Hello Aviators!
We've made further improvements and fixed key issues in this update.
Small but Useful Improvements:
- Better Labeling for Multilingual NOTAMs – Avoids duplicate NOTAM titles when multiple language versions exist (e.g., Finnish and English).
- Direct-To for Any Google Search Result – Instantly navigate to a Google Geocode search result without creating a user waypoint first.
Improvement: Enhanced FRD (OBS-Style) Search
The Fix/Radial/Distance (FRD) search, sometimes referred to as OBS-style search, lets you define a waypoint using a reference fix, radial (bearing), and distance in nautical miles.
Unlike traditional FRD searches that are limited to VOR stations, EasyVFR lets you use any aeronautical data object or place name as the reference point!
- GMH/270/30 → A point 30 NM west (270° radial) from Germinghausen VOR
- friedrichshafen/35/15 → A 15 NM northeast (035° radial) of Friedrichshafen city
- LFOQ/090/25 → A point 25 NM east (090° radial) of Blois Le Breuil Airfield
This provides greater flexibility than traditional OBS navigation, which is limited to VOR radials. Instead, EasyVFR enables you to define waypoints relative to any known aeronautical location—not just VORs.
Using FRD Search in Routing
When selecting an FRD search result, the available route actions depend on whether a route is already active:
- If a route is active (in planning or in-flying mode):
- Depart → Adds the location as the first waypoint in the route
- Insert → Places the location in the most logical position within the route
- Append → Adds the location as the last waypoint in the route
- Direc-To and continue → Sets the location as the next waypoint from your current position, then continues with the route
- If no route is active:
- Depart → Starts a new route from this location
- Direct-To → Sets the location as the active navigation point
Search Behavior & Category Selection
By default, the Search window opens on the Airfields tab, meaning an FRD search will initially match airfields based on the entered fix name.
To search for other aeronautical data objects, select the appropriate category tab. The relevant categories include: Airfields, Beacons, IFR Waypoints, VFR Reporting Points, Places, User Waypoints.
To search within a specific category, tap the category icon between the search input bar and the search results.
New Features In the Previous Beta Update
In case you missed it, the previous beta update introduced exciting new features! Check out the full details in the Beta Update 4.4.9 - February 17, 2025
- New Basemaps – Satellite, OpenStreetMap & more
- Smarter Search – Improved results & filtering
- MSA Calculation Enhancements
- Line Obstacles Added for Norway & Austria
We’d love your feedback! Let us know how these updates work for you.
✈️ Cheers!
Team EasyVFR
-------------------------------------------------------
📝 RELEASE NOTES
All changes in this beta cycle since the last public App Store release:
4.4.902
- IMPROVED: The moving map no longer shows duplicate NOTAM titles when a NOTAM has two language versions (e.g., Finnish and English).
- IMPROVED: In the Search window, Fix/Radial/Distance (FRD) search, previously known as OBS-style search, now supports more flexible waypoint creation. Any aeronautical object or place name can be used as a reference point, not just VORs.
- IMPROVED: FRD search results can now be used for multiple route actions:
- Depart – Start a new route or add as the first waypoint in an active route
- Insert – Add logically within an active route
- Append – Add as the last waypoint in an active route
- Direct-To and Continue – Navigate to the point and then resume the route
- Direct-To – Navigate instantly if no route is active
- IMPROVED: In the Search window, when using Google Geocode search, the found result can now be used as a Direct-To point without needing to create a user waypoint first.
- FIXED: When the pressure & rain chart was visible on the WX map, the WX time slider could sometimes be offset by one hour.
- FIXED: Garbled text for NOTAMs in the Pro Route Planning menu and NOTAM Info Sheet when there are a lot of NOTAMs for the given route or location.
- FIXED: The infocard would sometimes cut off the last character of detailed airspace info.
- NEW: EV4 now supports various new raster basemaps, including OpenStreetMap and Satellite. Go to: Map Layers Menu → Select Basemap
- NEW: Norwegian line obstacles, such as bridges, powerlines, and cable cars over fjords, are now implemented.
- NEW: Austrian line obstacles, including bridges, powerlines, and cable cars over mountain passes, are now implemented.
- NEW: When performing an AeroData search, tapping the clear input box will display a list of the last 20 search items used.
- NEW: The flight briefing document (TripKit) now also shows the landing weight and landing CG in both the Mass & Balance chart and table.
- IMPROVED: Significant performance improvement in airspace label rendering.
- IMPROVED: Enhanced downloading of multiple files simultaneously.
- IMPROVED: The TripKit previously used a coarse grid with MSA values to report the MSA for a leg. This has been changed to:
✔ Highest terrain elevation + highest obstacle in a 5 NM path width + 1,000 ft
✔ If terrain exceeds 5,000 ft, an additional 1,000 ft is added - IMPROVED: Implemented the Earth Magnetic Model 2025.
- EXPERIMENT: Realtime Rendering (RR) is improved and enabled for iOS (A12 GPU and up) on all maps.
- NEW/FIXED: Tapping on an airspace label on the map will now automatically open the information card and highlight the selected airspace.
- NEW/FIXED: Tapping on a NOTAM label on the map will now automatically open the information card and highlight the selected NOTAM.
- FIXED: Waterdrome airfields no longer have their icons rotated to align with runway direction.
- FIXED: When POI/FA was off and Render Realtime was on, spot elevations floated in incorrect places when panning the map.
- FIXED: Creating MGL SD cards using Menu → Dynon and MGL EFIS → MGL Data SD Card failed on macOS with an error stating the destination file could not be created.
-------------------------------------------------------
📥 BETA DOWNLOADS
📱 Mobile & Tablet
🍏 iOS, iPadOS, and Apple Silicon Mac
Minimum requirements:
- 64-bit and 2GB RAM.
Effectively:
- iPhone 8 and higher.
- iPad Air 3 and higher.
- iPad Mini 5 and higher.
- iPad Pro's.
- M1 MacBooks and higher.
The iPad Mini 6 and newer, and any iPad Pro perform extremely well.
Download Steps:
- Install the Apple TestFlight app via the Apple AppStore.
- Go to the following URL to download the latest version of EasyVFR 4 via TestFlight.
👉 Open the EasyVFR 4 page in the Apple TestFlight app
🤖 Android
IMPORTANT: Devices with the old 32-bit Android OS are not supported
Minimum requirements:
- 64-bit OS, +3GB RAM. Android 10 and higher is advised.
At least compatible (but slow) are:
- Huawei MediaPad M5.
- Xiaomi Mi Pad 4.
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (except SM-T810). (slow)
- Samsung Galaxy Tab S4.
We see good results with Samsung Galaxy Tab S6, and higher and most modern high-end tablets and smartphones.
Download Options:
- Google Play: You can download the beta directly via Google Play when enrolled in the beta program on the Google Play app page.
👉 Open the EasyVFR 4 page in Google Play to enrole for beta - Sideload (alternative): To install you must enable the option: "Allow the installation of apps from sources other than Play store" in Android Settings, Lock screen and Security. Some Android devices require you to tap&hold the link below, then choose [Download link] to store the APK on your device from where you then can install this downloaded APK.
Download APK https://members.pocketfms.com/WebProgramDownloads/EasyVFR4/EasyVFR4_4.4.902.apk
💻 Desktop and Laptop
🪟 Windows
Minimum requirements:
- 32-bit, 2GB RAM, Windows 8 and higher is advised.
Download: Download EasyVFR 4 for Windows https://members.pocketfms.com/WebProgramDownloads/EasyVFR4/EasyVFR4_win32_4.4.902.exe
🍏 Apple Silicon Mac
See the iOS version.
🍎 Intel Macs
IMPORTANT: Intel Macs on Big Sur and Monterey need to have the latest macOS version 11.6.1 or 12.0.1 or higher installed.
Intel-based Macs can only install the below .dmg file and need to follow the below instructions.
Minimum requirements:
- Most 64-bit macOS versions. E.g. High Sierra, Mojave, Catalina. BigSur 11.6.1 and Monterey 12.0.1 and up.
- Apple Silicon M1 and greater Macs can download via the iOS AppStore.
Download: Download EasyVFR 4 for Intel Macs https://members.pocketfms.com/WebProgramDownloads/EasyVFR4/EasyVFR4_osx_4.4.902.dmg
Installation instructions:
- After downloading the DMG file, open it and drag the EasyVFR 4 icon into the Applications folder. EasyVFR 4 is now available via Launchpad.
- Users of MacOS Sequoia must first enable the option to offer the option to allow a non-signed applications, see https://www.idownloadblog.com/2024/08/07/apple-macos-sequoia-gatekeeper-change-install-unsigned-apps-mac/ for instructions
- When you get the message "EasyVFR4.app can’t be opened because it was not downloaded from the App Store" choose [Open in Finder] from that popup, then right-click on EasyVFR4.app and choose open. Now the same popup will appear, now with a [Open] button.
- From there on you can launch EasyVFR 4 from the launchpad without this warning.
- With every update, you need to redo step 2. 🔄
