anywhere on the Maps screen and you’ll see the info box slide up from the bottom just below a smaller view of the map. This allows you to explore all the details for an airport while still viewing a sectional or other chart layer.
Automatic N# capture in logbook When flying in an airplane that is ADS-B out equipped and using the Stratus ADS-B receiver with ForeFlight, the Logbook function will automatically capture your N# in the auto-generated logbook draft entry.
See-through approach charts with dark aeronautical map theme The new dark aeronautical map theme makes it much easier to view approach plates on the map with the opacity turned down. This allows you to still read all the approach chart details, while keeping an eye on airspace and other features underneath – a much cleaner look when compared to doing the same thing with a sectional or IFR en route chart.
MEA and MOCA altitudes appear on the route lines when victor airways are entered in flight plan At first you may think the airway overlay looks a bit bare on the new aeronautical map layer compared to the same view on the FAA IFR en route charts. They come to life though when enter a victor airway in your route, displaying the minimum IFR altitudes for each segment.
3D touch on iPhone Pilots flying with an iPhone 6 or newer can take advantage of ForeFlight’s 3D touch feature on the home screen icon. Press down firmly on the icon and you’ll see shortcuts to go right to the Logbook, File& Brief, Nearest and Maps sections of the app.
Logbook currency monitoring One of the great benefits of using a digital logbook is to be able to quickly determine your flight currency at a glance. In addition showing color-coded currency status, ForeFlight 8.1 now shows the individual entries used to validate each item, allowing you to better understand your currency and potentially spot entry mistakes.
Source: Ipad apps8 hidden features in ForeFlight 8