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The following is a quick
overview of each of the main sections of FlightCentral.net.
MyFlightCentral
This page is highly customizable, but you must register first in order to layout your perfect home page. Registration is easy and free.
The left side of the screen represents your MFD – multifunction display. The row of buttons across the top allow you to instantly flip to graphics you have defined in the “Settings” page. Typically, you might want these to be weather charts, but they can really be any graphic that you choose.
Graphics in the MFD maximum width of 640 pixels. Anything larger will be reduced in size and the graphics quality may suffer.
When you find a chart on the internet that you’d like to access via your MFD, copy its URL (in Windows, right mouse click, then select Properties, hilight the URL, and press Ctrl-C to copy it) then paste it into the appropriate box in the “Settings” page.
On the right side of the screen, dates that you have defined in the “Settings” screen will be shown. These include dates of your most recent flight reviews and medical exams. Additionally, if you have stored dates for airplane inspections, they will also be shown here.
Below the dates are your custom links (again, defined in the “Settings” page). Select from your favorite website addresses with a single mouse click. This makes your “MyFlightCentral” page the ultimate homepage for all of your computer work.
Next are your favorite airports. These are quick links to the “Airport” page for these U.S. airports along with the most current weather reports in METAR format. An airport is included in this list whenever you click the “Save to Fav” button on the “Airport” page for any particular airport.
Flight Planning
On this page you calculate the initial true course and distance between two selected U.S. airports. If you specified a default true airspeed in the “Settings” page, it will be the default ground speed. If you specified a default fuel burn in the “Settings” page, it will also be shown. You can edit either of these two settings to calculate a more accurate ETE (estimated time en route) and fuel burn for the trip.
Information for your departure airport is shown on the left and on the right is information about your destination airport. METARs and a TAF from nearby airports are shown for each. The round, colored icons represent the flight rules indicated by the METARs.
Green: VFR.
Yellow: MVFR.
Red: IFR.
The Zulu time at the time of the page load is shown at the top. This is helpful in determining how current the METAR and TAF reports are.
By clicking the “Kneeboard” button, a .pdf will be created, formatted for your kneeboard.
Airports
This is your airport information page, similar to an Airport Facilities Directory, but with additional information. Of major importance is the included weather information for your selected airport.
Most of the page is self-explanatory. Do note, however, the double-headed arrow button. This allows you to flip between two formats. Select the one that you prefer.
You can view a new airport by either entering its airport identifier in the edit box in the top right corner and clicking the “Find” button or by clicking the “New Search” button underneath.
Click the “AFD” button at the top to view a .pdf of the actual FAA Airport Facilities Directory page that contains the selected airport.
If the “Airport Website” button is blue, you can click on it and be taken to the airport’s website. If this button is gray, no website has yet been defined for the airport. Click it to specify the airport website’s URL if you know it.
If you are logged in, the “Save to Fav” button will be blue. It will allow you to store this airport on your homepage as a favorite.
Note the METARs from nearby airports. The round, colored icons represent the flight rules indicated by the METARs.
Green: VFR.
Yellow: MVFR.
Red: IFR.
The Zulu time at the time of the page load is shown at the top. This is helpful in determining how current the METAR and TAF reports are.
Weather
This page provides quick access to a variety of weather charts. Charts are selected first by group from the menu on the right. Then, within that group, select individual charts by the tabs across the top. Note that charts are grouped into Current and Forecast categories.
Some groups of charts may include a “Video” tab. You will probably need a high speed connection to view these online current weather videos.
You can also query the METARs and TAFs at selected airports on this page. In the edit box labeled “Text Weather” enter the airport identifiers for the airports separated by commas.
The “Notes” area allows you to type in notes about the weather as you peruse the various charts. Please be aware that you must click the “Save” button before leaving the screen or your notes will be lost.
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