About Aviation Tools

AVIATION SOFTWARE TOOLS 1988

Colin Marshall, Ian Green Mathon Road, Malvern Worcestershire, WR14 4BU

I was given a copy of Pilots Companion and the manual in 1989 to evaluate. Did anyone use it? Was it well marketed? I never heard of it again.

The company was based in Malvern, their address was P.E.I. P.O. Box 4 MALVERN Worcs., but they are no longer there. So here is your chance to trawl with me through the commands and get an understanding what this program did.

Pilots Companion

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This applications needs 32K of either EPROM or Flash space.

Introduction

Pilots Companion by Aviation Software Tools is written in BBC BASIC for the Cambridge Computer Z88 portable. It is a Flight Planner for Pilots.

It has several 'built-in' databases with Airfields, NDB, VOR. The user is invited to create, append,

The standard MENU and HELP facilities are not used in this application. The user will need to read this manual first to get a good overview of the product before use.

Menu

Pressing the MENU key reveals 'no topics.' The Menus are in the main program itself.

Here you can obtain either your required descent rate from a given distance to run or give your required descent rate. The program will tell you when to begin the descent.

F. Starting the program on the Z88 Computer.

Pre-Flight Requirements

The requirements to run this program on the Z88 is at least 128K RAM in slot 1 and the Pilots Companion EPROM to be in slot 3. The EPROM may be moved after running the program.

For best results, (if you have nothing running on the Z88)  Pilots Companion can be started initially by giving the Z88 a Hard Reset, with the Pilots Companion's EPROM card in slot 3. The boot.cli file starts a chain of commands that sets  :RAM.1 as the Default Device, fetches all the files from the EPROM card and starts running the program. This ensures that the Z88 is at a known state. To leave the program press the  key. Alternatively use the following methods depending what state the Z88 is in.

1. If Pilots Companion is already shown in the index list of running Applications.(Press to view).
    
2. If Pilot Companion has already been used it will appear in the SUSPENDED ACTIVITIES area of the index from which it can be re-selected using the cursor bar. 

   

   When it is running, when in the INDEX it will be shown as a suspended activity with the file name used as YOUR REF.  There can only be one Pilots Companion application running

   Position the cursor on the name & press
   
   

3. Pilots Companion files are resident in the computer having been loaded from the plug in EPROM cartridge but not shown in the index list of running applications.(Press F to view Files - the main program is called 'way2').  Enter BBC BASIC and type RUN "WAY2"

   Note that if the program returns to the BASIC prompt at any time then typing RUN will start it again.

4. Pilots Companion is on EPROM and your computer is in use
   
   A 

   Note the following procedure will delete any running applications so first save any required information to files.

   Plug the Pilots Companion EPROM into slot 3 on the Z88. Ensure Slot 1 has at least 128K of RAM Plugged in..'
   Press, the Diamond key () and then type PURGE
   The required files will, now be loaded from EPROM this will take a little time finishing with the Pilots Companion first menu being displayed.
   The EPROM may now be removed and from now on methods 2 or 3 above can be used to start the program. Most pilots will want to leave the Pilots Companion resident as updates to preserve temporary updates.
   
   B Alternatively fetch the file boot.cli from the Pilots Companion EPROM and Execute the file. This will then load all required files and start the program.
    

5. Pilots Companion is on EPROM and your computer is new.
   
   Plug the pilots companion EPROM into slot 3 on the Z88. Plug 128K RAM pack into slot 1 on the Z88.
   Press the  Diamond key (), then type PURGE (This is the same as pressing the reset button),

If required all files from EPROM could be copied-manually then 2 above actioned.

Files & Databases

The files that have been loaded into RAM.1 are as shown by the Filer.

To get some idea of what data is there, here is a Pipedream view of the data.

rev and temp are used for the current plan.

data.dbf(c) 1988ast

vor.dbf(c)1988ast

ABERDEEN

ADN

571215N

571838N

021155W

EGPD

ALDERNEY

494225N

021248W

EGJA

ANDREWSFIELD

515340N

002705E

EGSL

Defining Waypoints

There are two ways of defining waypoints.

1 Use Latitudes & Longitudes?

The positions of Airfields for example are given in Latitudes & Longitudes. These are found in the Aerodromes published in the UK AIP.

Local VORs are given on main Airfield sites.

** BRIZE NORTON
0,51:50.250N,001:50.150W,0F,W,000 A40 NORTHLEACH ROUNDABOUT VRP
** BRIZE NORTON (ENR 2.1)

2 Use Relative Locations?

When using relative locations, to describe the waypoint, the following information is required.

• A KNOWN LOCATION that is in the database is chosen as a start point.
• The TRUE BEARING from the KNOWN LOCATION in DEGREES TRUE
• The DISTANCE between the WAYPOINT and the KNOWN LOCATION (in naut,mls)
• A UNIQUE NAME for this waypoint.
• An IDENT CODE for this WAYPOINT

The result is given in Latitudes & Longitudes and give a unique name. The example below shows an abstract location 10 nM, 30 degrees from Oxford.

G. A Brief description of the General function of the Flight plan

A plan is developed beginning with the new plan option (opening menu option 2).
Once this plan has been completed it becomes the current plan (option 1 of the opening menu). Actions on the current plan are taken from this option i.e. to re-run the plan and maybe change wind, airspeed etc. to print, to run the return trip, to save this current plan.
Old plans saved from previous use may be recalled and become the current plan. These old plans are retrieved using option 3 of the opening menu.
A most useful feature of this program is the ability to restart at any time this is achieved by pressing the key on the top left hand corner. (Commonly known as the OH! shit button). This allows you to play with features ad hoc and end recover at any time. The best way to find out how it works is to keep pushing buttons - it’s really very easy. Once you find out how easy it is to generate a plan you will never want to revert to the old manual planning methods.

Main Menu

To select a function on the menu, select the number that is required.

1 Current Plan

Selecting current plan gives four further choices. This means that a New Plan needs to be made before using this function.

5 Repeat Current Plan

Check the route

Enter the current wind (no wind calculations as default)

Current route.

Look at the same route with wind calculations. 5230N 0230W @ 2000 ft. 200 15.

The heading is now 331 (instead of 339 with no wind). Is this what is expected?

Track (magnetic)  339
Wind  (from          200 (lower number))

Need to draw diagram on map

6 Print Current Plan

Sends this plan to the printer.

7 Save Current Plan

OX-WELLSB.SET and OX-WELLSB are generated. 

8 Return Trip Plan

Select 1 Display Return Trip.

Check the route

Enter the current wind

Return route.

2 New Plan

Select 2.

Point of departure OXFORD is found. NORTHLEACH ROUNDABOUT is not.

The four choices are:-

(1) Re-enter name of 'This waypoint'

Enter a different name.

(2) Enter position of 'This waypoint' by Latitude & Longitude

See Defining Waypoints for more details.

(3) Enter position of 'This waypoint' by Relative Location

See Defining Waypoints for more details.

(4) Exit to Main Menu

The program returns to the Main Menu.

Select (2) Enter position of 'This waypoint' by Latitude & Longitude

** BRIZE NORTON
0,51:50.250N,001:50.150W,0F,W,000 A40 NORTHLEACH ROUNDABOUT VRP
** BRIZE NORTON (ENR 2.1)

Enter Latitude and Longitude.

Select Y when the data is correct.

Enter another new way point for Kemble.

No more way points, press  to continue,

To check headings, no wind data ia entered,

3 Old Plans

Load previously saved plans here.

4 Other Functions

Two more functions are selected here.

5 Airfield Data Bases

There are 6 choices. The first two asks

1 Use Latitude & Longitude?

See Defining Waypoints for more details.

2 Use Relative Location?

See Defining Waypoints for more details.

1 ADD a NEW location

Data required to add a new location are:-

• NEW WAYPOINT Name
• Latitude  (123456N)
• Longitude  (123456W)
• Ident (ABCD)

2 UPDATE an EXISTING location.

Data required to update an existing location are the same as above:-

• NEW WAYPOINT Name
• Latitude  (123456N)
• Longitude  (123456W)
• Ident (ABCD)

3 Advanced user options

displays the next 3 options.

4 SHOW a Data base  ?

Name of Data base to display

5 APPEND to existing database  ?

Name of Database to modify? (WAV). Select a database to use.

1 Use Latitude & Longitude?

See Defining Waypoints for more details.

2 Use Relative Location?

See Defining Waypoints for more details.

I HAVE NOT MANAGED TO MAKE THIS WORK.

6 CREATE a New Data Base  ?

Use the suggested file name.

Add a Record, or new entry.

Select 1 Use Latitudes & Longitudes

NORTHLEACH ROUNDABOUT

** BRIZE NORTON
0,51:50.250N,001:50.150W,0F,W,000 A40 NORTHLEACH ROUNDABOUT VRP
** BRIZE NORTON (ENR 2.1)

Enter Latitude and Longitude.

Select Y when the data is correct.

See Plan a Flight on using some of these functions.

6 Aircraft Functions

1 Check List

There are no check lists stored initially.

(1) Run a Checklist

Type the in file name (without the .CHK)

The first item to be checked is displayed.

Pressing the key displays the next item. This is repeated until the end of the list is reached. The program returns to the Main Menu.

(2) Create a New Checklist

Using PA28 as the Name of plane creates a file name of PA28.CHK

Type the first item that need to be checked, followed by the key.

Type the next item that need to be checked, followed by the key.

Pressing  twice ends inputting the list and saves the file.

(3) Edit an existing Checklist

Type the in file name (without the .CHK)

The first item to be checked is displayed. Press

• (I) to insert
• (D) to delete
• (A) to accept

Pressing the key displays the next item. This is repeated until the end of the list is reached.

saves the updated data

leaves the data as it was before.

The program then returns to the Main Menu.

(4) To Exit

The program returns to the Main Menu.

2 Weight & Balance

Lets see what this does with some data

Here is a table for Normal Loading

Enter data

The data from the table above is entered.

• Empty Weight (lbs)
• Datum (in)
• Oil Weight (lbs)
• Datum (in)
• Fuel - AVGAS (US Gallons)
• Datum (in)
• Front Passengers (lbs)
• Datum (in)
• Rear Passengers (lbs)
• Datum (in)
• Front Baggage (lbs)
• Datum (in)
• Rear Baggage (lbs)
• Datum (in)

Result

The following result from Pilot Companion was obtained. It is within the calculations obtained from the table.

Press <ENTER> to continue

The program returns to the Main Menu.

3 Density Altitude

Enter some valid entries

Calculate Density Altitude

Calculate True Airspeed

4 Descent Rate

Give Distance to Run  1

Give Rate of Descent  2

Quit  3

The program returns to the Main Menu.

Example

Plan a Flight

Let's go to AV8 restaurant at Kemble via Northleach Roundabout for lunch from Oxford.

Oxford - Kemble via Northleach Roundabout

Select

Select 2 New Plan

Point of departure OXFORD is found. NORTHLEACH ROUNDABOUT is not.

Select 2.

** BRIZE NORTON
0,51:50.250N,001:50.150W,0F,W,000 A40 NORTHLEACH ROUNDABOUT VRP
** BRIZE NORTON (ENR 2.1)

Enter Latitude and Longitude.

Select Y when the data is correct.

KEMBLE is not found

Enter another new way point for Kemble.

No more way points, press to continue,

To check headings, no wind data is entered,

 To save this plan see 7 Save Current Plan