It's been a while since the last issue of Flight Log, pushing the definition of "monthly," even for a software company.  I'm sorry for the gap and will try to not repeat it.  But it does mean I have a lot to write about.

Flight Log is a recurring newsletter for all Voyager users with the latest Voyager news, tips and tricks, etc.  I'm very interested in your feedback — either to the newsletter or to Voyager itself.  Please send any comments or suggestions to me directly at SteveP@SeattleAvionics.com.

As a reminder, back issues of Flight Log are available from our Web site at  http://www.seattleavionics.com/Newsletters

Normally we publish a picture of the month but, this time I'd like to make it a video of the month.  You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll learn a little about Voyager 3.5.  Click the picture above to play the video.

Aviation Consumer Rates Voyager "Easily the Top Choice"

Aviation is fortunate to have an advocate like Aviation Consumer that accepts no ads and calls 'em like they see 'em.  They push, they prod, they kick the tires - hard.  And they recently gushed over Voyager with phrases like "Easily the top choice", "Blows away its competition" and "The most sophisticated and feature-rich planner ever."  And they were talking about Voyager 3.0...

New Version 3.5 Now Available

... which brings us nicely to our next topic: new Voyager 3.5.

The Development Team at Seattle Avionics had a very busy year, culminating in new Voyager 3.5.  In case you missed the large picture above, click here to play a brief video ad for Voyager 3.5.  Or see the detailed video showing the major changes in 3.5.

Not only does Voyager 3.5 run faster and use less memory than 3.0, it has more than 50 new features, including:

• Scanned Charts.  Perhaps the single most-requested feature has been true scanned FAA Charts — Sectionals, IFR Low, IFR High, TACs and WACs.  Voyager 3.5 has them all, but you'll need a current ChartData Subscription.  If your update subscription has lapsed, this is great time to renew.  Also, keep in mind that we have three levels of ChartData subscription.  To see the IFR and WAC charts, you'll need at least the IFR subscription level.

• Web Synch.  This is a very exciting, unique new feature that uses a secure location on our Web server to simplify keeping multiple computers synchronized with the same flight plans, aircraft and pilot information, default settings, etc.  From each computer running Voyager, simply click the new Synch button on the toolbar and Voyager ensures that it has the latest copy of all your data.

• IFR Alternate Planning.  An all-new IFR planning dialog box displays all the information you need to select alternates, including distance/time/fuel to each alternate, weather summaries, etc.

• FAA Preferred Routes.  Do you fly in heavily congested areas?  Now Voyager automatically uses FAA preferred routes when applicable.

• GlassView Substantially Improved.  GlassView now has several new layouts, many specifically designed for Tablet PCs in portrait-mode (screens taller than wide, like a piece of paper) such as the exciting new Samsung Q1.  Not only that, but it has better performance, includes a new Airport Selector widget, and has lots of subtle but important new features.

• QuickRoute.  Ever wanted to just enter the takeoff and landing airports and bypass the rest of the New Flight Plan Wizard?  Now you can.  In previous versions of Voyager, you could enter a series of airport idents and navaids and have Voyager draw a straight line between them.  Now, not only will Voyager also accept Victor and Jet designators and SIDs/STARs, it can take the idents you provide and route via airways or GPS direct between the points.  Even wind-optimize and find fuel stops.  One click flight plan creation.

And many, many more new features.  Read about the new features.  Watch a video about the new features.

FreeFlight user?  FreeFlight does not automatically download application updates.  If these new features catch your eye, you'll need to visit our downloads page and download/install a new copy of Voyager.  Additionally, most of these new features don't apply to FreeFlight, just to the paid-for version of Voyager.  Therefore, after you install FreeFlight 3.5, it would be a great time to select Modules from the Tools menu and activate free trial versions of the SmartPlan, GlassView and SmartPlates modules.

You know you want one.  Or your son or daughter wants one.  The new Apple iPod Shuffle is the tiny new music and audio book player that's on everyone's wish list.  It's a perfect gift and it's ideal for in-flight use since it has a solid-state drive rather than a hard disk, making it immune to altitude and turbulence.

For a limited time, you can get a free iPod when you purchase a specially-priced bundle of Voyager modules and a ChartData subscription.  Either pick an existing bundle or make your own custom bundle.  Learn more.

And, speaking of solid-state ... Voyager is now available on several machines that work at any altitude and with all the turbulence Mother Nature can throw at you.  Either bring your own computer or pick a bundle based on the affordable Samsung Q1 or the powerful Motion Computing LS800.  Prices for complete solid-state systems start at just $3,995.  Already have a Motion tablet?  Contact sales about replacing your hard drive with a solid-state drive.

Seattle Avionics Software is fortunate to have great pilots working here, which we think helps us make great aviation software.  Our VP of Operations, Robert Hamilton, was just named Pilot of the Year by the Paine Field Chapter of the Washington Pilots Association.   And Jim Smith, National Sales Manager, not only finds time to work here and tutor pilots as a CFII, he also serves as President of the Washington Pilots Association.  In this capacity, he's a strong advocate for General Aviation to the community and brings great speakers like Mike Melvill (the civilian astronaut who flew SpaceShipOne into space) to town.  As manager, I must not be asking enough time of these great people.

As always, please send your questions and favorite tips to SteveP@SeattleAvionics.com.

A reminder that past Tips and Tricks are available from our Web site at
http://www.seattleavionics.com/Newsletters

	Watch the Video.  Version 3.5 has so many new and changed features that it's time well spent watching the 15 minute video that highlights the changes in depth.
	Read the Book.  The movie seldom does the book justice, so this is a good time to download the 300+ page User's Guide, fully revised for Voyager 3.5.
	Web Synch.  This may be my favorite feature in Voyager 3.5.  If you run Voyager on multiple machines (not that anyone ever plans their weekend flights while at work), you can now keep your flight plans and other information synchronized on all your machines without email, a USB memory card, or other computer gymnastics.  In fact, there is even a feature that makes it easy to 'borrow' someone else's copy of Voyager and temporarily duplicate all your flight plans and other settings on their machine.  Click the Help button within the Web Synch dialog box for more information.
	Fuel vs. Time Table.  With SmartPlan Premier, did you know that you can display a table that shows the tradeoffs between time and fuel burn for each altitude?  Once a flight plan is open, click the wind barb icon at the top of the screen.  To be useful, you have to enter the performance tables from your POH.
	Print to PDF.  Voyager 3.5 includes the ability to print documents directly to a PDF (Adobe Acrobat) file.  This is a handy feature for emailing flight plans to passengers or copying to your PDA.  Simply select Print to PDF from the File menu.
	Print Plates as Full Page or Half Page.  SmartPlates could always print Plate Packs as either full page or half page (kneeboard) but printing a single plate was limited to full page.  No more.  Now, anywhere you view a procedure, click the Print icon above the procedure and use the pop-up menu to select full page or kneeboard.
	Send Feedback to Us.  We have smart customers and we're not too proud to take your best ideas and incorporate them into the next version of Voyager.  If you have a suggestion or comment, please email it to us.  Simply start Voyager and select Report a Problem or Send Comment / Suggestion from the Help menu.
	Sort Columns.  New in GlassView 3.5 is the ability to sort the data in the Nearest widget and the Direct To dialog box by any column you like.  For example, say you're getting low on fuel.  The Nearest widget normally shows airports in ascending distance from your current location.  To see the ones with fuel first (then sorted by distance), just click the Fuel column.  Or, if weather is a concern, click the Wx column to sort by VFR, then MVFR, then IFR.
	Make a Plan on the Fly.  GlassView 3.5 includes many new features that make following a flight plan, or creating one, much easier.  First, many Layouts (like Combo 1 and IFR Moving Map 3) include a new flight-optimized version of the NavLog with large, easy-to-read information and easy-to- select actions.  Not only that, if you want to create a plan in-flight, use a new feature of the Direct To button.  Click then select the By Ident tab.  In the space provided, use the large on-screen keyboard to enter the idents that make up your flight plan.  Even include airways and SIDs/STARs.  Voyager will recognize this as a route rather than a single ident and alter the flight plan as required.
	Ignore Small Airports.  In GlassView 3.5, the Nearest widget and Direct To dialog box can be set to hide smaller airports and NDBs.  Select Options from the Tools menu, then Preferences and GPS.  Enter the minimum runway length you require and, if you like, check or uncheck the box that determines whether the Navaids tab of Nearest will show just VORs or VORs and NDBs.
	Simplify Layouts.  Voyager 3.5 includes many new layouts, several designed  for a specific screen size or orientation (landscape vs. portrait).  Things could be a little overwhelming if you saw all of them when you clicked the Layouts button.  Therefore, we added a new feature so Voyager automatically hides layouts that aren't ideal for your current screen size and orientation.  We also added a way to hide layouts you never use, decluttering the screen even more.  For both of these features, select Layouts from the View menu, then click Customize.