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README
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1995-11-14
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P C F L T P L A N 2.2
Computer Flight Planning for DOS
Copyright (c) 1990-1994 Geir A. Granviken. All rights reserved.
DEMO/SHAREWARE VERSION
1. GENERAL
PC Flt Plan is a flight planning program for IBM compatible PC's.
It is designed for VFR planning as well as detailed IFR planning.
Among the features are: User maintainable facility- and aircraft
databases, map display (Now supports VGA, EGA, CGA, Olivetti/AT&T
and Hercules, to cater for lower spec laptops/palmtops), automatic
climb / cruise / descent performance, provisions for special legs
like SID's and approaches, alternate planning, fuel reserves,
diversion fields, payload calculations, 4 different flight plan
printouts, and many more. The author is a pilot by profession.
The program is a DOS program, but has been tested in Windows 3.1,
Windows for Workgroups 3.11 and OS/2 (2.1x and Warp), and works well
from all these environments. The program will also give up time slices
to Windows and OS/2 when not doing anything, to reduce the CPU load.
This version of PC Flt Plan is distributed as shareware, and is free
to be evaluated for a reasonable time. However, due to the rather
narrow niche the program covers, a few minor features may have been
disabled in the unregistered version. See below for details.
A registered copy for private use is available for:
USD 45,- / GBP 30,- / NOK 330,-
(International money order, EuroGiro, VISA)
3,5" disk, postage and handling included. More information is found in
the file MAILER, or can be seen if you let PC Flt Plan print out an
order form. For upgrade of previous versions, contact the author.
Note:
The nav-database leaves a lot to be desired for users outside
Norway, where it only covers a selection of airfields and navaids
(the selection may differ depending on where the package is
uploaded). It is user maintainable though, and new facilites can be
added while working out new routes, or from the nav-database
manager. I am trying to find a solution to this shortcoming
(Jeppesen offers such databases, but only as a monthly
subscription, and because of the huge price, I have dropped plans
to make the program able to import data from these.), it may be
that I just have to start hand punching...
I also have plans to add data for some common aircraft types in the
aircraft database, but since there might be many variants of a type,
the user will still have to check the data carefully in the aircraft
operations manual.
2. TERMS FOR USE AND DISTRIBUTION
The terms are found in the file TERMS.DOC. The program may only be
used if the user agrees to the terms stated in this file.
THERE IS NO LIABILITY OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.
3. DISABLED/LIMITED FUNCTIONS IN THE CURRENT UNREGISTERED VERSION
None, other than the information box popping up on startup.
But please note the following for BBS-versions:
The install program and a text reader program is left out in
BBS-versions, to keep the ZIP file size down for modem downloading.
Installing is merely copying the files into the desired directory
however (and most people who can download files from a BBS probably
know how to do that...).
4. INSTALLING
(If you use an earlier version, consult para. 8 for information on
your old config.- and data files!)
4.1 Installing from disk
The disk versions contain an install program. Proceed as follows:
a. Start up from DOS. If your PC is configured to start up directly in
Windows, select "Exit Windows", or you may use a DOS window.
b. Put the diskette in disk drive A:
c. Type the following command at the DOS prompt and press <Return>:
A:INSTALL
d. Follow the instructions in the install program.
4.2 Installing from a compressed file archive (ZIP file)
Make a directory on your hard-disk and extract the files to this.
Example commands, using PKUNZIP (r):
C:
CD \
MD FPL
CD FPL
PKUNZIP A:\PCFPL22
The README file and files ending with .DOC are not required to run the
program, but it is a good idea to take a look in these before you
delete them...
4.3 Windows / OS/2
A PIF file for Windows 3.1 (PCFPL22.PIF) is included. Install this in
your Windows directory or in the FPL directory. Create a program
object with the menu options FILE/NEW/PROGRAM OBJECT from the Program
Manager, specifying PCFPL22.PIF (with the path for where you put it)
as the command and the FPL directory as the work directory.
In OS/2, a program object can be dragged from the TEMPLATES folder,
and the necessary settings be specified by clicking the right mouse
button and then selecting SETTINGS. Or you may use the migrate feature
and then adjust the settings afterwards. Make sure "DOS window" or
"DOS full screen" is selected. FPL.EXE must be entered as the command,
and the FPL directory as the work directory. To save system resources,
select SESSION/DOS SETTINGS and adjust the memory requirements as
outlined below.
For both Windows and OS/2, the RAM needed for PC Flt Plan is about 380
KB. No EMS or XMS is used, and may therefore be set to zero. It is
best to run the program in full screen mode, because of the map
display feature, which uses VGA 680 x 480 x 16 colors graphics mode.
4.4 Preparing PC Flt Plan for use
More detailed instructions are found in the documentation file, but
here is a quick guide:
Start the program by typing FPL<Return> at the DOS-prompt. Select
SETUP from the Main menu, then CONFIGURE. When done, select AIRCRAFT
DATA from the Setup menu, and enter your aircraft data. If you want to
enter your local airfields and nav-aids, select NAV-DATABASE, also
from the Setup menu, and add the facilities. The program is now ready
for use.
5. DOCUMENTATION
Documentation is found in the file FPL22.DOC, which is in plain ASCII
format.
6. FILES
Files included with the demo/sw version:
- FILE_ID.DIZ - Program description for PCBoard file lists
- README - General info (this file)
* - README.EXE - Program to read the file above
- WHATS.NEW - Major changes
- FPL22.DOC - Text file, Documentation (ASCII)
- TERMS.DOC - Text file, terms for use
- MAILER - Registration form
- PCFPL22.PIF - Windows 3.1 Program Information File
* - INSTALL.EXE - Install program
* - FPHELP.EXE - Program to read the text files
- FPL.EXE - Main program file
- FPLSETUP.EXE - Program file (normally called from main program)
- FPL.DTA - Data file (will be made if not present)
- FPL2.DTA - Data file ( " " " " " " )
- FPLMAP.DTA - Data file, world map coordinates
- FPLFAC.DTA - Data file, nav-database
- FPLFAC.IDX - Data file, nav-database
- FPLFLY.DTA - Data file, general aircraft data
- FPL???.PRF - Data files, aircraft performance data
- FPLFIL.DIR - Data file, route file remarks
- *.RT? - Examples, saved routes.
* = Not on BBS-versions (to keep file size down).
The world map has a poor resolution on maps covering small areas, but
if you are able to lay your hands on a public domain database called
"Micro World Data Bank", it should work.
The sample route files are mostly trips within Norway, and the names
may therefore seem a bit strange, but they are included to show how
the various features are used.
The nav. database has a very limited coverage, but is fully user
maintainable and also supports import from comma delimited ASCII
files. A recommended way to expand this is to first enter the
facilities in your local area, then add points as you create new
routes. The program allows you to enter the necessary data for
facilities not found in the nav-database, and save them, as you create
a route.
The aircraft found in the original aircraft database are also meant as
examples, and the data may not be correct! You should enter your own
aircraft, obtaining appropriate data from the operations manual.
7. A NOTE ON AIRFIELD IDENTIFIERS
In most countries, the three letter and four letter airfield codes are
totally different. The 3 letter codes are those used by airlines and
their international SITA network, while the 4 letter ICAO codes are
what are used in ATC flight plans, NOTAMs, weather forecasts etc.
USA is a bit special though, since the three letter codes are widely
used for most purposes. If you take a 3 letter US airfield code and
put a "K" in front of it, you have the 4 letter ICAO code however!
Only USA has this connection between the 3 letter and 4 letter codes
(Well, Canada has a similar system, but the first letter vary
according to the region within Canada.)
In PC Flt Plan, it is recommended to use the four letter codes for
airfields to distinguish them from the often identical airport VOR
identifiers.
Examples:
Country Ctry.Code Airfield 3 letter code ICAO code
----------------------------------------------------------------
England EG London/Heathrow LHR EGLL
London/Gatwick LGW EGKK
Germany ED Frankfurt FRA EDDF
München MUC EDDM
France LF Paris/Ch de Gaulle CDG LFPG
Lyon/Satolas LYS LFLL
Russia U Moscow//Sheremetievo SVO UUEE
St.Petersburg LED ULLI
USA K New York/Kennedy JFK KJFK
New York/La Guardia LGA KLGA
(The first letter in the 4 letter code is the ICAO region code, E is
Northern Europe, L is Southern Europe, K is USA etc.)
8. UPGRADING FROM PREVIOUS VERSIONS
(This information may be disregarded if you do not use an earlier
version.)
8.1 FROM VER. 2.x
All datafiles are compatible. Just copy the new .EXE files and, if
desired, the README file and .DOC files, into the directory.
8.2 FROM VER. 1.x
Because of the many new items, backwards compatibility with ver. 1.1
was not possible to maintain in the nav-database, aircraft database
and the route files.
It is possible however to convert the nav-database by exporting it to
an ASCII file (using the old program), do the necessary changes in a
text editor or database program, and then import them with the new
version. The new format of the ASCII file is found in the
documentation.
You may keep your old FPL.CFG file, but you should select CONFIGURE
from the SETUP menu, to adjust your settings and to specify some new
items. (Note that the program will ignore your old color settings,
since the coding is slightly different.)
8.3 CHANGES
The major changes in each version are listed in the file WHATS.NEW.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Geir A. Granviken Tel: (Int+47) 31 28 55 65
Norway
E-mail: geir.granviken@thcave.bbs.no
BBS: RIME, AVIATION conference, Geir Granviken, Routing: ->CAVE
----------------------------------------------------------------------