Avionics
New AIRBOX Vector mapping for Africa
  • Airbox Aerospace Ltd announced major new upgrades to software for its Clarity and Foresight units along with the popular PC flight planning software Fastplan.

    “Our engineering team has worked brilliantly to design and deliver new capabilities with our mapping engine. This allows us to deliver up to date maps anywhere in the world using the latest thinking and techniques.” Says William Moore, Airbox’ Chief Technical Officer. ABX Vector produces new charting in areas of North and Southern Africa where official sources have not updated it recently. The ability to combine this charting with official ICAO charts such as the South African 1Mil and 1:500,000 SA CAA charts makes Airbox systems and software unique in the aviation world.

    Airbox has also geo-referenced the ONC charts produced by the US government and made them available for the Clarity and Foresight systems.

    Tom Hedges, Creative Director remarked: “The improvements are not all on the technical side, we have also improved and updated the menu system. Airbox has always considered the user experience to be of paramount importance in busy cockpits and these updates keep us right at the forefront. Of course, existing users can download the update free of charge using their flight planning software.”

    These are just two of many upgrades in the current release of the software (2.3.3) Airbox encourage all current users to fire up their Fastplan software and let the updates begin.

    To purchase the Airbox range of equipment please contact Century Avionics, Distributor of Airbox for Africa at

    Century Avionics
    Hangar M1, Gate 5,
    Lanseria International Airport.
    Tel. +27 11 701 3244

    A list of improvements is attached below for reference.

    Device software

    The Mapping engine has been re-profiled to now allow panning and zooming 4x faster than previously. This is a major improvement and should be demonstrated to all customers.

    We have added a Nearest Airfield feature to the main menu

    We have added a map scale to both Fastplan and also the Device software.

    When selecting Approach Charts from the database we now display thumbnails of the charts to make it easier to depict what chart is to be selected.

    Approach charts are now overlaid onto the actual chart rather than looking like and individual chart.

    There has been a lot of work done on device synchronization improvements to make this easier and more efficient thus reducing support time.

    When on the chart page we have made a chart switching behavior modification that will make changing between charts automatically smoother.

    We have added an EFIS circle that appears around the aircraft on the map page which can be turned on via the menu, display preferences tab.

    Fastplan

    As per the Device software we have completed the same mapping engine re-profile (panning and zooming 4x faster) Added a map scale on the chart

    We have made tweaks to the software to make functionality more intuitive

    Magnetic variation has been added to the Pilots Log data for preflight planning.

    Sunset/sunrise times now available

    Implementation of Winds Aloft in Fastplan (displays winds on the map using normal pilot symbology & added the winds to Pilots Log)

    Automatic registration of Fastplan now means that the customer can install the software and it will automatically register with us directly rather than having to call the office for an unlock code.

    Automatic downloading will now occur in the background if new data becomes available for the customer. This will then install automatically aswell.

    Vector data called ABX Vector V1 is now available for Fastplan and Device software. Due to the different areas of the world we do not have this as an automatic download, customers should be info@airboxaero.com to asking for Airbox Vector data to be activated to their account together with the region(s) that they require. If ONC charts are required please contact Century Avionics to arrange this

    Fastplan News Section has been added where we at Airbox are able to feed real-time news when the customer is using Fastplan. A New universal mapping system added giving new functionality e.g Users of the current chart format can overlay approach plates directly onto the map and will find charts blend seamlessly together (may require charting upgrade)

    Wind direction – Wind data is now overlaid with worldwide coverage. The user can select their height and when they are flying and Fastplan will now show them wind direction and speed. This data is also automatically added to the plog.

    Magnetic variation – this is now automatically calculated and added to the plog

    IFR intersections – now in the database and selectable from the map.

    NOTAMs – are now in our own format and are now much faster in Fastplan.

    Other Bug fixes which are just routine to make the software run smoothly.