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Video Review: Part 2 Anywhere Map XM Weather & GPS with Bob Zajko

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***Watch in HIGH DEFINITION***

During Episode 5 of the Stuck Mic AvCast, co-host Victoria Neuville shared the Anywhere Map as her aviation product pick of the week. Listener Bob Zajko wrote in to add some additional details about this neat and handy device which you can read here: Bob Zajko on The Anywhere Map GPS & XM Weather

In this second video of a 3 part series, Bob Zajko continues his in-depth demonstration of the Anywhere Map hardware and software!

Part 1 of the video review can be viewed here – Video Review: Part 1 Anywhere Map XM Weather & GPS with Bob Zajko

View Part 3 Anywhere Map XM Weather & GPS video review

PA32 Departure from KLWB 22May2011

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The above video is the second half of a previous post I wrote about – PA32 Landing at LWB 22May2011.

A dear friend of mine with a PA32, also known as the Piper 6X, lends me his airplane whenever I’m in need of a little flying fix. This flight was a return trip from Lewisburg, WV (KLWB) to Danville, VA (KDAN) after taking my special lady friend on her first $100 hamburger run.

This second video starts holding short of runway 22 at KLWB. You’ll hear me give my takeoff briefing explaining what actions I’ll be taking in the event of any emergency during departure including how I’ll fly if we lose the engine during climb out. My IFR flight plan was for 5,000ft direct from KLWB to KDAN, although my issued clearance was for a climb to 7,000ft, presumably due to the mountainous terrain and the minimum vectoring altitude for that area.

Tower clears me for takeoff from runway 22 on course. After takeoff, and at 700ft above ground level, I make a left turn direct to Danville, VA (KDAN). As we climb out and level off, I talk my passenger through choosing an emergency landing spot by looking for roads and fields below us and we decide the interstate below us is our only viable option. I also explain how I am searching for other aircraft traffic both visually outside and using the Avidyne traffic equipment.

In addition to air traffic control communication, you’ll hear me talk through my check list items, as well as verbalizing all of my actions and decisions so my passenger (not a pilot) understands everything that is going on. The video ends during cruise portion of the flight but captures about the first 13 minutes after takeoff and includes some nice visuals of flying over the Blue Ridge mountains.

Please pardon the following amateur video mistakes: I forgot to clean the windscreen and I forgot to turn off the camera’s built in image stabilization which caused some rolling on the screen.

If you enjoyed this video, do me a favor and click the “LIKE” button or leave a comment; I’d love to hear from you!

Clear Skies & Calm Winds,

Len Costa

Video Review: Part 1 Anywhere Map XM Weather & GPS with Bob Zajko

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***Watch in HIGH DEFINITION***

During Episode 5 of the Stuck Mic AvCast, co-host Victoria Neuville shared the Anywhere Map as her aviation product pick of the week. Listener Bob Zajko wrote in to add some additional details about this neat and handy device which you can read here: Bob Zajko on The Anywhere Map GPS & XM Weather

Today, I visit with Bob in his Glasair as he demonstrates how to use the Anywhere Map hardware and software! Because of the amazing detail given by Bob this will be a 3 part video series to cover all the killer features so stay tuned for Part 2 and Part 3!

Make sure to “LIKE” this post and share it with your friends please 🙂

View Part 2 Anywhere Map XM Weather & GPS video review

View Part 3 Anywhere Map XM Weather & GPS video review

Bob Zajko on The Anywhere Map GPS & XM Weather

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During Episode 5 of the Stuck Mic AvCast, co-host Victoria Neuville talked about flying with the Anywhere Map GPS and XM Weather handheld device. Listener Bob Zajko wrote in to add some additional details about this neat and handy device. Below are Bob’s comments…

Hi Guys. I heard Victoria mention AnywhereMap, I have been using these systems for several years and wanted to fill in some details.

The AnywhereMap systems fall in two categories. The “ATC” runs on a Palm OS or other small PDA type devices and are limited in functionality but are low price.

The “Pro” systems (which also includes a Corporate EFB system) are based on Windows XP tablet PCs. You can buy just the software or get it on pre-configured tablets that they test and guarantee to work right out of the box and have aviation-friendly features like sunlight-readable screens and solid state drives. The pre-configured tablets are the most popular option.

The “Pro” software has two components, PocketPlates, which is a geo-referenced instrument approach procedure program, scanned directly from the FAA charts. The GPS is a WAAS-enabled unit and has the same resolution as my Garmin 430W. I find the geo-reference position ultra accurate and it lines up with the computer-drawn procedure on my 430W every single time. You can enable XM weather overlay on the plate as well as terrain overlay on the plate (changes color with a high resolution yellow and red gradient as you descend, like what the G1000 does). Pocket Plates costs $195 for the program.

Lifetime updates are included in a $345 subscription (which also includes map data). It also includes STARs, SIDs, etc and every other reference page in a approach book. It integrates into the mapping program (called AnywhereMap Pro) so you can bring up the plate from AnywhereMap Pro. These plates are legal for Part 91 IFR (not the position data, you have to use your VOR/IFR GPS/etc for the fixes, but the plate itself) since its an exact scan of the FAA copy. But seeing yourself on the plate is extremely helpful, you don’t get confused which way the procedure turn is!

The mapping program is called AnywhereMap Pro and has several overlays including actual scanned VFR sectionals, real IFR low and high en route charts, and a 90-meter high resolution terrain data (called UltraTAWS) software-generated map. Overlays can be stacked, such as putting bright computer-drawn airspace overtop of the VFR sectional, so its easier to see, or overlay terrain data on the IFR chart, and set it to only show “red above” or many other options, including opacity or highlighting airspace that is a factor at your altitude.

Many other overlays are available – navaids, airways, airports (including private fields and Canadian, something missing on my 430W), and waypoints. I find it useful because it translates Victor airway clearances to a waypoint-to-waypoint format which I can enter into my 430W, which does not take airways.

The program also has data on fuel prices at the FBO (great for unplanned stops) and phone numbers for hotels and restaurants. All the information is presented in a logical manner. You can also integrate a portable TCAS receiver into the system and get traffic warnings. If a detailed FAA taxi diagram is available it will show that (with geo-referencing) or if there is no taxi diagram they actually pull the little airport airport diagram from the IFR plate and show that!!)

The program integrates to a WxWorx XM receiver which will overlay satellite weather on the charts. The WxWorx is either USB or Bluetooth. It has radar, echo tops, lightning strikes, satellite IR imagery, surface analysis, METAR/TAFs (displayed in the same format as the colored dots on AviationWeather.gov) etc. It also delivers TFR overlays. The weather subscription costs $35 or $55 paid to XM (which is a rip off considering they get this data free from NOAA, unlike their music content, which is much cheaper) but its the only game out there (until ADS-In)

The best part is for $345 you get a LIFETIME subscription for everything – IFR database, plates, terrain/obstacles, etc. Compare that to what the Garmin 696 costs to keep updated!

I looked at all the options when I got this system and I think its the best thing out there and the best upgrade I’ve done to my plane.

You can see some of their screens (on the 10″ tablet”)
http://www.anywheremap.com/pages/awm-pro.htm
http://www.anywheremap.com/anywheremap-dex.aspx

IFR plate screen shots with overlays
http://www.anywheremap.com/pages/pp3-001.htm

About the Author: Bob Zajko is a general aviation pilot with a Private Pilot, Single-Engine Land, Instrument Airplane rating. He owns a Glasair 1 RG that he flies with his lovely girlfriend every spare moment he gets.

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Part 1 of the Anywhere Map video review – Video Review: Part 1 Anywhere Map XM Weather & GPS with Bob Zajko

View Part 2 Anywhere Map XM Weather & GPS video review

View Part 3 Anywhere Map XM Weather & GPS video review