Quick Start
Before starting, decide whether you will use iCloud to store data and share with multiple devices or partners. If so, please go to iOS Settings and make sure you are signed in to iCloud.
You can still use the app if you are not signed in, but all data will be stored locally and there is no way to transfer to iCloud later.
On initial launch of the app, you'll be asked to allow using your location. If you Allow, the destination airport will be set to the nearest airport when you enter a Flight Log. You can always edit if you are no longer at the airport where you landed.
After dismissing this dialog, tap the + button at the top of the next screen to create your airplane.
A check for network connectivity will be made if you are using iCloud. You can only create an airplane if you have a network (WiFi or Cellular) connection.
Important: If you will be sharing the airplane with multiple partners, only one of you should create the airplane! Other partners will automatically get the plane when the original creator shares it.
Note: Finding the nearest airport is limited to USA airports only.
Add an Airplane
Enter the N-number, the serial number (if you want), and enable the switches per your preference.
Leave the "Include Tach Timer" switch off if your airplane has only one timer, whether it be Hobbs, Air Hobbs, or Tach. This value will be used for both flight logging and service intervals.
Turn this switch on if your airplane has two timers. The Flight Log entry will include fields for both meters. The primary Hobbs meter usually runs while the power or engine is on. The second meter is a function of RPM and commonly referred to as a Tach timer. If this switch is on, the Hobbs time will be logged and reported for possible billing purposes and the Tach time will be used for tracking service intervals.
The "Business Usage" switch can be enabled if you use your airplane partially or fully for business. When it is on, there will be fields in the Flight Log to track whether the flight is a business flight and if so, how many people are on board.
The "Turboprop" switch is used to include additional information in your Flight Log often used by Turbine powered aircraft. It will include Start Temperature, Number of Cycles, and Number of Landings.
The "Fuel Purchase" switch can be enabled if you would like to record and keep track of Fuel Purchases and Cost. Some airplane partnerships do this to allocate billing among the partners.
After entering the information, tap Save to create the airplane.
Airplane Summary
This is the summary screen for your airplane. If you created multiple airplanes, swipe the upper half of the screen sideways to scroll to the other planes.
Tap the iCloud button in the top bar to invite users. Invited users must have valid Apple ID's and have iCloud enabled on their devices.
Tap the camera icon in the top bar to assign a photo from your camera roll to the airplane. This photo will be private to your devices, even if the airplane is shared with multiple partners.
The bottom half of the screen will present a summary of the last few months of flights, a display of total Hobbs time from all your flights, and a brief overview of all saved data. Swipe the bottom half of the screen sideways to view that information.
Flight Log
This is the primary screen for the application. Use this to view your flights, edit existing flights, or add a new flight.
The current Hobbs will be displayed at the top. The flights are grouped by month. Each month will present the total of all flights in the month.
Tap the + in the top bar to add a new flight.
Tap the Report icon in the top bar to generate a customizable report of all flights. The report is saved as a file that can be opened by Numbers or other spreadsheet programs, and can be shared via Messages, Mail, and others.
Tap the Import icon in the top bar to import a saved log file.
Pull down on the table to reveal a Search bar if it is not shown. You can search for all flights to or from an airport, or search for all flights by Pilot name.
Add or Edit a Flight
For the first flight, you will need to enter the Out and In times, and the Origin and Destination fields. If you allowed Location access during startup, the Destination will be set to the nearest airport.
On subsequent flights, the Out times will be initialized to the In times of the previous flight. Likewise, the Origin will be set to the Destination of the previous flight, as will the Pilot name.
That's a lot of words to say that when entering a new flight, you should only need to enter the Hobbs In time. All other fields should be set to correct values, based on your previous flight and your current location.
Fuel Remaining is an optional field to remind yourself or communicate to your partners how much fuel remains. You may choose to only use this if the quantity is more or less than an agreed upon amount. It's a numeric field and you can decide whether it represents Gallons or Pounds.
Fuel Purchased and Cost are optional fields if you enabled them when creating your Airplane. They are numeric fields and can be used to represent Gallons or Pounds, and any monetary unit.
Oil Added can be used to track oil consumption. It's a numeric field, usually representing quarts, and is reported when exporting the Flight Log.
Business Trip and the Turboprop sections are shown if you enabled the options when creating your Airplane.
The Note section is used to record general information about the flight. You should use the Observations tab to record Squawks or Observations to share with your maintenance facility.
Note: Finding the nearest airport is limited to USA airports only.
Observations
This section is used to record Observations which affect the airplane. It's useful as a reminder when taking the plane in for service.
When observations are resolved, they are moved to the Closed section where they can be reviewed or reopened at a later date.
Add or Edit an Observation
The top portion of the screen records a summary of the observation, who originated it and when.
Urgency and Impact can be used to determine the priority and timing of resolution.
The Notes section can be used for ongoing diagnosis and comments.
Tap the green + button to add Notes.
Tap the Resolve button when the observation is resolved. You'll be able to add additional notes describing how the issue was resolved. The observation will then be moved to the Closed section.
Service Reminders
The Service tab can show as little or as much as you want to record. Anywhere from a couple of entries to remind you of an oil change and an annual, up to many dozens of entries at various hourly and calendar-based intervals.
The tab bar allows for quick viewing of services that are just based on Hours or Calendar intervals.
Tapping the Report button in the top bar will produce a report sorted in order of upcoming services, highlighting those that are past due and those coming up soon.
The Edit button is used to make mass modifications. After a service event, tap Edit and you will be able to select all items that were handled at that service event. Enter the current hours (Hobbs or Tach) and the date, and all selected services will be updated.
Add or Edit a Service Reminder
An individual service reminder is created based on an Hours or Calendar interval.
You should enter the Hours and Date the service was last performed, Those values are used to remind you when it is next due.
You can also add Notes to keep a history of comments regarding the service.