I often plan a long route outside controlled airspace but have in mind short cuts through controlled airspace if granted. An example would be Southend to Nuthamptead. The long route is DCT LAM DCT BPK DCT. The short route goes direct via the Stansted overhead, if Essex radar let me.

What I would like to be able to do is to put both routes in my plan (and on my plog), so that I'm prepared for either. This is similar to the way alternate destinations are handled, a leg in the route that you might or might not fly, but obviously in the middle of a route instead of just at the end.

I would also prefer to have the ability to plan the route to the alternate. As it is now, it is just a straight line to the alternate but that may cross controlled airspace. It would be better if it were possible to put additional weigh points in the route to the alternate.

Ray

Can't you plan two different routes? When cleared through the airspace you simply load the other route.

-- Chris.

I've been thinking about this recently. Planning a flight to Caernarfon I ended up with three routes planned to handle various weather conditions (one straight over the mountains, one to the South over high ish ground, and one to the North over lower ground).

Agree absolutely. I'm a software engineer myself so know how difficult it is to keep a balance between adding bells and whistles and not making the software overly complex for the user. Tricky one.

The Route Direct functionality in SkyDemon is actually pretty clever. If you plan a route around controlled airspace but subsequently get a clearance right through, you can bring up the context menu for the waypoint on the other side and select "Route Direct" and SkyDemon will modify your route to go straight through, leaving the rest of it (and what's behind you) intact.

Chris - Yes, can do two routes but loading a new route at a busy time is not ideal when I should have my eyes outside. It would be better if I could "pair" the two routes during the planning process and SD then recognises that I've switched to plan B by the track I'm actually taking. This wouldn't clutter the user interface as far as I can see.

Tim - Direct to works as long as the clearance you get is direct to where you want to go. In practice you often get cleared via some intermediate points and you get to know (if you transit regularly) what route you are likely to be given.

The same is true of alternates, if the route from your planned destination to your alternate is not a straight lie (due terrain or airspace) there is no way to plan the intermediate weighpoints.

Ray

The route direct is certainly useful, but what I miss is a Garmin-like function which would allow you to route direct to the next waypoint in the flightplan from present position. This is very useful when you've deviated intentionally or unintentionally from the route of a particular leg, and want to get gradually back on track in time for the next waypoint. At the moment, you can only route direct to a final destination, as far as I can see, unless there's more to this function than I realise.

It would actually be useful to be able to do a "long tap" on a waypoint and choose "direct to" from the context menu. That should be easy enough and would be quite useful.

-- Chris.

What a brilliant idea! It gets my vote.

Mike
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