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Foreflight Can Now Read Minds???

BUFDRVR

BUFDRVR

New member
Tampa, FL
Aircraft Type
Other
I've been doing some minor research on this and have come up empty so I'll share my experience here, if for nothing else than to freak other Foreflight users out!

Last Saturday (1 DEC) I was flying 50BG over to St. Pete/Clearwater from Tampa Executive (a 10 minute flight under the Class Bravo) to have the maintenance folks there check out my ignition timing. I tuned in the KPIE ATIS and heard that the tower radar was down. I checked in at 10nm with the ATIS and the controller reminded me that KPIE was, currently, a non-radar environment. I was directed to land on RWY18 and to report 3 mile final. I've flown in here before and this was the first time, obviously due to the radar outage, I've been directed to make a position report. Approaching 3 mile final my iPad ,running Foreflight, popped up a visual notification that stated "3 Mile Final." I've NEVER seen that before, at KPIE, or any other field I've flown in to! So, help a brother out; what is going on here? My iPad is hooked up to the ships audio via the RF jack but this just provides audio out; there's no way my iPad "heard" the tower controller's direction and, somehow, noted it!

Mike
 
Re: Foreflight Can Now Read Minds???

That's too cool and spooky. I'd contact Foreflight help desk and get their take.

My Garmin 796 will give me a '500' alert descending on final, and I've got Sam Elliot giving me a 'Yourrr Gearrr is Downnn fur landing' at 85kts on final with 3 Green. (P2 audio advisory)

I'm hoping the Aspen "Max" upgrade will give me 'Minimums' and 'Altitude' when they release that in a month or so . . .
 
Re: Foreflight Can Now Read Minds???

Hi Mike,

I too got surprised by that alert on a flight last month. I'm guessing it's a fairly new alert that ForeFlight added a couple of releases ago.

This is what the ForeFlight Pilot's Guide says about it...

Runway Final Approach - The Runway Final Approach alert triggers when you are lined up with (meaning your actual track is within +/- 15° of the runway heading) and descending towards a runway, even if the airport isn’t in your route. The Runway Final Approach alert will only trigger once every 10 minutes, so may not trigger after the first alert if you’re flying multiple approaches in a short traffic pattern.

...Bob
 
Re: Foreflight Can Now Read Minds???

Goto "Settings" then scroll to "Preferences" then click on "Alerts".
under general you will see "Runway Final Approach Alerts".
From the Foreflight web site:

The new alert provides added situational awareness on final approach by calling out the runway name and your distance from it. The alert triggers for any runway that you are approaching based on your altitude, vertical speed, track, and distance from the runway threshold.
 
Re: Foreflight Can Now Read Minds???

So in Mike's case, was that coincidental with the alarm setting - the exact mileage in the report. (3 mile) If he flew over to Lakeland would he receive a '3 mile' alert on final at LAL given the parameters being met?
 
Re: Foreflight Can Now Read Minds???

Jamesdub said:
So in Mike's case, was that coincidental with the alarm setting - the exact mileage in the report. (3 mile) ...
Click to expand...

Hi John,

Yup, that would be my guess. I've gotten alerts at 3 miles out and 2 miles out. Since one of the alert requirements is that the "actual track is within +/- 15° of the runway heading" I'm guessing the value is determined on when/where you enter that window on final.

...Bob
 
Re: Foreflight Can Now Read Minds???

I still just think is magic ;-)
 
Re: Foreflight Can Now Read Minds???

rjames01 said:
Hi John,

Yup, that would be my guess. I've gotten alerts at 3 miles out and 2 miles out. Since one of the alert requirements is that the "actual track is within +/- 15° of the runway heading" I'm guessing the value is determined on when/where you enter that window on final.

...Bob
Click to expand...

I can confirm. I flew from KPIE to KZPH (in a round about manner) today. Pretty busy, uncontrolled, airport with sky divers (can someone explain the allure to me?). I cut a tight pattern and about 7/8th of the way through my turn to final, I got the visual notification AND, this time, an audio notification. I was less than 1/2 mile final so all Foreflight displayed, and announced, was "Final Approach." No distance. I suppose, when they release new Foreflight updates, I may want to read up on them! When I got my "3 Mile final" notification at KPIE last week, it must have just been a coincidence...but it was pretty "trippy!"

Mike
 
Re: Foreflight Can Now Read Minds???

My understanding is that ForeFlight has an API integration into Siri. Siri is always listening especially with EMI based RF harmonization, it is able to have a clear audio path to your audio panel. So ... with the magic of computer programming and RF leakage, you get ForeFlight providing proactive flight alerts.

And it’s not even April yet.
 
Re: Foreflight Can Now Read Minds???

plight said:
My understanding is that ForeFlight has an API integration into Siri. Siri is always listening especially with EMI based RF harmonization, it is able to have a clear audio path to your audio panel. So ... with the magic of computer programming and RF leakage, you get ForeFlight providing proactive flight alerts.

And it’s not even April yet.
Click to expand...

OK Phil ... now you have me recalling an "oldie but goodie"...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlArxyK--6E

...Bob
 
Re: Foreflight Can Now Read Minds???

Bob

Wow .... at a development cost of only $59B, it’s probably a project for NASA’s new GA incubator arm.
 
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