Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Common questions about IN-FLIGHT answered.

General Questions

Is IN-FLIGHT approved for actual flight operations?

No. IN-FLIGHT is a planning tool, not FAA-certified equipment. Use it for flight planning and backup reference, but always verify data against current charts and NOTAMs. For primary navigation, use certified equipment and official aeronautical data.

Does IN-FLIGHT work offline?

Partially. Once the database is loaded:

• ✅ Route calculation works offline
• ✅ Navigation log generation works offline
• ✅ GPS tracking works offline
• ✅ Map display works offline
• ❌ Winds aloft requires internet (initial fetch)
• ❌ AirNav links require internet

What devices can I use IN-FLIGHT on?

Any modern device with a web browser:

• Desktop/laptop computers (Windows, Mac, Linux)
• Tablets (iPad, Android tablets)
• Smartphones (iPhone, Android phones)
• Any device with GPS for tracking features

Recommended: Tablet or laptop for best experience.

Does IN-FLIGHT require an account or login?

No. IN-FLIGHT runs entirely in your browser with no account, login, or registration required. All data is stored locally on your device.

Is my flight data private?

Yes. All data stays on your device:

• No server uploads
• No tracking or analytics
• No personal information collected
• GPX exports contain only GPS coordinates

How much does IN-FLIGHT cost?

Free. IN-FLIGHT is free and open-source.

Database Questions

How often should I update the database?

Every 6 months recommended. To update:

1. Go to DATA tab
2. Click CLEAR ALL
3. Click LOAD DATABASE

Database includes FAA NASR and OurAirports data which is periodically updated.

How much storage does the database use?

Approximately 50-100 MB of browser storage. Most devices have plenty of available space.

Can I use my own database?

Currently, no. The database is loaded from FAA NASR and OurAirports sources. Custom database import is a potential future feature.

Does the database include international waypoints?

Limited. Coverage includes:

• ✅ United States (comprehensive)
• ✅ Canada (limited)
• ✅ Mexico (limited)
• ❌ Oceanic waypoints
• ❌ NAT tracks
• ❌ Most international locations

For international flight planning, use official tools.

Route Planning Questions

What route syntax does IN-FLIGHT support?

IN-FLIGHT supports standard ICAO flight plan format:

• Direct routing (waypoint to waypoint)
• Airways (Victor, Jet, RNAV)
• SID/STAR procedures
• Mixed routing (combination of above)

See Route Tab Guide for details.

Can I plan IFR routes?

Yes. IN-FLIGHT parses IFR route syntax including airways, SIDs, and STARs. Use it for planning, practice, and understanding route structure. Always verify routes against current charts and file using official channels.

Why can't I find a specific waypoint?

Several possibilities:

• Typo in waypoint name
• Waypoint not in database (oceanic, international)
• Database not loaded
• Waypoint recently added (database may be outdated)

Do I need to enable wind correction?

No, it's optional. Wind correction provides:

• More accurate headings
• Ground speed calculations
• ETE and ETA estimates
• Required for fuel planning

You can calculate routes without it for basic distance and bearing.

Can I save my routes?

Yes, two ways:

1. Export Navlog - Download as JSON file (NAVLOG tab → EXPORT)
2. Recent Routes - Last 10 routes automatically saved (ROUTE tab)

Navigation & GPS Questions

Does IN-FLIGHT require GPS?

No, not required. GPS is only needed for:

• Moving map tracking
• Real-time position display
• Flight recording

Route planning works without GPS.

How accurate is the GPS tracking?

GPS accuracy depends on your device and environment:

• Good conditions: ±5-15 meters
• Typical: ±15-50 meters
• Poor conditions: ±50-100+ meters

This is not approved for navigation. Use certified GPS equipment.

Why doesn't the map auto-advance to the next waypoint?

Auto-advance triggers when you're within 2 nautical miles of the next waypoint. If it's not advancing:

• Ensure GPS is ACTIVE
• Check you're actually close to waypoint
• Verify H-ACC is reasonable (<100M)
• May take 5-10 seconds to detect

You can manually advance with NEXT button.

Can I use IN-FLIGHT for actual in-flight navigation?

As backup reference only. For primary navigation, always use:

• Certified panel-mount GPS
• Official aeronautical charts
• Current approach plates
• Proper VFR/IFR navigation procedures

Do waypoint announcements work on all devices?

Mostly. Text-to-speech support varies:

• ✅ Chrome (desktop and mobile) - Full support
• ✅ Safari (iOS/Mac) - Full support
• Firefox - Limited TTS support
• iOS - Works but limited customization
• ❌ Older browsers - No support

Fuel Planning Questions

How accurate are fuel calculations?

Fuel calculations are estimates only based on:

• Your specified burn rate
• Calculated flight time
• Wind-corrected ground speeds

Actual fuel burn varies with:

• Power settings
• Mixture leaning
• Altitude
• Weather
• Aircraft condition

Always verify fuel physically and follow POH procedures.

Why don't I see fuel statistics?

Fuel planning requires:

1. Wind correction enabled (for time calculations)
2. Fuel planning enabled in ROUTE tab
3. Route calculated with both enabled

Can I customize fuel reserve requirements?

Yes. In ROUTE tab fuel settings:

• VFR Day: 30 minutes
• VFR Night / IFR: 45 minutes

These match FAA requirements.

What if I run out of fuel according to the plan?

Plan a fuel stop or reduce distance. IN-FLIGHT will warn if fuel is insufficient:

• Red highlighting in navlog
• "INSUFFICIENT FUEL" message
• Endurance less than legal reserve

Never depart without adequate fuel.

Checklist Questions

Can I customize the checklist?

Currently, no. The checklist is fixed for Piper Cherokee 140. Future versions may support:

• Multiple aircraft types
• Custom checklist editor
• Import/export checklists

Is the checklist approved for my aircraft?

No. The checklist is generic for PA-28-140 and may not match your specific aircraft. Always use the official POH checklist for your aircraft.

Does the checklist include emergency procedures?

No. Only normal operations checklists are included. For emergencies, reference your POH Emergency Procedures section.

Can I print the checklist?

Yes. Use browser print function (Ctrl+P / Cmd+P). IN-FLIGHT automatically switches to a printer-friendly layout with:

• High-contrast black text on white background
• Hidden buttons and UI elements
• Optimized formatting for paper

For cockpit use, consider:

• Printing from browser to PDF
• Mounting tablet with checklist visible
• Using paper POH checklist

See Printing Guide for details.

Printing Questions

Can I print my flight plan?

Yes. IN-FLIGHT has built-in printer-friendly formatting:

To print:

1. Open the tab(s) you want to print (NAVLOG, STATS, CHKLST, etc.)
2. Press Ctrl+P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+P (Mac)
3. Review print preview
4. Click Print or save as PDF

What gets printed?

IN-FLIGHT prints only the currently active tab. This gives you clean, focused output.

To print a specific tab:

1. Click on the tab you want (NAVLOG, STATS, CHKLST, etc.)
2. Press Ctrl+P / Cmd+P
3. Only that tab's content will appear in print preview

Available for printing:

• ✅ WELCOME tab: App info and disclaimer
• ✅ DATA tab: Database status and system checks
• ✅ ROUTE tab: Route input with departure, route, destination
• ✅ NAVLOG tab: Complete navigation log table (most common!)
• ✅ STATS tab: Flight statistics and fuel planning
• ✅ CHKLST tab: All checklists (auto-expanded for printing)
• MAP tab: Shows helpful message (canvas graphics can't print)

Automatically optimized for printing:

• Tab navigation buttons → Hidden
• Input buttons (CALCULATE, CLEAR, etc.) → Hidden
• Help text and instructions → Hidden
• Action buttons → Hidden
• Collapsed checklists → Auto-expanded
• All UI chrome → Hidden

Does it work on color and black-and-white printers?

Yes! IN-FLIGHT's print styles work on both:

Color printers:

• Airports: Dark blue
• Navaids: Dark magenta
• Reporting points: Dark orange (underlined)
• Other elements: Professional colors
• Clear, vibrant output

Grayscale/B&W printers:

• Colors convert to different gray shades
• High contrast maintained
• All text remains readable
• Reporting points underlined for visibility
• Professional black-on-white appearance

How do I print just the navlog?

Easy! IN-FLIGHT automatically prints only the active tab:

1. Click on NAVLOG tab
2. Press Ctrl+P / Cmd+P
3. Only the navlog will appear in print preview
4. Print or save as PDF

The printed navlog includes:

• Time generated - When the navlog was calculated
• Filed altitude - Your planned cruising altitude
• Filed speed - Your true airspeed (TAS) used for calculations
• Route summary - User route, expanded route, distance, waypoints
• Wind altitude table - Winds and temperatures at different altitudes (if enabled)
• Complete waypoint table - All waypoints with coordinates, frequencies, and leg details
• Clean, borderless layout optimized for paper

Same for any tab:

• Want just the checklist? Click CHKLST tab, then print
• Want just stats? Click STATS tab, then print
• Want route details? Click ROUTE tab, then print

Tip: Save as PDF for digital archival without using paper/ink.

Why does the print preview look different from the screen?

IN-FLIGHT uses special print-only styles that activate when printing:

• Screen: Dark theme (black background, bright colors) optimized for displays
• Print: Light theme (white background, dark text) optimized for paper

This ensures:

• Good contrast on white paper
• Readable text (no light cyan/magenta on white)
• Professional appearance
• Efficient ink usage

What happens if I try to print the MAP tab?

Instead of a blank page, you'll see a helpful message explaining that the interactive map cannot be printed (canvas graphics don't work on paper) and directing you to use the NAVLOG tab for a printable reference with all waypoint coordinates and headings.

Do collapsed checklists expand when printing?

Yes! All checklists automatically expand when printing, even if they're collapsed on screen. This ensures you get the complete checklist on paper without having to manually expand each section first.

Why does the wind altitude table show fewer rows than legs?

The wind altitude table displays winds and temperatures at 6 sample points along your route (every 20% of total distance). This provides useful altitude planning data without overwhelming detail:

Sample points:

• 0% - Departure
• 20% - First quarter
• 40% - Midpoint area
• 60% - Past midpoint
• 80% - Final quarter
• 100% - Destination

Each wind cell shows direction/speed/temperature (e.g., "280°/25KT/-8°C") to help you choose the best altitude for favorable winds and comfortable temperatures.

This gives you a clear picture of how winds and temperatures change at different altitudes as you progress along your route, without the clutter of showing every single leg.

For detailed leg-by-leg wind corrections, the NAVLOG tab shows wind calculations (including temperature) for every individual segment.

Can I print in landscape orientation?

Yes. In the print dialog:

1. Look for "Layout" or "Orientation" setting
2. Choose "Landscape"
3. Print or save

Landscape may work better for wide navlog tables.

The colors are too light when printed. What's wrong?

If colors appear washed out:

1. Check printer settings: Ensure "Print background colors" is enabled
2. Browser settings: Chrome → Print dialog → More settings → Enable "Background graphics"
3. Printer quality: Set to "Best" or "High Quality" mode
4. Ink levels: Check if cartridges need replacement

IN-FLIGHT uses dark colors specifically to avoid this issue, but browser/printer settings can affect output.

Can I save the print output as PDF?

Yes. In the print dialog:

1. Look for "Destination" or "Printer" dropdown
2. Select "Save as PDF" or "Microsoft Print to PDF"
3. Choose location and filename
4. Save

Benefits:

• Digital backup of flight plan
• Easy sharing via email
• Archive old flights
• No paper/ink needed

Do I need to print every flight?

No. Printing is optional. Many pilots prefer:

• Digital-only: Keep tablet with IN-FLIGHT open in cockpit
• PDF archive: Save as PDF for records
• Hybrid: Print critical flights, keep others digital

For training/education, printing can be helpful for study and review.

Flight Recording Questions

Where are my recorded flights stored?

Recorded flights are stored:

1. Current flight: In browser memory (STATS tab)
2. Completed flights: In browser IndexedDB (DATA tab)

All storage is local to your device.

Can I export flight tracks?

Yes. Export as GPX format:

• Current flight: STATS tab → EXPORT
• Saved flights: DATA tab → EXPORT GPX

GPX files work with ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, Google Earth, and other apps.

How long are tracks stored?

Tracks are stored indefinitely in browser cache until:

• You clear browser data
• You delete tracks (DATA tab → CLEAR ALL TRACKS)
• Browser storage is full and browser evicts old data

Best practice: Export tracks regularly for backup.

Why is my track not recording?

Check:

• GPS is ACTIVE (STATS tab)
• Recording status shows ACTIVE
• Track points (PTS) incrementing
• In AUTO mode, ground speed > 30 KT
• In MANUAL mode, START button clicked

Performance Questions

Why is IN-FLIGHT slow?

Common causes:

• Initial database load (first time only)
• Complex route calculation (30-60 seconds normal)
• Many browser tabs open (close extras)
• Old/slow device (upgrade if possible)
• Poor internet for wind data

Why does route calculation take so long?

Complex routes with airways and procedures require:

• Airway expansion (many waypoints)
• Wind data fetching (internet delay)
• Multiple calculations per leg

Normal: 10-30 seconds Complex routes: 30-60 seconds

Be patient - calculation will complete.

Can I speed up IN-FLIGHT?

Tips:

• Use faster internet connection for initial load
• Close other browser tabs
• Use modern browser (Chrome recommended)
• Use desktop/laptop instead of older mobile device
• Disable wind correction if not needed (faster calculation)

Technical Questions

What browsers are supported?

Recommended:

• Google Chrome (desktop/mobile)
• Mozilla Firefox (desktop/mobile)
• Safari (macOS/iOS)
• Microsoft Edge

Minimum requirements:

• ES6 JavaScript support
• IndexedDB support
• Geolocation API (for GPS features)
• Speech Synthesis API (for announcements)

Does IN-FLIGHT work on Internet Explorer?

No. IE11 and older are not supported. Use a modern browser.

Is IN-FLIGHT open source?

Check the project repository for licensing information.

Can I contribute to IN-FLIGHT?

Contributions are welcome! Check the GitHub repository for:

• Bug reports
• Feature requests
• Pull requests
• Documentation improvements

Where is the data stored?

All data is stored locally in your browser using:

• IndexedDB: Database, flight tracks, navlogs
• localStorage: Settings and preferences
• Memory: Current session data

Nothing is stored on external servers.

Limitations & Known Issues

Why can't I plan oceanic routes?

IN-FLIGHT database includes only US domestic waypoints. Oceanic waypoints (NAT tracks, Pacific routes) are not included. Use official oceanic flight planning tools.

Why are some airports missing?

The database includes:

• All FAA NASR airports (US)
• OurAirports data (worldwide)

Very small private airports or recently added airports may not be included. Database is updated periodically.

Can IN-FLIGHT replace ForeFlight/Garmin Pilot?

No. Professional EFBs offer features IN-FLIGHT doesn't:

• Current charts and plates
• NOTAMs and TFRs
• Weather integration
• Regular AIRAC updates
• Certified data sources

Use IN-FLIGHT for planning and backup, not as your primary EFB.

Why don't I see NOTAMs or TFRs?

IN-FLIGHT does not include:

• NOTAMs (Notices to Airmen)
• TFRs (Temporary Flight Restrictions)
• Airspace status
• Special use airspace status

Always check official sources (1800wxbrief.com, ForeFlight, etc.) for NOTAMs and TFRs before flight.

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Didn't find your answer? Check the Troubleshooting guide or User Guide.