XCPlan

(c) 1999-2005 Scott M Baker, smbaker@forpilots.com

Purpose:

This program generates cross-country navigation logs for pilots. Cross-country logs are sometimes time consuming and require lengthly recalculation when wind conditions or other factors change. XCPlan automates these tedious calculations and generates a user-friendly, easy to read navigation log.

Table of Contents:

Quick Start:

The quick start instructions will get you going in a hurry if you're computer literate. If not, jump down to the more detailed instructions below.

  1. Load XCPlan by clicking on it's windows' icon
  2. If XCPlan already has an old Navigation Log loaded (i.e. you've used it before), then you can use the CheckPoints:Delete-All pull-down menu option to erase the old flight plan.
  3. Press the <Add> button to set your departure point.
  4. For each enroute checkpoint, do the following:
    1. Press the <Add> button to bring up an add-checkpoint dialog
    2. Enter the name of the checkpoint in the Checkpoint Name field.
    3. If the bearing, altitude, true airspeed, or magnetic variation has changed since the previous checkpoint, then enter the new values. If these items have not changed, then there is no need to re-enter them -- XCPlan will automatically carry over the previous ones.
    4. If you have Predicted Wind information available, then enter it with your first checkpoint. If you do not have wind data available, then you can always leave it blank and fill it in later.
  5. Press the <Aircraft> button and set aircraft related information such as the fuel capacity and GPH.
  6. Press the <Print> button to print out your navigation log!

Tutorial:

I'll introduce a simple cross country flight below and walk you through all the steps necessary to create the navigation logs. Some details about our flight:

Here are the steps necessary to enter the flight plan into XCPlan. We'll assume you do not have wind information yet, and will enter it later.

  1. Load XCPlan
  2. Select the "Checkpoints:Delete-All" pull-down menu option to erase any previous navigational data (only necessary if old nav-data is displayed)
  3. Press <Add> to enter the departure point
    1. Enter the departure name, "TUS"
    2. Since this is the departure point, there is no other navigational data to enter at this time. We'll enter the course when we fill in the first checkpoint.
  4. Press <Add> to enter checkpoint #1, Rincon Peak
    1. Enter the checkpoint name, "Rincon Peak"
    2. Set the Distance to "23"
    3. Set the True Course to 095
    4. Set the Altitude to 9500
    5. Set the True Airspeed to 75. (We're using 75kts for climbout)
    6. Set Magnetic Variation to -12.
    7. Press <Ok> when you're finished. (If you want to, you could also enter the wind information into this screen, or you can wait until step #10 below)
  5. Press <Add> to enter the second checkpoint
    1. Enter the checkpoint name, "Benson"
    2. Set Distance to "11"
    3. Set the True Airspeed to 105. (105kts is our cruise TAS)
    4. All other parameters (TC, Altitude, Mag Var, etc) are the same as for checkpoint #1, so we do not need to enter any additional data here.
    5. Press <Ok> when you're finished.
  6. Press <Add> to enter the third checkpoint
    1. Enter the checkpoint name, "I10xDrg"
    2. Set Distance to "11"
    3. Press <Ok>
  7. Press <Add> for the fourth checkpoint
    1. Enter the checkpoint name, "Ammon"
    2. Set Distance to "6"
    3. Press <OK>
  8. Press <Add> for the fifth checkpoint
    1. Enter the checkpoint name, "Cochise"
    2. Set Distance to "13"
    3. Set True Course to "015". This is because we have a course change for the final leg.
    4. Press <OK>
  9. We've completed entering the Nav Data; Now it's time to enter our aircraft data:
    1. Press the <Aircraft> button
    2. You may enter your name, n-number, and aircraft type into the appropriate fields if desired.
    3. Enter "9.0" into the GPH field
    4. Enter "38.0" into the Full Fuel field.
  10. It's time to enter the wind information.
    1. Hilight the first enroute checkpoint (Rincon Peak)
    2. Press the <Edit> button
    3. Enter the wind direction, "240"
    4. Enter the wind speed, "17"
    5. Press <Ok>
  11. Press <Print> to send the navigation log to the printer!

Abbreviations Used:

ETE: Estimated Time Enroute. The estimated time it will take to complete a leg in minutes.

ETA: Estimated Time of Arrival. The time at which you will arrive at your destination.

GPH: Gallons Per Hour. The amount of fuel your aircraft burns.

GS: Ground Speed.

CH: Compass Header. The Magnetic Heading corrected for deviation. This is the heading that you will fly!

MH: Magnetic Heading. The True Heading corrected for magnetic variation.

TAS: True Airspeed.

TC: True Course. The course determined from using a plotter on your sectional chart.

TH: True Heading. The True Course corrected for wind drift

WCA: Wind Correction Angle. The angle necessary to correct for Wind Drift

Adding Checkpoints:

Checkpoint fields are divided into several different categories:

Below is a specific breakdown of each field:

  1. Checkpoint Name: (required)

    The name of the checkpoint for the current leg. The true course and altitude you will enter below are the directions for navigating TO this checkpoint.

  2. Distance: (required)

    The distance to this checkpoint in nautical miles from the previous checkpoint. This distance is usually obtained by measurement on the sectional chart using a navigation plotter/ruler.

  3. True Course: (required on 1st enroute checkpoint)

    The direction of flight from the previous checkpoint to this checkpoint as measured clockwise from true north. This is usually obtained by applying your plotter to the sectional chart. True course does not include corrections for magnetic variation, deviation, or wind.

  4. Altitude: (optional)

    Desired altitude for the current leg. VFR altitudes should be odd+500 feet if you are using an east magnetic course and even+500 feet if you are using a west magnetic course.

  5. True Airspeed: (required on 1st enroute checkpoint)

    The speed of the aircraft relative to the surrounding air. This may usually be obtained from a chart in the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) of the aircraft you are flying.

  6. Weather: Wind Direction (required on 1st enroute checkpoint)

    This is the direction FROM which the wind is blowing. This is usually obtained from a weather brief or Winds Aloft forecast.

  7. Weather: Wind Speed: (required on 1st enroute checkpoint)

    The speed at which the wind is blowing in knots. As with the previous item, this is normally obtained via a weather brief or Winds Aloft forecast.

  8. Weather: Temperature (optional)

    Outside air temperature at your cruise altitude. Obtained from weather brief.

  9. VOR Navigation Settings (optional)

    The VOR information is solely for your own use. How you use it is up to you. Four items are included: the frequency of the VOR, bearing (radial), identifier, and To/From. The identifier will automatically be translated into Morse Code when the navigation log is printed.

  10. Magnetic Variation (required on 1st enroute checkpoint)

    The difference between True North and Magnetic North. This is indicated on sectional charts by isogonic lines. Magnetic variation is necessary to translate between true heading and magnetic heading, and should entered with your first enroute checkpoint.

    It is possible that your flight may cross multiple isogonic lines. In this case, you may enter the additional variations with the other checkpoints as necessary.

    Variation should be rounded to the nearest degree -- do not include minutes or seconds.

Saving and Loading Cross Country Plans:

You probably have many different xc plans, and it'd work out to your benefit if you could save them for later retrieval. That way, if you ever repeat a flight, you will have most of the planning complete. XCPlan has the following capabilities:

Shareware Registration

XCPlan is distributed as shareware. What does this mean?

  1. You can use the program for as long as you'd like to evaluate it, completely free of charge.
  2. You may distribute it to friends.
  3. Once you have evaluated the software, you are expected to pay a modest ($19.95) registration fee to the author (Scott M. Baker). The registration fee compensates the author for the time spent developing the software and encourages him to continue future work.

So what is a good evaluation period? You'll have to let your conscience be your guide. I'd put an estimate at about 5-10 flights. If you've used XCPlan for more than 10 flights to generate your navigation logs, then you're probably using it and not evaluating it!

Specifics of Registration:

You may pay your registration either online at my secure credit card payment site (http://www.forpilots.com/register or http://www.sb-software.com/credit). Credit card payment is the fastest and easiest way to pay for your registration. The site is secure, meaning that your credit card number is encrypted to protect against theft. You may also pay be check, money order, or cash to the address below:

SB-Software
c/o Scott Baker
2241 W Labriego
Tucson, Az 85741

Please include your Internet email address with your registration. My normal procedure is to email your registration information back to you at the address you provide. If you do not have an email address, then I can send you a reply through the US Postal Service, but that usually takes me a bit longer (I prefer using email).

My shareware registrations are always good for life. All versions of the software are covered -- past, present, and future. You will only need to pay once; If I release updates to the software, then you are automatically covered.

Revision History

About the Author:

Scott M Baker is an independent software consultant and shareware programmer. He operates his own business, SB-Software, which develops Internet-related and other special purpose software. SB-Software may be found on the Internet at http://www.sb-software.com (note the dash in sb-software). Mr. Baker also operates several other websites, including an aviation related website, http://www.forpilots.com where the latest version of XCPlan may be found.

Scott M. Baker received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Computer Science from theUniversity of Arizona. Mr. Baker also has a Private Pilot: Aircraft Single Engine Land certificate and is a member of AOPA.