Flight Track Work Flow
The Flight Track work flow model is: Define, Predict, Fly, and Review. This work flow centers on unique flight definitions to manage information for multiple flights. In this manner, Flight Track organizes the prediction, flight definition, and flight log files in one place for a single flight.
The planning for a flight starts with a definition of a few parameters (Define), continues with flight path predictions (Prediction), the flight itself (Fly), and ends with a flight review (Review).
The Flight Track work flow model is: Define, Predict, Fly, and Review. This work flow centers on unique flight definitions to manage information for multiple flights. In this manner, Flight Track organizes the prediction, flight definition, and flight log files in one place for a single flight.
The planning for a flight starts with a definition of a few parameters (Define), continues with flight path predictions (Prediction), the flight itself (Fly), and ends with a flight review (Review).
Define
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Prediction
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Fly
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Define Work Flow
The Define Work Flow begins the definition of a new flight by specifying flight and flight prediction information. Move the mouse to the Panel control (under the menu at upper left). After the menu rolls out, move the mouse over Information Panel to have Flight Track display the Flight Information panel.
To review the flight information of a previous flight, select Open Flight from the File menu. Select a flight to review and click the Open button.
Click on the labels above the Flight Information panels to navigate between panels.
After defining the parameters of your flight, click on the Save Flight button.
Prediction Work Flow
The Prediction Work Flow begins with specifying prediction parameters, and READY format wind data. Select Options from the Tools menu.
Click OK to close the Options dialog and save your settings.
With flight data specified, the Prediction Work Flow requires READY wind data to create flight path predictions. Select Prediction from the Flight menu, and then select New from the Prediction menu.
Flight Track presents a status bar for the prediction, and changes to the Prediction panel.
Flight Work Flow
The Flight Work Flow begins by loading the flight (if it isn't loaded already). Select Open Flight from the Flight menu and select a flight. Flight filenames contain both the call sign and flight designation for easy identification.
Specify the COM port from the Options dialog. Select Options from the Tools menu. Click on the Communications tab. Select the COM port for Flight Track to use. If your COM port does not appear, click Refresh.
With your receiver connected the COM port, select Track from the Flight menu. Flight Track opens the COM port and begins accepting and processing packets. The COM Port indicator is yellow when Flight Track is ready to accept packets.
When a packet arrives, the COM Port indicator is green
and the balloon position appears on the map.
During the flight, Flight Track plots the path of the flight and displays the flight path prediction as defined by the Real Time Predictions tab on the Options dialog. Additionally, Flight Track logs all packets to a log file for later review.
If there is an error with the packet, Flight Track displays "error" next to the COM Port indicator. Hover over the word to review the cause of the error. If there are no errors, Flight Track displays "clear".
When you are ready to terminate the processing of information, select Track from the Flight menu. Flight Track closes the COM port.
When the flight is complete, the Flight item on the Export menu becomes active. Select Flight from the Export menu to export the flight to a GPX format.
Review Work Flow
The Review Work Flow is similar to the Flight work flow. If a flight is not already loaded, select Open Flight from the Flight menu. Flight filenames contain both the call sign and flight designation for easy identification.
Select Review from the Flight menu. Flight Track reads the flight log file to plot the flight on the map. Flight Track provides the same functions as if it were tracking a real flight including packet interpretation and real time flight path prediction.
The Flight Review controls adjust the playback speed, pause, or stop the review.
The Define Work Flow begins the definition of a new flight by specifying flight and flight prediction information. Move the mouse to the Panel control (under the menu at upper left). After the menu rolls out, move the mouse over Information Panel to have Flight Track display the Flight Information panel.
To review the flight information of a previous flight, select Open Flight from the File menu. Select a flight to review and click the Open button.
Click on the labels above the Flight Information panels to navigate between panels.
 All fields except Alternative Call Sign are required. | |
| Flight Designation, Call, and Alternative Call Sign | Flight Track uses these fields for documentation, files, and map display. During flight tracking, received packets are processed only when they contain the Call Sign. If the Alternative Call Sign is present, Flight Track will process a packet containing the Call or Alternative Call Sign. |
| Packet Format | Flight Track uses this format to parse your APRS packets. If you have not defined your packet, select Options from the Tools menu. Define your packet on the Packet Format tab. |
| Launch Site | Flight Track uses this location as a start for the flight path prediction. If you have not defined your launch site, select Options from the Tools menu. Define your launch site on the Locations tab. |
| Launch Date and Time | Track uses this field as a starting point of the flight. |
 All fields are required. | |
| Maximum Altitude | Flight Track uses this field for one set of predicted flight paths. |
| Ascent and Descent Rate | Flight Track uses these fields in prediction calculations. |
| Start Predictions Above | During a flight or review, Flight Track begins displaying a real time prediction when the flight rises above this altitude. |
| Stop Predictions Below | During a flight or review, Flight Track stops displaying a real time prediction when the flight falls below this altitude. |
After defining the parameters of your flight, click on the Save Flight button.
Prediction Work Flow
The Prediction Work Flow begins with specifying prediction parameters, and READY format wind data. Select Options from the Tools menu.
 All fields are required for the Prediction. |
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| Make Multiple Predictions | When this field is checked, Flight Track calculates six flight paths. |
| Ascent Delta | When Make Multiple Predictions is checked, Flight Track varies the Ascent Rate by this value. |
| Display Real Time Prediction | Flight Track displays a real time prediction during a flight and the review of a flight when this box is checked. |
| Real Time Prediction Frequency | Flight Track displays a real time prediction after receiving the specified number of packets. Specify both pre-burst and post-burst frequencies. |
Click OK to close the Options dialog and save your settings.
With flight data specified, the Prediction Work Flow requires READY wind data to create flight path predictions. Select Prediction from the Flight menu, and then select New from the Prediction menu.
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| Copy the READY text report from the READY web page and paste it into the New Flight Prediction dialog. Click OK to create a flight path prediction. |
Flight Track presents a status bar for the prediction, and changes to the Prediction panel.
 Predicted Flight Paths  |
| When the prediction completes, the flight pathes appear on the mapping application, and the flight details appear in the
Prediction panel. To export the prediction, select Prediction from the Export menu. To review past predictions for a flight, select Prediction from the Flight menu, and then select Open from the Prediction menu. Export past predictions in the same way as present predictions; Flight Track exports the most recently calculated prediction.  |
Flight Work Flow
The Flight Work Flow begins by loading the flight (if it isn't loaded already). Select Open Flight from the Flight menu and select a flight. Flight filenames contain both the call sign and flight designation for easy identification.
Specify the COM port from the Options dialog. Select Options from the Tools menu. Click on the Communications tab. Select the COM port for Flight Track to use. If your COM port does not appear, click Refresh.
With your receiver connected the COM port, select Track from the Flight menu. Flight Track opens the COM port and begins accepting and processing packets. The COM Port indicator is yellow when Flight Track is ready to accept packets.
When a packet arrives, the COM Port indicator is green
and the balloon position appears on the map.
During the flight, Flight Track plots the path of the flight and displays the flight path prediction as defined by the Real Time Predictions tab on the Options dialog. Additionally, Flight Track logs all packets to a log file for later review.
If there is an error with the packet, Flight Track displays "error" next to the COM Port indicator. Hover over the word to review the cause of the error. If there are no errors, Flight Track displays "clear".
When you are ready to terminate the processing of information, select Track from the Flight menu. Flight Track closes the COM port.
When the flight is complete, the Flight item on the Export menu becomes active. Select Flight from the Export menu to export the flight to a GPX format.
Review Work Flow
The Review Work Flow is similar to the Flight work flow. If a flight is not already loaded, select Open Flight from the Flight menu. Flight filenames contain both the call sign and flight designation for easy identification.
Select Review from the Flight menu. Flight Track reads the flight log file to plot the flight on the map. Flight Track provides the same functions as if it were tracking a real flight including packet interpretation and real time flight path prediction.
The Flight Review controls adjust the playback speed, pause, or stop the review.