Editing Aircraft Data

Before you can create an accurate flight plan, you need accurate aircraft data. JIFP comes with a number of preloaded aircraft models, but you should check and edit the model you intend to use so that it accurately reflects your aircraft. If you do not see your type of aircraft in JIFP, you might have to create an aircraft model from scratch. However, choosing a model that is similar to yours and then modifying it might be easier. This approach is recommended, even if you have to change every value. If a change occurs in the performance model, you must change all of the performance values, as well as all weight and balance values. Still, using the similar aircraft type gives you a good template for entering your data.

Select a pilot aircraft model in the Aircraft Library Manager dialog box by clicking Edit > Aircraft Data > Select Aircraft Data. After a selection is made, click Edit to make changes. It is best to enter aircraft model data in the following sequence:

  1. Choosing a Sample Aircraft

  2. Basic Aircraft Data

  3. Weight and Balance Data

  4. Performance Data

Top 12 Errors Made in Creating or Editing Aircraft Models

The following list highlights common calls that technical support receives regarding creating or editing aircraft models.

  1. Leaving necessary performance fields blank — The program cannot identify the difference between leaving data out and adding a zero. Any spaces that are left empty are assumed to have a value of zero; the program calculates on that zero, causing an error in calculation.

  1. Not completing the envelope in the Weight & Balance tab — If the envelope does not appear gray, it is not seen by the program as a closed envelope. The program cannot be certain if you are inside or outside.

  1. Not entering any weight and balance information — Even if you are only using the program for performance, if the weight and balance data is incorrect, it can affect the performance numbers. Basic models assume performance based on weight; thus, if the weight is incorrect, the model cannot be accurate.

  1. Incorrect performance information — Often a model appears to work correctly except at a certain altitude or weight. This situation is usually the result of a typo, such as entering 1227 instead of 127 for a speed in a single field. The program averages and interpolates information so that it is accurate at speeds and weights between the entered data. One error can cause any flight near the data error to be affected.

  1. In the Basic Info tab, not matching the fuel capacity with the information under the Weight & Balance tab — The two tabs should indicate the same quantity of fuel, even if one is in gallons and the other is in pounds.

  1. Not specifying that the fuel stations are type 'Fuel' in the Weight & Balance section — This situation results when the program does not allow you to enter fuel when clicking Preflight > Weight & Balance for [route]. If you make the change, and the fuel in the navlog does not change or shows zero fuel, this might be the cause.

  1. Entering Moment instead of CG for performance — If the envelope is narrow and angular, it is probably not a CG envelope.

  1. Trying to create a Constant Power model when the POH gives Constant Altitude data, or vice versa — In this situation, there is no correct way to complete the model and get satisfactory performance. Either one can be a good basic model, but model templates only support the type of data for which the POH is written.

  1. Entering fuel in a different unit from that specified in the Aircraft Setup Information tab — If the Aircraft Setup Information tab has the units for fuel, speed, and so on, set as one type of unit, the performance tabs and Basic Info tab must use the same units. Weight and balance are the only exceptions: they are always in weight units, never in liquid measure.

  1. Entering too little data for a configuration — The program is set up for groups of three. Any weight, altitude, power setting, and so on, needs at least three entries to average correctly. If too little data is entered, the program does not let you plan with the model.

  1. Not entering +20 and -20 information for Constant Power and Constant Altitude models — Even if you only want to assume standard conditions, the program registers the zeros and assumes it is valid data.

  1. Leaving the Climb & Descent information blank in the Basic Information tab — If this information is left at zero, the program assumes it is valid data and plans with it.