Global Position System (GPS) technology has become a
useful tool to just about anyone who travels the vast expanses of the great outdoors.
However, pilots probably stand to benefit from this revolutionary technology more than any
other group of users. As the tools which integrate GPS technology continue to proliferate
and mature, their ability to enhance both the efficiency and safety of general aviation
will increase.
One such tool is Destination Direct Flight Planning For Windows by Delta Technology
International, Inc. Destination Direct is a Windows (3.1 or 95) based flight planning
software package which integrates with an external GPS receiver to provide not only
comprehensive flight planning, but a moving map as well.
As any pilot will attest, one of the most labor-intensive duties in aviation is flight
preparation. Calculation of weight and balance, the affects of winds aloft, and the actual
plotting of the intended flight path can take many hours tedious work. Destination Direct
can reduce this time significantly by automating these, and most other phases of flight
preparation.
Destination Direct is available on either floppy diskettes (ten for the Professional
version) or CD-ROM. Having the option of floppy disk installation is particularly handy
for those who have a computer without a CD reader, which is often the case with older
technology laptops. Delta Technology recommends a minimum system configuration of any
speed 486 processor with eight megabytes of RAM.
Before using Destination Direct, a few setup items such as pilot, aircraft and phone book
default information should be entered. Multiple pilots, aircraft and weather services may
be specified, allowing several pilots flying various aircraft to share Destination Direct.
In addition to the pilot’s weight, which is automatically factored into the weight
and balance calculations, reminders for biennial flight review, pilot’s medical, and
chart renewal may be entered. All pertinent weight and balance information as well as
performance specifications for aircraft ranging from a Cessna 152 to a Citation is
provided. Of course, the program offers the ability to customize these settings or add new
aircraft.
Another noteworthy feature of Destination Direct is the way weather acquisition has been
simplified. The pilot can choose from AccuWeather, GTE DUATS or DTC DUATS as the weather
service provider. Before downloading the weather data, the pilot can also select which
components are needed. When using either DTC DUATS or AccuWeather, up to seven different
types of weather maps may also be downloaded. Once the weather data has been obtained, it
may be viewed in a scrolling window or printed out. Then, the winds aloft can be applied
to the flight plan with the touch of a button. When the pilot is satisfied with the flight
plan, just a few more keystrokes and it is automatically filed with the FAA via DUATS.
The way in which Destination Direct automatically plans a flight is one of the most
impressive features of the product. First, the departure airport is selected (which
defaults to the pilot’s base airport). Next, the destination airport must be
selected. If the airport identifier of the destination is unknown, it may easily be
located with a highly flexible and powerful search tool. Simply enter the city name and
all airports within a specified radius are returned. From the hit list, you may review
each airport to determine its suitability, such as instrument approach information, runway
length, lighting and fuel availability.
After the departure and destination airport has been entered, depressing the Plan Flight
button opens a the Plan Flight Preferences screen. At this point, the pilot may select
between a host of options including VFR or IFR, the navigation method, such as VOR or GPS,
as well as the preferred altitude and power setting. The pilot may also opt to have the
program automatically route around Terminal Control Areas, Restricted or Prohibited
airspace, or bodies of water greater than a specified size. When the Continue button is
selected, the automatic flight planning process begins. For a hypothetical test case, I
had Destination Direct plan an IFR flight from Houston Intercontinental to Los Angeles
International. Total elapsed time: fifty-three seconds!
Another outstanding feature of Destination Direct is the mapping section, which is based
on the Jeppeson North American database. By depressing any combination of fifteen
pushbuttons, the pilot may customize the map using a wide variety of options. For example,
the VFR pilot can turn off the airways and intersections for a much less cluttered view of
the area. Or in the case of a corporate pilot flying jets, only those components needed
for IFR flight may be selected.
The map may be viewed at one of eleven zoom levels, ranging from all of North America,
down to the point where the runways numbers are shown. Clicking on the left or right mouse
button zooms in and out, respectively, and centers the map under the cursor.
Double-clicking on any object such as an airport, navaid or intersection will bring up an
information box about that object. By employing the Measuring Tool, the distance and
bearing between any two selected objects on the map is automatically calculated.
The map may even be modified dynamically to change the route. By selecting the Route Mode,
the pilot may "rubber band" the route to include other stops or waypoints. The
route may then be recalculated at the touch of a button to include the changes. And when
going from point "A" to point "B" where "B" doesn’t
exist on the map, user-defined waypoints may be easily added to the map.
One final bit of high-tech wizardry is the Global Positioning System coupled moving map
option. This combines the powerful mapping features with the most sophisticated
positioning technology available. When activated, an aircraft symbol on the moving map
corresponds to the actual path of the aircraft. Alongside the moving map, the first of
three boxes in the real time information display indicates latitude, longitude, track and
groundspeed. The second box indicates the bearing, distance and estimated time enroute to
the next waypoint. The third box displays the same data for the next airport. The map even
incorporates what could potentially be a life saving Emergency feature. When activated,
all airports in the vicinity, sorted from closest to farthest distance are presented. The
pilot may then select the desired airport, and the course information to the new
destination is immediately displayed.
After having used Destination Direct to plan a
number of flights, I have to admit, I’m hooked. The software is rich with features
and highly intuitive. Additionally, Destination Direct is easily customizable for various
pilot skill levels and aircraft types. This review can only begin to scratch the surface
of the features and functionality of this package.
Unfortunately, using a laptop computer in the cockpit of a small aircraft is quite a
challenge. Vibration, aircraft movement (especially in turbulence), changing lighting
conditions, and the logistics of securing the computer to the seat proved to be almost
more trouble than it was worth. However, if a passenger is available to help, or a laptop
mount is utilized, the moving map feature is really great to have.
During tests, the moving map tracked right along on course. A compass rose can be
superimposed around the aircraft which also displays the aircraft heading. The map may
also be configured to display Track Up, where the aircraft always moves toward the top of
the display, or North Up, where North is at the top.
Almost as impressive as the software is the technical support. Delta Technology provides
technical support via a toll-free number. Each time a call is received it is religiously
logged into their database, allowing subsequent calls to be handled more effectively. Each
of my calls to technical support was handled quickly and efficiently. In one particular
instance, they certainly went the extra mile in helping diagnose a sticky problem with my
GPS connection. Unlike many larger software companies these days, support seems to be a
very high priority with Delta Technology.
Delta Technology provides a subscription service where the map data is updated
approximately once per month. These periodic updates also often include software
enhancements and corrections.
Destination Direct is available on either floppy diskette or CD-ROM. One advantage of CD
is that all of the products are included on every CD. To receive the activation key, just
call Delta Technology and charge it on your credit card. Within minutes, you can be using
the product. Various product demos are also available on the CD version. Destination
Direct is available in a variety of configurations, ranging in price from $149 to $399,
and comes with a forty-five day money back guarantee.
With the combined power of Global Positioning Systems and laptop computers, the future of
flight planning and navigation is very bright. Delta Technology is leveraging this
technology to create even more sophisticated products. For example, they have just signed
an agreement to integrate Destination Direct with selected Rockwell Collins Flight
Management Systems. With this new system, flight planning is performed on a personal
computer, then loaded into the FMS via floppy diskette.
The author, Haskell Moore, is a private pilot in Houston, Texas.
This evaluation of Destination Direct Professional was done on a Compaq Presario with an
eighty-three MHz Pentium processor and sixteen megabytes of RAM. Moving map tests were
performed with a Compaq LTE 486/33 connected to a Magellan 3000 GPS utilizing an external
antenna.
Delta Technology may be reached at 1-800-515-6900 or 715-832-0700. Or, you may visit them
on the Web at http://www.flightplan.com/index.html
All articles are property of Haskell L.
Moore, and may not be reproduced
in whole or in part without written permission from the author.
Back to the Scanning Home Page