| APDL Video Tutorials now on YouTube |
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APDL is a powerful app for airline pilots flying under FAR 117. Designed off of the familiar trip sheet format packed with features galore there is so much to learn on how to get a lot out of what APDL can offer you. While designed to be simple to use there are powerful features for advanced users. Andy, our documentation team lead, created a great series of APDL training videos now available on our YouTube channel. We will continue to add videos, revise videos as features change over time and we welcome your feedback. Videos are great not only for existing users but prospective users as well. Review the videos to see what APDL can do for you if you have yet to download and try the app.
Don't forget APDL is free to all for the first 90 days. We want you to see how the app works for you through a complete bid cycle. Enjoy the high speed and extremely reliable data everywhere sync (we do not use the unreliable Apple iCloud system), schedule importing which is included with APDL (no separate purchase required), gate change information, automatic logging of your ACARS data through our cloud partners, weather, and tons of features. Click here to download APDL from the Apple App Store or click here to learn more from the NC Software product information page.
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| Customizing Layouts in Logbook Pro Mobile |
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Did you know you can customize the layouts in the Flight entry area so only the fields you need show? We have a lot of fields in a typical logbook yet many only use a small subset depending on their type of flying, ratings, etc. In addition Logbook Pro is powerful in allowing users to add custom fields of various types in the Desktop Options > Custom dialog. These custom fields are passed to the Logbook Pro iOS and Android apps to match your Desktop entry requirements.
To control which fields are visible or hidden go to the Settings area of the app which is a little different for iOS vs. Android. Android has a Settings > Flight Log Layout area and iOS has the layout option at the bottom of Settings > Flight Log. From here you can control the field visibility. Custom columns are done as a set vs. individual fields. By minimizing the fields to what you only use will allow you to log your flights faster minimizing scrolling of the data entry screen.
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| APDL - Your Day in One View |
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Airline pilots get their schedule on a uniquely formatted "trip sheet." While cryptic to the non airline pilot it is a concise set of information airline pilots are accustomed to reading to know when and where to be, duty information, etc. APDL as far back as 2000 with the Palm and Pocket PC editions used this same paradigm to ensure a common format of information is available to the airline pilot as they know and understand.
APDL version 7 for iOS takes the trip sheet to a new level with dynamic information knowing if you're running late, projecting times for real time legality analysis, gate information as well as indicators to notify you that you may be changing aircraft such as arriving and departure gate changes. Trip Sheets are interactive and depending on where you tap different actions occur. Tap the report icon and view a snapshot of your legality data with charts, numbers, and everything you need to know based on this exact moment in time. Airline flying is fluid and times are constantly changing, APDL is working for you to ensure your legality picture is clear at all times. Tap the duty area (header) of your trip to make any changes to the duty information or even delete the duty period or trip as needed. Tap a row such as a leg and the leg editor will appear for updating OOOI information, etc. View the Leg notes area for even more detailed information such as sunrise/sunset data, and more details APDL has available to you.
To add duty or legs tap the Edit button on the upper right and the view will change showing you action buttons to insert information in your day as needed. Tap Done when done with your edits. Additional details show in the footer such as Credit, TAFB, Block, and Landings (day vs. night). A map view is also available in the trip sheet footer to show you the routes you'll be flying for the duty period. Maps are interactive as well, tap the route end points for weather information or if you see yellow or red markers tap those for FAA delay information such as weather delays, traffic management, ground stops, etc. |
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| iOS 9 Released - 3D "Force" Touch Coming |
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Apple released the annual major operating system update - iOS 9 and with their public betas, which is a first, developers were able to ensure compatibility at launch with minimal issues, if any. iOS 9 is not nearly as significant, to app developers at least, as iOS 8 was and generally is a stability and performance improvement year for Apple which also applies to the recently released Mac OS X "El Capitan" update.
Both APDL and Logbook Pro were iOS 9 ready at Apple's launch and we thank those that beta tested our apps with the iOS 9 public betas. As part of our commitment to our subscription holders we stay on top of both Apple and Google's frequent technology changes to ensure your apps are always serving you as you expect.
iOS 9 adds new functionality to iPhone 6S and 6S Plus devices as you may have heard called "3D Touch" or otherwise known as Force Touch. Pressing the application icon firmly to present quick shortcuts as the developer provides or "peek and pop" within apps. Our next versions already support the quick launch shortcuts and we will continue to adopt Apple and Google's new technology enhancements with each update as we continue to evolve our apps.
We do highly recommend iOS 9 and at some point, most likely around Spring of 2016 will move to a iOS 9 minimum version requirement so we can focus on new without wasting time on the old as most people do in fact upgrade to the latest iOS release within a few months of the offering. Should this impact anyone please send us your feedback but we are not in any rush to remove iOS 8 support as of this writing.
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| Cirrus Elite's General Aviation Binders |
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Cirrus Elite makes the finest aviation binders on the market today sold exclusively by NC Software. Several form factors are available depending on the amount of flying you do. The Commander series is our high capacity for "paid pilots" and our smaller format binders such as the Premier and Sport are for the "pay to fly" pilots - i.e. professional vs. general aviation.
Two binders for recreational pilots are available: The Premier which is a luxurious leather binder with corner savers, inner pockets, and gold rings and the Sport binder is the economical binder which is a vinyl product with the look and feel of leather, silver corner savers and silver rings. Internal pockets are available as well to hold identification cards, fuel cards, receipts, etc.
As we've stated for years all should print out a hard copy of their logbook and keep it up to date as it not only serves as a backup but also allows you to keep your logbook readily available at all times. Logbook Pro's "split series" reports make printing easy and have reports specific to each binder form factor. Cirrus Elite also provides a heavy bond high quality paper that goes through your printer like any other Letter sized paper with tear away perforations so the paper does not extend out of the binder's edges.
Get your binder today and also keep in mind holiday season is rapidly approaching and binders make a great gift for any pilot. All binders with exception of the Sport series also offer binder personalization to put the pilot's name on the binder if desired.
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| Data Entry Tips for Logbook Pro Desktop |
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With computer software we can do some pretty amazing things to make the users' life easier and more productive. Knowing what those things are when using the software is the software developers challenge which we call "discoverability" - finding the helpful features we build in. Logbook Pro Desktop has various features to make logging flights simple and fast. We review these from time to time as our customer base rapidly grows over time and our newer subscribers may not be aware of prior newsletter articles.
- With the Date column active press P to enter the previously logged date or press T to enter today's date
- Press R to advance to the Remarks column
- Once the duration is entered double-click into any time column to copy the duration into that column
- Configure AutoFill in the Options area for each A/C Type so that when the Duration is entered you can automatically apply the duration value to the preset columns
- On the Date Editor click into the header area to rapidly change Months and Years
- Logbook Pro remembers your last entered values for Type, Ident, and Route -- simply tabbing into these fields will prefill with the prior values
- For Approach and Expense columns press the spacebar to show the editor
- For drop downs such as Type, Ident, Route press F4 to show the drop down, F4 to hide it, arrow keys up/down to select values
- To delete a row click the row header left of the date column and then press delete or click the red delete X on the toolbar. To select a range of rows to delete press SHIFT + CLICK on start and ending rows, to selectively select rows for deletion CTRL + CLICK the row headers.
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