Those of you who have been using CloudAhoy to debrief glider flights know that sometimes the analysis has been lacking. The reason: CloudAhoy has a rule-based analysis engine, and its rules thus far have been focused on powered fixed-wing airplanes.

I am now in the process of extending the rules to analyze other kinds of aircraft, starting with gliders (helicopters will soon follow).

If you are a glider pilot I am looking for your help.  Here’s how:

> Login to the beta program

> Debrief your glider flights.  Make sure that the glider’s tail number is correct.

> Email me at support@CloudAhoy.com and tell me what you think.

Was the debrief useful?
Was the flight segmented correctly?
How accurate was the track and altitude?
Are the Profiles useful?
Are the (i) buttons in each segment useful?
What other analysis would you like to see?  New segment types?  New graphs?

And thanks!

I received a number of inquires from CloudAhoy users asking whether there would be any impact on CloudAhoy after upgrading to Apple’s iOS 6.

The answer: it depends on whether you are using an external GPS device or not.  If you use an external GPS I would advise against upgrading to iOS 6.  There seems to be a bug in Apple iOS 6  related to communication with external GPS devices.

I have tested CloudAhoy running under iOS 6 with these external GPS devices: GNS 5870 MFI, Dual 150, Garmin GLO and Garmin GDL-39.  I have used iPad and iPhone devices.  With every one of these devices there have been cases in which the flights were only partially captured.  The symptom is that after tapping the Start button with an external GPS, CloudAhoy displays a green GPS light indicating a good GPS signal, but sometimes the accuracy deteriorated in flight, e.g., displaying a yellow light, and the data is not captured.

If you are using iOS 6 with CloudAhoy and with an external GPS device, the following workaround seems to work, but I don’t have enough statistics to tell whether it always does.

Before a flight:
– Close all the apps
– Settings –> General –> Reset –> Reset Location & Privacy
– Make sure the external GPS is connected via bluetooth.
– Start CloudAhoy.  Tap “Start”.   Then tap OK to “CloudAhoy would like to use your current location”.

This release includes:

o  support for iOS6 and iPhone 5,

o   support for two new external GPS devices from Garmin: the GLO and the GDL-39,

o   A fix of a communication problem.

Interesting inside story about the GDL-39: after returning from Oshkosh I have asked Garmin to send me a unit for evaluation, to benefit the users of both companies.  A Garmin rep replied with a an official “No”.  Meanwhile several users wrote to me about GDL-39 support, and I had to reply that it’s not coming any time soon because I don’t have access to the $800 unit.  As it turned out, Garmin started receiving calls and emails from these users.  Richard Yerian, a CloudAhoy user (name used with his permission) contacted a Garmin sales manager whom he knows, and a week later I received the GDL-39.  Thank you Richard and other CloudAhoy users for your help in making CloudAhoy better!

Immediately after app 2.0 was released, I started receiving reports that CloudAhoy does not recognize the internal GPS in iPad 1.  Wayne Smith (name used with permission) was the first to report it.

The bug was fixed the next day and uploaded for Apple’s review.  Today Apple approved the fix, and it’s now in the app store.

Version 2.0 of CloudAhoy is a major release.  It includes native support for iPad, and supports retina displays.

The iPad version includes two new tabs: Debrief and CFI.

I will post more information in the coming days.

I received a lot of super valuable feedback from the beta testers.  People who I never met volunteered their time to tell me about bugs, missing features, usability and aesthetics.  The app would not have been what it is without this help.  Thank you very much, dear beta testers!

In two days I’ll be doing a pilgrimage  to Oshkosh.  From Tuesday 7/24 through Saturday.

I’ll be there as a flight enthusiast, not as an exhibitor.  But I would love to meet face-to-face with anyone interested.  Contact me via CloudAhoy’s email, or call  781-269-1138.

Looking forward!

Chuck