BLM Airspace Information System http://Airspace.blm.gov

The Bureau of Land Management is the first United States Government Agency to actively map online all Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRS) on current World Aeronautical and Sectional Charts, updated daily, 7 days per week, throughout the year. The site is located at http://airspace.blm.gov, is provided by the BLM National Aviation Office for all aviators and users to enhance safety of flight in the vicinity of wildland fires.

The BLM understands that textual TFRS issued by the FAA NOTAM system can be hard to visualize and locate on a planned route. This site will aid pilots, who are still responsible to receive NOTAMS on flight restrictions through normal channels, to safely and efficiently plan flights to avoid these areas. A list of TFRS as well as an interactive map of the United States is provided to easily click and view TFR’S. You may also search TFR’s by State, City or Airport. These TFR’S can then be printed in a user-friendly format for practical use.

“It’s always been important to us to get the word out to public aviators on temporary flight restrictions based on fire fighting operations, but now, with all of the national security restrictions, it’s important to see both types of restrictions in the airspace together, to make it easier to understand and avoid,” explains Ben Hinkle of the Bureau of Land Management’s National Aviation Office.

The BLM contracted with IMAPS, LLC of Columbia, Illinois, who provides the aviation planning web site http://www.aeroplanner.com, to build the BLM Airspace Information web site. “We worked very closely with the National Aviation Office to build the technology to be able to graphically display these airspace restrictions and display them as they are issued. By combining the latest web technology, a rapid response development philosophy and our experience mapping airspace for other government agencies, we were able to make this come together very quickly.”

For more information go to:
http://airspace.blm.gov

[This message has been edited by Ground Control (edited 04-21-2002).]

Click on these links for a birds eye view of these Nuke NOTAM areas: http://www.boatchart.com/mapping/ortho/chart.cfm?A=7&typ=ll&txt=39.47409000,-75.52980000
SALEM http://www.boatchart.com/mapping/ortho/chart.cfm?A=7&typ=ll&txt=28.96694444,-82.70000000
CRYSTAL RIVER http://www.boatchart.com/mapping/ortho/chart.cfm?A=7&typ=ll&txt=25.43222222,-80.33083333
TURKEY POINT http://www.boatchart.com/mapping/ortho/chart.cfm?A=7&typ=ll&txt=39.81416667,-74.20527778
OYSTER CREEK http://www.boatchart.com/mapping/ortho/chart.cfm?A=7&typ=ll&txt=41.27428511,-73.96277909
INDIAN POINT

B & W http://www.boatchart.com/mapping/ortho/chart.cfm?A=7&typ=ll&txt=41.30944444,-72.16555556
MILLSTONE http://www.boatchart.com/mapping/ortho/chart.cfm?A=7&typ=ll&txt=41.94611111,-70.58222222
PILGRIM http://www.boatchart.com/mapping/ortho/chart.cfm?A=7&typ=ll&txt=33.95694444,-78.00916667
BRUNSWICK

[This message has been edited by Ground Control (edited 10-31-2001).]

Before getting started on this, you need to fulfill the following requirements.

1) Palm Device with access to the internet (through hotsync or wireless)
2) GPSPilot Flying Pilot software available at http://www.gpspilot.com
3) AeroPlanner.com Premium Subscription available at http://www.aeroplanner.com/subscribe.cfm

If you are a Palm Pilot user and have purchased the GPS Pilot program, there is an option to download maps and route information to your Palm Pilot. Your Palm Pilot will talk directly with AeroPlanner.com via a wireless connection or connected to your PC. Some additional software may be needed to get your Palm Pilot connected to the Internet. For further connection instruction, please visit http://www.gpspilot.com/Palm-Internet.htm (the serial connection info is at the bottom) and select your connection method.

One of the most popular methods of hooking the Palm up to the web is with the software, Mocha PPP.

Download Mocha PPP here: http://www.mochasoft.dk/ and install to get your palm connected to the internet before going to the next steps.

Here is the info on getting an internet connection with your palm.

Serial connection to PC. exert from Paul Fidler's web site Go to the Prefs application

Set up a new connection under Prefs/Connection. ("New" button)

Set the Connection Method to "Serial to PC"

Set up your connection speed under "Details". Do remember what the speed is because you will need to set that on the PC side as well. For instance, Mocha W32 PPP . only supports up to 56Kbps.

Set Flow Ctrl to Automatic.

For the next step, you need to go to your "Network" section in your Preferences. You can create a new service from the menu, and configure your Connection to use whatever connection you created above. You don't really need a User Name or Password for this since the connections we are setting up is for Serial lines. In the "Details" section, you have to choose the PPP connection type, "Yes" to Query DNS and "Yes" to Automatic IP Address. If you click on "Script", there should be nothing else there except "End". Once you have verified these settings, you're all set! Now on to your PC.
Since we are focusing on hooking up your Palm to a PC and using your PC as a gateway, the two key components needed are PPP over a Serial line (in this case, the hotsync cable) and a suitable gateway software setup for communication. Once your Palm has the relevant IP addressing/DNS requisites (through PPP), and your gateway software is properly set up and ready to forward packets, you're ready to go. In this article, we will go through the steps required for such a setup on a Windows
On the Windows 95/98 platform, the Mocha W32 PPP . software does everything required of you for the PC gateway side of things. All you need to do is install the software, and make sure you have selected the correct COM Port and Serial Speed (from the connection settings on your Palm) and you're ready to go. Choose "Connect" from your Palm's Network screen in Preferences while it is in the hotsync cradle/cable and you should be on the net. You should see the messages "Signing On" and "Established" as your Palm goes through this process. A small flashing cursor at the upper right corner of your Palm screen will indicate to you that you're on the net. Surf away!.

After this is working, and after buying and installing Fly by (http://www.gpspilot.com), you can access the charts by following these steps:

1. Open the Fly program on the Palm Pilot.

2. Select Route...Map View from the Palm Menu. Note: You will need a GP Point selected before you can navigate to the map view.

3. Select Map...Web from the Palm Menu.

4. Tap the logo to pop up the login window.

5. Enter your AeroPlanner.com Username and Password in the appropriate fields.

6. Tap the OK button to save your information. You will only need to do this once.

Using GPS Pilot

Using the Fly GPS Pilot is a process that requires a little understanding of the program. For more information on using the Fly program, consult the documentation that came with the software, or visit their website
www.gpspilot.com for more information. Once you are familiar with the Fly program, follow these easy steps to work with AeroPlanner.com.

1. Open the Fly program on the Palm Pilot.

2. Enter the route points in the Log View.

3. Select Route...Map View from the Palm Menu.

4. Select Map...Web from the Palm Menu.

Select one of the options on the window by tapping the map of your choice. The software will then connect to the Internet and download the information from AeroPlanner.com for your use.

[This message has been edited by Ground Control (edited 10-30-2001).]

-GC

by Skip Kazmarek

Note: The GPS discussed in this article is not meant for primary aeronautic navigation and should only be used as supporting information during flight and NEVER as a primary means of navigation.

Like many people, I own a small handheld GPS (an old Garmin GPS III) that I have mainly used for hiking and hunting. I recently wondered, though, was it possible to convert that unit to something I use as a secondary or backup navigation unit? What follows below is what I was able to do.

First, I purchased a PC-GPS interface cable. This allows me to transfer data between my PC and the GPS. Garmin sells an interface cable on their website (www.garmin.com). I purchased the kind of interface that, although it has to be wired by hand, has the option for wiring into a power source (although I have not done that yet), which saves battery life in the GPS. Incidentally, if anyone else owns a Garmin GPS unit with the round 4-pin plug, I'd be happy to let him borrow my interface cable.

Second, I downloaded "EasyGPS" software. This free program allows one to create waypoints and routes and transfer these to and from the GPS. The software is available at www.easygps.com. After downloading and installing the software, simply follow the instructions to set up and test the connection between the PC and the GPS.

Third, I downloaded the data file of all of the public-use airports within 300 miles of PDK. This file is available (via a "datachunk") at www.aeroplanner.com. It is also possible to download coordinates for navaids and other relevant points, although my GPS can only handle 500 waypoints. Aeroplanner.com allows you to create the data file in .loc (EasyGPS) format. So, once the file is created and downloaded, simply boot EasyGPS, click File/Open to open the file you just downloaded from Aeroplanner.com, and all of the waypoints are now in EasyGPS. A single datachunk costs $4.49. Obviously, if one is concerned about keeping the database up to date, it would be possible to download a new datachunk as often as one wanted.

Fourth, although this is an optional step, I then used the editing features of EasyGPS to tweak the file to make it more usable to me. For example, I deleted most of the airports outside of Georgia (except for a few), since I rarely fly outside of the state. I added manually all of the VORs in Georgia by copying and pasting in their frequencies and locations from AirNav (www.airnav.com). I added some information in the "Comments" field, such as the frequency of the VOR, or the tower or CTAF frequency. I made sure that the symbols displayed on the moving map were meaningful to me, such as little airplanes for airports. I added the locations for some visual waypoints that I frequently use. I even added that airplane-eating monster tower north of Interstate-85 (at 2654 feet!). All things told, it took me about an hour to get the raw data from Aeroplanner.com into a form that I liked. If needed, I can easily add other airports, VORs, or waypoints in a few minutes.

Fifth, and again this is an optional step, I used the waypoints to create the routes that I wanted in the GPS. For example, for my recent trip to a convention in Saint Simons (SSI), I created a PDK-GA80-DBN-JES-SSI route. This is easy to do in EasyGPS: Simply drag each waypoint from the waypoint window to the route window, and it creates the route automatically. So far, I only have about a half-dozen routes, but the GPS allows me to hold up to 20 reversible routes, with up to 30 waypoints each.

The sixth and final step is the easiest: from EasyGPS, hit the menu option that says, "Send Waypoints to GPS." About 20 seconds later, all 150 airports, VORs, and other points, were in the GPS. Then hit "Send Routes to GPS" and, voila, they're in there too.

So far, the unit has far exceeded my expectations. First, it is very accurate. I recently used the GPS on a PDK to SSI to DNL to PDK trip. All of the displayed information matched that in the Trimble 1000DC exactly. I've compared a couple long routes calculated by my GPS to those generated, for example, by both the Aeroplanner and AOPA flight planning software, and my little GPS's results are accurate within a fraction of a degree and a nautical mile. Second, the GPS is very useful. I have a suction cup-mounting device that lets me position the GPS in any convenient location. The various displays offered (especially the moving map and the HSI-like "compass page") are an incredibly informative complement to the other information on the panel.

The total cost of the project was less than $30, assuming you already have the GPS. Even if you had to buy the GPS, they are routinely available on eBay for less than $100.

Obviously, a little hiking GPS is nothing to be relied upon for serious navigation. But, it is a tool that aids real methods of navigation, it's fun to play around with, and, along with my handheld NAV/COM, it gives me a measure of backup and redundancy that could be very valuable someday (I hope not). Besides, doing all of this was just a ton of fun!

Feel free to e-mail me if you have any questions or if I can help you get set up.

Skip Kazmarek, skazmarek@mindspring.com)

After you've downloaded the software and intstalled it on your Ipaq, Casseopia, or HP Jornado, copy your PDF triptick to your handheld. It's best to put it in 'My Documents' so Acrobat will find it easily.

Then try this:

Some hints on viewing the PDFs.
Click and hold the screen, choose default zoom.
Click and hold the screen, choose fit width.
Click and hold the screen, choose full screen.

Pretty cool.

-GC

This forum will cover basic topics, such as using the Pro Flight Planner, generating tripticks, and more advanced topics like using chartchunks in a Pocket PC hooked up to a GPS.

If you have any hints, tips, or tricks, please feel free to add them here.

Thanks,
-GC

[This message has been edited by Ground Control (edited 10-30-2001).]

Click and hold the screen, choose default zoom.
Click and hold the screen, choose fit width.
Click and hold the screen, choose full screen.

Pretty cool.

-GC

Now you can view your tripticks on the pocket pc!

-GC

Mark

[This message has been edited by Ground Control (edited 10-24-2001).]

Are you saying that NOTAM 1/0989 is not longer valid?

We've checked the NOTAMS for a cancellation of this NOTAM and do not see any.

Both EAA and AOPA are still showing it as current (they could be wrong).
http://www.eaa.org/news/news/fdc10689.html http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2001/010915tfr.html#!FDC%201/0989

Also, as far as we can tell, when that NOTAM took effect, the Manassas cut out was no longer necessary (not included in the NOTAM) because the tighter restrictions were lifted from Manassas, as it was in between the 18 and 25 nm ring.

But then again, we all could be wrong.

Thanks for checking. Anybody else have a take on this?

Mark

[This message has been edited by Ground Control (edited 10-24-2001).]

-GC

More here:
http://www.aviationpics.de/app/app.htm

yay!

-GC

Quoting from:
http://www.cnn.com/2001/US/09/23/inv.crop.dusters/index.html

quote:

---

Moussaoui apparently had raised suspicions because he sought training in flying commercial jets at flights schools in Oklahoma and Minnesota but showed no interest in learning about takeoffs or landings.

---

Although I sympathize with you - Tim McVeigh kind of blows that argument out of the water.

Sorry.

-GC

Crazy!

Yay!