-
After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.
Airline Pilot Logbook
- Thread starter powrful1
- Start date
yea, yea...I know I'm no where like you other pilots, but, us Balloon pilots and crews also need to log their flights.... Pilots for FAA reasons and crews for ensuring they are getting paid for their flights.
I think the pilot log book is great...but, I think a separate application may be needed for my purposes... Anyone interested, let me know! I don't have the vast requirements as a big commerical pilots do, but there are a few.
I think the pilot log book is great...but, I think a separate application may be needed for my purposes... Anyone interested, let me know! I don't have the vast requirements as a big commerical pilots do, but there are a few.
My suggestion to the people out there who are thinking of creating an android pilot logbook program: don't try to reinvent the wheel. There are already a lot of logbook applications out there which a lot of effort has been put into, and are quite feature rich. No offense or anything, but it's not likley that you can better some of these other projects out there with a dinky little android app.
Instead try to leverage the advantages of the android platform by creating something those other applications can not do. Maybe have your android app be a portable front end to other more polished pilot logbook software. Get in touch with some of the authors of the other logbook software projects, maybe work together on something.
Instead try to leverage the advantages of the android platform by creating something those other applications can not do. Maybe have your android app be a portable front end to other more polished pilot logbook software. Get in touch with some of the authors of the other logbook software projects, maybe work together on something.
The Android app certainly does not need to have all the capabilities of polished PC-based Logbook packages, but it still needs to have basic functionality to capture/present the logbook information.
Unless one is integrating the Android app with an online web/services based Logbook application, the Android app will need to exchange data or sync with the Logbook application when the user heads back to base.
Reporting and other fancy import/export features can be done in the backend Logbook application (on a bigger screen!).
This may become a headache for the Android developer - really just shifting the Android frontend development (under the developer's control) work to backend integration work (less controlled and maybe impossible if the other parties do not want to open up).
A bunch of other questions ... Which packages to integrate with? What are the popular ones? Are they open, or do we need to integrate differently for each one? Is this actually making the Android app more difficult and time consuming to develop? ...
joethepilot
Newbie
As I stated earlier. All we need is for this app to export to CSV. Logbook pro will import CSV. Problem solved.
From what I've been reading and what I know what I'd want, it sounds like the best app would be a simple data entry app to a DB backend that can later be exported to a CSV file and uploaded elsewhere. One can make settings to choose what external system they wish to export to which would drive how the data is extrapolated... Maybe a location-based collection entry for TO/FROM fields (with manual override) and a few additional selection/dropdown fields.
It might be easier to start on a very simple app and add to it piece by piece. Get the basics down and continue to build on it.
Some great ideas here...just need to start putting it into code. I wish I knew how to do it myself!
It might be easier to start on a very simple app and add to it piece by piece. Get the basics down and continue to build on it.
Some great ideas here...just need to start putting it into code. I wish I knew how to do it myself!
That would put a reasonable scope for the app. But still, even for the front-end, it will take some effort/care to produce a user-friendly interface.
So, what are your requirements for a Balloon Pilot Logbook? Did anyone actually contact you?It might be easier to start on a very simple app and add to it piece by piece. Get the basics down and continue to build on it.
Some great ideas here...just need to start putting it into code. I wish I knew how to do it myself!
I would tend to agree...the user interface is most important.
No has yet contacted me - so, let's go with the very simple and consider the following fields:
Date - (MM/DD/YYYY)
Time - For Balloons, it's AM or PM. Actual time doesn't matter.
Balloon Information
- Make
- Model
- Balloon N#
Flight Information
- Launch Site (if done right, this could pull current GPS location)
- Landing Site (if done right, this could pull current GPS location)
- Distance
- Max. Altitude
- # Passengers
- # Landings
Wind Data (all drop downs selections in increments of 1 or 2 knots)
- Speed at Take Off
- Gusts
- Speed at Landing
Remarks, Procedures, Maneuvers - Free text field
Piloting Type Time - each with numerical entry (XX.xx Hours)
- Free Flight
- Tether Flight
- Instruction Provided
- Instruction Received
We could go one step further and allow the balloon type be configurable in that the user preconfigures the Balloon Information section, provide it a name (balloons are all named) and then make it selectable in a drop down or what ever is easiest as opposed of having to enter the information each time.
Even easier than this would be a Balloon Crew Log with the following information:
Date/Time (AM/PM)
Company
Balloon
Pilot
Launch Site
Land Site
Comments
Paid Y/N?
Let me know if you have any questions...
gizbug
Well-Known Member
Posted at Logbookpro.com
""Thank you for your inquiry. I don't want to mislead anyone so I'm going to be honest and up front so you know exactly where we stand. Logbook Pro 2010 is our priority development effort, as it is now, it probably won't be ready until this fall at the earliest. We are working on the iPhone app now, Android I'm not sure when that's coming. It may not be until after Logbook Pro 2010 releases so I don't foresee it coming in 2010. Android is not our priority at this moment."
What a shame.
""Thank you for your inquiry. I don't want to mislead anyone so I'm going to be honest and up front so you know exactly where we stand. Logbook Pro 2010 is our priority development effort, as it is now, it probably won't be ready until this fall at the earliest. We are working on the iPhone app now, Android I'm not sure when that's coming. It may not be until after Logbook Pro 2010 releases so I don't foresee it coming in 2010. Android is not our priority at this moment."
What a shame.
Expected, I guess. Maybe they are happy to work with independent Android developers for the Android app?
From what I've been reading and what I know what I'd want, it sounds like the best app would be a simple data entry app to a DB backend that can later be exported to a CSV file and uploaded elsewhere. One can make settings to choose what external system they wish to export to which would drive how the data is extrapolated... Maybe a location-based collection entry for TO/FROM fields (with manual override) and a few additional selection/dropdown fields.
It might be easier to start on a very simple app and add to it piece by piece. Get the basics down and continue to build on it.
Some great ideas here...just need to start putting it into code. I wish I knew how to do it myself!
I'm a private pilot flying a Cirrus SR22. I use Logbook Pro for my flight data. It's easy to enter the data into an excel spreadsheet (documents to go) and then dump it into Logbook Pro as stated below from Logbook Pro's WEB site:
"Logbook Pro imports using a custom Import Wizard within the software. If you can get your data into a program such as Microsoft Excel (which should read ODBC...) format it as close to the Spreadsheet Style logbook as possible. Then click File...Import to import your data. "
So, was someone actually working on something or were we all just talking amongst ourselves?
I agree that a Document to Go Excel spreadsheet is easy enough and the output to a PC-based logging environment is a great idea....I would still be interested in seeing what could be done for an Android-based logger that has a custom interface. It's always more fun with a cool interface!
I agree that a Document to Go Excel spreadsheet is easy enough and the output to a PC-based logging environment is a great idea....I would still be interested in seeing what could be done for an Android-based logger that has a custom interface. It's always more fun with a cool interface!
A pilot friend of mine brought this to my attention...I might be interested in giving this a shot, just have to pitch it to my partners. The biggest problem is the threat of competition - such as the iphone developer writing an android application. Also there is the looming issue of how big or small the market really is.
How many downloads does the iphone app have and how much does it cost?
How many downloads does the iphone app have and how much does it cost?
Looking for testers for the following apps:
(1) Balloon LogBook
The app can capture details on balloon flights, balloons and launch/landing sites (with Google Maps & GPS integration).
Screenshots taken from the real app.
(2) Pilot LogBook
Developed for commercial pilots, this app can capture details on flights, aircraft, etc.
Screenshots taken from the real app.
If you are interested in any of the above, please send me a private message and I'll send you a download link when ready.
(1) Balloon LogBook
The app can capture details on balloon flights, balloons and launch/landing sites (with Google Maps & GPS integration).
Screenshots taken from the real app.
(2) Pilot LogBook
Developed for commercial pilots, this app can capture details on flights, aircraft, etc.
Screenshots taken from the real app.
If you are interested in any of the above, please send me a private message and I'll send you a download link when ready.
Hi there..
I am very interested in the above app.. count me in if you need a tester or if ur looking for numbers!
I am very interested in the above app.. count me in if you need a tester or if ur looking for numbers!