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ForeFlight Gives Pilots a Look Under the Hood

ForeFlight’s traffic alerting system is trying to become more like the original TCAS system. ForeFlight
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Key Takeaways:

  • ForeFlight introduced new predictive traffic alerts, inspired by TCAS, that outline nearby aircraft in yellow or red based on proximity, speed, and direction, though disabled in airport patterns.
  • Key data integrations include a new FlightAware feed for tracking aircraft and switching to Jeppesen as the sole, more curated source for NOTAMs, particularly benefiting international flights.
  • User interface improvements include displaying airport information in a map sidebar to prevent obstruction and enhancements to the traditional flight binder system for organizing approach data.
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Sam Taylor, ForeFlight’s senior video marketing specialist, on April 14 hosted a virtual update at Sun ‘n Fun of new features added to the company’s software in the first quarter of 2021. At the top of Taylor’s list was mention of changes to ForeFlight’s efforts to learn from the successes inherent in the original traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS) now standard in most transport category aircraft. Taylor said pilots will now see nearby traffic outlined either in yellow or in red depending upon their proximity. “We’ve been inspired by TCAS alerts and now account for an aircraft speed and direction of flight. He said the software is now predictive relative to the ForeFlight user aircraft’s direction of flight. “Targets expected to pass within two nautical miles of your airplane and within 1,200 feet vertically will be outlined in yellow. If within the next 25 seconds the traffic will come within 1.3 nm and 1,200 feet vertically it will be highlighted in red.” He added that for safety concerns, traffic alerts are disabled when aircraft enter the airport traffic pattern and are flying near to other airplanes.

Rob Mark

Rob Mark is an award-winning journalist, business jet pilot, flight instructor, and blogger.

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