I'm posting this on behalf of members of PPL/IR Europe
https://pplir.org/We have been promoting the use of SD as a useful tool for our members and many of us are loyal users.
We have had a good discussion on the PPL/IR Forum about SD. On the back of this we have collated some feature requests we'd like to raise for consideration
I've raised each one in it's own thread to aid Tim Dawson and the SD team to aid/triage them, but include a link below to the key ones we have raised
Ok so so far we have, in order of priority raised:
* Clearer means of user knowing if VFR or IFR flight rules have been used for purposes of MSA and NOTAMs.
(This Thread)
* Allow for built-in Jepp subscription
* Feature Request: Make PLOG better / more Customisable for IFR eg space for notes,clearances and alignment of Nav aids/frequencies to legs
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This thread covers
* Possible Defect: correct calculation of MSA for legs to account for fly/over/fly by
My top idea would be correct computation of minimum safe altitudes. SD sees to be doing it wrong
As it is, obstacles before and after the route will be ignored, even if they are within the specified distance from the route end. If there is a turn of more than 90° at a waypoint, then obstacles on the outside of the turn will be ignored if they are before or after the ends of the two legs.
There can literally be an obstacle thousands of feet above everything else 1 m from the waypoint and SD will not consider it when computing the MSA.
Oringally waypoints outside any turn were ignored, but a partial fix for turns <90° was made.
Btw, this is relevant for night VFR as well as, according to SERA, minimum altitudes for night VFR are computed the same as for IFR.