WingX Pro7 Speeds Up Data Downloads

The latest version of Hilton Software’s WingX Pro7 electronic flight bag (EFB) app has added new features that make downloading updates faster, improve search-and-rescue functions and add VFR Flyway planning charts to the moving map.

Hilton Software has pioneered many aviation app developments, including the release of the first synthetic vision display in 2011, for the iPad version of WingX. What was unique about that release was not only that it brought low-cost synthetic vision to the iPad, but it added the ability to connect to an external AHRS sensor package that drives an attitude indicator on the synthetic vision display. Hilton Software was also one of the first developers to offer Android versions of its app. Another WingX first was the ability to add an approach, arrival or departure procedure to flight plans as well as depicted on the moving map.

Although synthetic vision originally was a premium feature available for $99 per year, now it is included in WingX Pro7’s Advanced IFR annual subscription, which is $149.98. Hilton Software offers that subscription for free to flight instructors and military pilots.

The new VFR Flyway planning charts make looking up information on flying near and through Class B airspace easier to find, and pilots can see their aircraft depicted on the moving map alongside the Flyway ground references. This also eliminates the need to download Flyway charts separately and then switch from the moving map to the charts.

WingX Pro7 has added more aircraft images for own-ship depictions, with more popular types now available, and these can be pinch-zoomed to make larger or smaller on the moving map.

For faster database downloading and space saving, the U.S. has been split into three regions–Western, Central and Eastern–for Sectional and IFR enroute charts.

Search-and-rescue patterns and grid colors have also been improved. The parallel search now allows the user to enter the search track, according to Hilton Software, “and WingX Pro7 does all the match to search along that search track.”

The documents section of WingX Pro7 includes the latest FAA Airman Certification Standards, currently for the private pilot, and others will be added as the FAA updates these from the original Practical Test Standards. Users can also store their own documents in this section of WingX Pro7.

Pilots can view weather images and information, and choose to see decoded (plain English) Metars and TAFs right next to the coded weather data for a quick comparison. Notams are split into categories to make viewing applicable bulletins easier. When planning a flight, an optimization feature shows temperature (for avoiding icing conditions), speed and time en route for various altitudes.

A feature unique to WingX Pro7 is the “traca” drawing function, where the user can draw a new route on the map in freehand. Drawing with traca is available from airport-to-airport, location-to-airport or as-drawn, where the new route is just where the pilot’s finger draws on the map. This is a handy way to change a route quickly around a thunderstorm, terrain or pop-up TFR, without having to create user waypoints.