User Guide

INSTALLATION

Starting vfrTracker will automatically check for a new version.  Should a new version be available the user will be prompted to install the application.  Selecting YES will exit the application and the mobile browser will be loaded, select INSTALL TO MOBILE and follow the instructions.

SETTINGS

With the initial installation the Settings screen will prompt the users to enter default information and settings.  When updating the application the tracker starts in the FLIGHT PLAN mode.

FLIGHT PLAN

Once the information and settings are entered select SAVE to display the Flight Plan.  Enter the flight plan leg details and select SAVE to return to the tracking screen.

The airfields directory can be searched for a destination airfield by pressing the select key in the field.

Selecting  ACTIVATE FPL from the flight plan screen saves the information, starts the tracker and return to the tracking screen. See Flight Plan Menu for details on the Overdue SMS functions.

ACTIVATE FPL LEG & SMS

Select OPTIONS to view the main menu or ACTIVATE FPL to start tracking.  Once the ACTIVATE FPL button is selected the label changes to EMERGENCY. The one press emergency function will send a SMS to the default mobile number entered in the Settings. The SMS message is pre-formatted with the flight details and will indicate to the receiving party that the emergency button has been selected, see ‘Send SMS’ for additional information.

TRACKING

Tracking Screen.  Position and flight information are displayed at a set time interval, which includes the Overdue SMS time, Label Message, track (T), speed, altitude and GPS position coordinates in DD.MMMM  The tracker will display the information when a position is updated with a beep tone (see settings for Beep Tone Reminder).  If GOOGLE MAP was set to YES in the settings screen, a mobile map with marker displays the aircraft’s position.

Position Buffering.  In the event of limited network coverage the track positions will be saved and uploaded to the server when the tracker in network coverage. Coverage maps for South Africa on the GSM, GPRS & 3G can be obtained from the following online resources - cellC MTN VirginMobile Vodacom

Callsign The callsign of the aicraft (e.g. ZS-ABC)  This field is required and is displayed on the track position label.

Aircraft Type The aircraft type and model designator e.g. C172

Destination The destination airfield ICAO code (e.g FAWB),  if not ICAO code is avialble enter the airfield name. Select enter to search the Airfield Database

Estimated Elapse Time (HHmm) The estimated flying time in hours (HH) and minutes (mm) e.g. 0221

Endurance (HHmm) Total fuel endurance (EET) in hours (HH) and minutes (mm) e.g. 0400

Persons on Board (POB) Total persons on board.

Send Overdue SMS The Overdue time is calculated by adding the EET + selected time e.g EET + 30 min = 0221 + 30 min = 02h51.  Once the ACTIVATE FPL button is selected, 2h51 will be added to the first track position time and the overdue SMS time is calculated. vfrTracker will send a SMS to the default mobile number set in the settings menu.  The SMS is pre-formated and includes the callsign, the words OVERDUE AT DESTINATION, flight data if available (track T, speed, altitude and co-ordinates), google mobile map link and the vfrPlanner web address.  This function can be disabled by selecting ‘Disable’ from the group menu.  The tracking screen title ‘Overdue SMS ACTIVE’ will indicate to the user that the overdue SMS is function is active. The tracking screen will also display the status of the Overdue SMS function and the local time at which the SMS will be sent.

Changing the Flight Plan To change the status of the overdue SMS or EET to destination, select Flight Plan from the menu, make the changes as required and select ACTIVATE FPL

Command Buttons Select SAVE to save the flight plan for retrieval. Select ACTIVATE FPL to start tracking.

900+ South Africa Airfields can be searched by entering the name or partial spelling of the airfield name.  Enter the name and select SEARCH

From the list select the airfield, set as DESTINATION or select DETAILS to view the airfield information (coordinates, elevation, runway and frequency.

Select GOOGLE MAP from the Option menu to view the location of the airfield on a Google Map.  The BACK command returns to the airfield details screen. Select DESTINATION to set the airfield as the destination in the flight plan or select AIRFIELD to return to the airfield search screen.

The ground proximity function enables the user to get a height above ground read out at a set interval.  The voice alerts starts at 500ft above ground and below.  Please note that this function should NOT be used in Instrument Meteorology Conditions (IMC), use in VFR operations as information ONLY.

Select CALL EVERY to set the call out interval in seconds.

Select DISTANCE AHEAD to set the position in miles ahead at which the height above ground calculation is done.

Select ACTIVATE to start the Ground Proximity.

Note that the current Flight Plan is activated once ACTIVATE is selected.  Select STOP to end the Ground Proximity function and continue normal tracking at the default tracking interval setting.

Flight Status The OPS NORMAL selection will SMS the callsign, track (T), speed, altitude and GPS coordinates.  If no GPS signal is available the words NO FLIGHT DATA will be displayed. The EMERGENCY message will indicated that an emergency is experienced and the flight data will be added to the message with a Google mobile map link.

Additional Info (Optional) Enter additional text to be added to the pre-formatted message.

SMS Number The default mobile number entered in settings is displayed.  To change select the number and press enter to select a number from the contact list or type the number.

Command Buttons – Select CANCEL to return to the main menu or SEND to sms the message.  Confirm the action when prompted.

Enter a message that will be displayed in the track position information window.  A message icon will appear at the track position on the vfrTracker map.  By clicking on the icon the message for that position will be displayed.

Pilot Enter your name, this information is confidential and is not displayed on the map.

Password Enter a password that will be used to delete your tracks from the vfrTracker Map tracks list. The password is set for each track, should the password be change this will not allow deleting of previous tracks.

SMS Number The default mobile number that will be used to send a SMS.  When using the ‘Send SMS’ function the default number can be changed, this will not effect the default number saved in Settings.

Update Tone By selecting YES, a tone will sound with each position update. This will serve as a reminder that the tracker is in operation.

Update Interval The update interval specifies the time in minutes between positions received from the GPS and sent to the server.  Setting the interval to zero (0) disables the tracker.

Google Map By selecting YES, a Google mobile map will be downloaded to the mobile with each position updated,  displaying the current position of the aircraft with a marker.

Map Zoom Level Setting the zoom level of the Google mobile map.

Command Button Select SAVE to store the setting to the RMS database.