Version 1.1 May 2010
Version 1.1 upgrades several internal features of FlightDesk and adds some new elements to the program including enhanced tracking. The most noticeable addition is the Map feature which allows users to track pilots on a moving map.
Welcome to Version 1.0 June 2009
After a long period of Beta testing that included more than 150 patches, FlightDesk Version 1.0 is here! Throughout our testing process, member feedback, as well as the voluntary assistance of several BVA members, helped shape FlightDesk into the incredible piece of software that it is today.
Now that a fully stable version of the program is available, all pilots will be asked to use FlightDesk as their primary method of filing flight plans. With this version, chatting is enabled for all members; it's accessible by right-clicking the name of the member you'd like to speak with. Also new in Version 1.0 is a "Browser" tab which acts just like Internet Explorer. Pilots can surf the web or browse content from Boston Virtual ATC including News, FlightDesk's help system ("HelpDesk"), and a list of FSX Shortcuts. This content is accessible by clicking "Connect to BVA" on the home page of FlightDesk's browser.
This version of FlightDesk also includes a text-only ATIS system. From now on, weather and airport information can only be accessed by clicking on the "ATIS" link in FlightDesk. Controllers will expect pilots to check appropriate weather information in FlightDesk before their flight. With this addition, the chat box is relieved from the ATIS duties it has performed over the past few years. With the release of FlightDesk 1.0, the chat box will once again be used simply as a public chat window--exactly what it was designed for. The capability to record and list to recorded ATIS messages is planned for future versions of FlightDesk.
Version 1.0 represents a milestone for FlightDesk. While enhancements will continue to be added and future versions are already in the works, version 1.0 is the first official release.
One of the major advantages of having Internet Explorer embedded in FlightDesk is that members can write their own internet applications to be published and contained within FlightDesk. If you are interested in creating a useful application for our community, go ahead and write a web-based application which uses IE or Firefox as a client. If the application works on your preferred browser it will work on FlightDesk's. Please e-mail Bill for more information on how to integrate your program with FlightDesk.
Features
FlightDesk is flight planning software that optimizes the environment and community created by controllers, pilots, and observers. FlightDesk offers members the ability to:
- View lists of active controllers, pilots, and observers
- File and view flight plans
- Hand off, update, and reclassify flight plans (controllers only)
- Track all or specific pilots on a moving map
- Display a message in FSX telling a pilot to contact a specific frequency (controllers only)
- View and chat with other members or active controllers
- View and track pilot progress
- View airport and weather information (when published by controllers)
- View an easy and convenient list of FSX Shortcuts
- Through "HelpDesk", learn more about filing flight plans, view correct aircraft codes and type suffixes, and configuring FlightDesk to accept additional coordinates and enhance tracking
By filing flight plans through FlightDesk, pilots allow our controllers to focus on their jobs. Thanks to the tremendous contribution of a few individuals, all of our controllers are now able to view information about flights in their airspace, and have a convenient method of passing information about pilots back and forth.
Special Thanks
FlightDesk was created by Bill ("WhiskeySierraOne"), the founder and president of Microvisual, a software company that creates visualizations to assist in analyzing and solving complex problems. FlightDesk has been licensed to BVA by Microvisual.
In addition to Bill's incredibly generous contribution to our community, we would also like to thank Pierre ("Pierul"), who worked tirelessly to collect coordinates and data of thousands of airports to expand FlightDesk's tracking database. Pierre also created "HelpDesk", a collection of web pages that describe the workings of FlightDesk and help pilots file flight plans correctly. Pierre shines not only as a cartographer, but also for his uncanny ability to detect the most subtle bugs.
A commercial-grade project such as FlightDesk can't happen without the contributions of several key people. We are deeply grateful to Evan ('evanet') for coordinating the releases, keeping track of bug fixes, answering questions, testing the software and discussing product issues on a daily basis (sometimes late into the night and early morning!).
Great programs are the result of the contributions of dozens of individuals. For example, we must recognize the enormous contribution of Kyle ('MavericksFan412003') throughout the early stages of design. Kyle was instrumental in helping us engineer the difficult compromises between practicality and usability.
We are excited about the features that we'll continue to add to FlightDesk. We are particularly excited about hosting Internet Explorer as an application platform. We look forward to integrating applications written by BVA users who have an interest in programming web applications. For example, Phil ('Ferrari308guy'), spearheaded the initiative to create the current ATIS system. While the networking and logistics were coded by Bill, Phil created the design for the project and is currently working to add voice capability to the ATIS system.
Download
FlightDesk is available for download and is compatible with recent versions of the Windows Operating System. FlightDesk can be downloaded by registered members of BVA by clicking on the download link at the top of the page (viewable to registered users only).