If you have not updated in a while, this one is definitely worth updating.

Dear friends,

Last weekend we have released version EV4.0670 which now contains most of the main functionalities and many enhancements. If you have not updated in a while, this one is definitely worth updating. On top of that, we have now released EasyVFR 4.0.671 as a Christmas "gift" containing new rendering and associated geographical data. Soon this will become the master branch of our EV4 development. As a sneak preview, feel free to install 671 and let us know what you think about it. Functionality is the same as the current 4.0.670, geographical data and rendering has changed (improved, hopefully ? ;-))), and spot elevations are added.

Since the last newsletter in October, we have added many new functionalities. We would like to take some time to tell you a little about the latest added functionalities and how to use them.

Some of the new functionalities since October

1. Spot Elevations
2. Airspace Warnings
3. Geographical data and rendering
4. LOC - Current position and Airspace information
5. Background location tracking in flight mode
6. Highest terrain within 5nm circle in VPV

Spot Elevations

A popular request was to introduce the spot elevations, which we had in the old Pocketfms desktop software, to EasyVFR 4. From version 4.0.671 onwards they will be included. By default, they are enabled. You can disable and enable them in the [Map Layer Menu] -> [Geo].

Airspace Warnings

EasyVFR 4 will now warn you visually for Airspaces. You can enable it at [EasyVFR 4 Menu] -> [Alarms and Warnings].

Geographical data and rendering

For all European countries, we have now obtained new data sources containing many more objects in a higher resolution. This resolves the reported problem of missing roads and railways. Combined with a new render engine it makes it possible to show the shapes of infrastructure and nature closer to reality which you will see from the sky. Making it a great map for visual orientation and navigation.

Take for example the many lakes in Finland;

The many roads in the German Ruhrgebied;

In France, the beautiful Seine twisting and turning through the valleys;

Or the many tunnels and hairpin curves in the Alps.

Current position and Airspace information

To show the current position airspace and radiofrequency tap the Flight mode enable/ disable button.

Background location tracking in flight mode

EasyVFR 4 is now able to keep track of your location in the background during flight mode on both iOS and Android. This can be convenient when you switch between apps, to make a photo for example, or use one device as backup without the need to have its screen on all the time.

To use the background location you have to enable it in [EasyVFR 4 Menu] -> [System] -> [Location updates even when app in background].

On some devices, you also have to alow EasyVFR 4 to Always access your device's location through the app settings menu of Android or iOS.

Don't worry, EasyVFR 4 is not spying on you. EasyVFR will always tell you that it is tracking by showing a blue bar in iOS and a notification in Android. To make sure that we do not track your movements on the ground this feature only works when in flight mode and the data is stored locally on your device.

Raster charts

To show your purchased commercial charts in the EasyVFR 4 map go to [EasyVFR 4 Menu] -> [myEasyVFR] and download/ enable your charts here.

Highest terrain within 5nm circle in VPV

EasyVFR 4 will now show not only the terrain elevation in the Vertical Profile Viewer (VPV), but also the highest terrain in a circle of 5nm. So 5nm around the given position of the track. The proposed track altitude will add 1000ft above the highest terrain/ obstacle at 5nm at each side of the track.

Invite your aviation friends to the EasyVFR 4

Past spring, we started inviting all EasyVFR 3 users to join the beta testers program of the brand new app EasyVFR 4. In the past month, we have again invited all European EasyVFR 3 license holders to sign up for the waiting list of EasyVFR 4. They will get access within a few weeks.
We appreciate that not everyone is interested to be part of a beta test program or has the need to switch from EasyVFR 3 to a new app. Therefore, it is fully up to the users if and when they will join. We just wanted to let them know that EasyVFR 4 beta is going to be open for all current EasyVFR 3 users.

We do like to take the time to make EasyVFR 4 as stable and complete as it can be before it goes public. On the other hand, we feel that it is already a better system than EasyVFR 3 for many supported devices and use cases. The public releases will be country-based, and only if the beta testers in that country agree that EasyVFR 4 is sufficiently mature for their region we'll release. We plan to start in Germany and The Netherlands soon and add the other supported regions one by one at a steady pace. Everyone can subscribe to the beta (even without a current license) via the website.

The more beta users that can give feedback we have in a country, the earlier we can see if it is ready for the public release in that country. Feel free to invite your aviation friends to sign up for early access! Simply share this link with them: https://easyvfr4.aero/request-early-access

Download EasyVFR 4.0.671: https://easyvfr4.aero/community/download/x-mas-edition-4-0-671-new-rendering-geographical-data-download-and-install-instructions/

Please let us know what you think about the new geographical data and rendering and other functionalities.

If you have any questions relating our products, EasyVFR 3 or 4, the AeroData, your license or anything else, please don't wait! Simply post here at the forum or send a message to helpdesk@pocketfms.com.

Pleasant Holidays and a Happy New Year from the EasyVFR Crew !