Whether you create a model from scratch or edit an existing model, the information that displays is basically the same. The only difference between the two views is that when you edit an aircraft model, the tabs are aligned along the top (as shown below), because information is already stored within each tab. When you create an aircraft model, the program opens a sequence of dialogs to ensure that the information is entered in the right sequence.
If you are editing an existing aircraft model, access the basic aircraft data with the following actions:
Select an aircraft model.
To edit the aircraft set as the default, click Edit > Aircraft Data > Edit Current Aircraft to display the Edit Default Aircraft Model dialog box and the Basic Info tab.
To edit an aircraft not set as the default, click Edit > Select Aircraft. Select the aircraft model and click Edit to display the Edit Aircraft Model dialog box.
Click the Basic Info tab.
| NOTE | To build an aircraft model, start with Creating a New Aircraft. |
JIFP uses aircraft model information in flight plans and performance calculations.
The following list describes each field in the Basic Aircraft Data dialog box. When you have entered all of the basic aircraft data, save your edited fields, or click Cancel to revert to the original data. To create an aircraft model, click Next to continue to Weight and Balance.
|
Basic Aircraft Information |
Make |
The manufacturer's name for the aircraft; for example: Bonanza, Arrow, Centurion. |
|
Model |
The manufacturer's model designation for the aircraft; for
example: F33A, PA | |
|
Registration |
The registration number of your aircraft. | |
|
Color |
The color description JIFP uses in the FAA flight plan form. If you plan to upload to DUATS, ensure that you use a valid code. DUATS only accepts certain colors. See Formatting DUATS Flight Plans for a list of acceptable colors. | |
|
Equipment |
Click on View/Edit to open a dialog for entering FAA and ICAO equipment codes by using selected check boxes (see Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum (RVSM)). JIFP applies the appropriate suffixes to the flight plan forms. See FAA online for current aircraft equipment suffixes if you prefer to enter them. See Formatting DUATS Flight Plans. | |
|
Home base |
Optional. JIFP uses this airport identifier and places it into the FAA Flight Plan (block 14). | |
|
Fuel capacity |
Maximum usable fuel the aircraft can carry. **Measurements are based on the selection made under Fuel Units on the Aircraft Setup Information tab. | |
|
Taxi fuel and |
The amount of fuel used for taxi. You can find this information in the Performance section of the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH) or in the Weight and Balance section. It might be listed in a sample weight and balance calculation of takeoff weight. The amount of fuel should be entered into JIFP in the fuel units (gallons, pounds, liters, or kilograms) that are specified for your aircraft. JIFP includes this fuel in the first segment when it creates a flight log. | |
|
Climb |
Sea level ROC |
You can find this information in a climb performance chart or in the front of the POH. This figure should be the sea level, standard temperature rate of climb for the aircraft in ft/min or mm/min. Measurements are specified in the Speed/Distance Units of the Aircraft Setup Information tab. Choosing Knots/NM and MPH/SM defaults the value to ft/min. |
|
Service ceiling ROC |
The rate of climb at the service ceiling altitude. If you found the maximum operating altitude in the Limitations section of the POH, use that altitude in the climb performance chart to determine the climb rate. Otherwise, figure 100 ft/min for singles and twins. Measurements are specified in the Speed/Distance Units of the Aircraft Setup Information tab. Choosing Knots/NM and MPH/SM defaults the value to ft/min. | |
|
Indicated climb speed |
Enter the speed that you normally use. If you normally use a high cruise climb speed, use that number (could result in a lower climb rate, so enter a lower number for your rate of climb above if you use a high cruise climb speed). Notice that this number is indicated airspeed. JIFP translates this number into true airspeed when calculating the flight log. Measurements are specified in the Speed/Distance Units of the Aircraft Setup Information tab. | |
|
Sea level climb and |
These numbers might not be provided in your POH. They can be implied from other data, such as time/distance/fuel-to-climb tables and graphs. Another way to estimate sea-level climb fuel rate at full power is to divide your fuel flow at 75 percent power by .75. Fuel flow at the service ceiling should be close to the full throttle values shown at the highest altitudes in your charts. **Measurements are based on the selection made under Fuel Units on the Aircraft Setup Information tab. | |
|
Cruise |
Default cruise altitude |
Enter the cruise altitude in feet or meters as specified in the CG Units of the Aircraft Setup Information tab. Selecting inches or centimeters defaults the measurement to feet. |
|
Descent |
Rate of descent |
The rate of descent for normal descents in feet or meters as specified in the Speed/Distance Units of the Aircraft Setup Information tab. |
|
Indicated descent speed |
The normal indicated airspeed used for descent. The top of the green arc speed is often used. | |
|
Descent fuel flow |
Fuel flow during descent in gallons or liters as specified in the Fuel Units of the Aircraft Setup Information tab. Choosing pounds and kilograms defaults the measurement to gallons. |