Pilot Products

Perhaps the most-dreaded moment of any IFR flight happens before you ever get off the ground - copying that clearance. Controllers can speak in a rapid-fire shorthand that will leave your head spinning as they reroute you all over the skies. Of course, there's only one way to master the art of copying and reading back clearances - practice. Now it's easy to get that practice and you don't need to hijack a controller to do it. The new CD-ROM "Clearances on Request" from Comm1 includes 100 departure clearances that you can use to hone your skills.

The CD-ROM is divided into lessons and exercises. Each lesson begins with a multimedia briefing covering a specific topic such as how a flight plan becomes a clearance, requesting clearances, and copying clearances. Once you've received the appropriate briefing, it's time to move on to an exercise. Pilots can begin with the flight plan section which gives the specifics of the flight, including the filed route. A chart section displays the departure point for the trip and gives users the opportunity to trace the planned route on an NOS IFR chart that is included with the program. Then it's time to move on to the clearance section. That's where the real fun begins. The user is given any updated information about the call, then it's time to listen to, copy, and read back the clearance. Finally, users can click on the "playback" button to hear how they sounded and compare their performance to that of an expert.

The "Clearances on Request" program comes with a CD-ROM, NOS low altitude en route instrument chart, instructions, and a headset with microphone. The package is available from Comm1 for $119.95. For more information or to order, contact Comm1: Radio Simulators, e-Publishing Group, 113 East Church Street, Frederick, Maryland 21701; telephone 888/333-2855; fax 301/695-5620. Or visit the Web site ( www.comm1radiosimulator.com )

Elizabeth A. Tennyson

Book Offers GPS Guidance For VFR Pilots

VFR pilots who want to take advantage of all that GPS has to offer now have a source book to help them get started. GPS for VFR by Mike Meadows is intended to be used as a supplement to the owners manuals of popular GPS models. The emphasis is on showing how GPS works and how it works with more traditional navigation systems typically taught during pilot training. Among the topics covered in the slim book are how GPS functions, applying navigation basics to GPS, common GPS functions, safety concerns, flight planning, en route emergencies and lost procedures, finding wind direction and speed, choosing a GPS, and common terminology. The book also includes a detailed description of an HSI, a traditional navigational tool that has been integrated into many GPS units.

The book is available for $19.95. For more information or to order, contact Mike Meadows Consultancy, 5623 Charlestown Colony Drive, Houston, Texas 77084; telephone 251/859-5011. Or visit the Web site ( www.gpsforvfr.com ).

E. Tennyson

Echo Flight Goes Handheld

Echo Flight has introduced the new Flight Cheetah system, a compact color GPS unit that displays graphical weather datalinked via the Orbcomm satellite network.

The Flight Cheetah display is a handheld GPS moving map with a bright 3.8-inch color screen. The unit measures 7.8 inches long by 3.3 inches wide. The Flight Cheetah unit attaches to the portable Orbcomm transceiver. With the Flight Cheetah system, pilots can view Nexrad radar, airport visibility, ceiling, wind speed and direction, as well as temperature/dew point spreads. Flight Cheetah also sends and receives e-mail messages and sends position reports in flight.

The Flight Cheetah will be available in two models. Flight Cheetah FL 90 will list for a projected retail price of $2,495 and features a transflective color screen. The second model, Flight Cheetah FL 180, is expected to list for $2,995 and will feature the same type of brilliant high-contrast screen currently used on Echo Flight's StratoCheetah Flight Manager, a larger sys- tem already shipping. Initial deliveries of the new products are planned for this fall. For more details, visit the Web ( www.echoflight.com ).

Nathan A. Ferguson

Jeppesen Unveils Online Test Prep

JeppPrep Online is new a Web-based study program that prepares students for FAA written exams. For a fee of $49.95, customers receive a 60-day period of unlimited study for one of a variety of FAA exams.

Using the program, subscribers can study a complete collection of the actual FAA test questions and test their knowledge by taking simulated FAA exams. The system also allows users to review the results of practice tests, compare their performance on several tests, and view or print the FAA figures and legends for test questions.

The system is now available for these knowledge tests: private pilot airplane and rotorcraft, instrument rating airplane and rotorcraft, instrument flight instructor airplane and rotorcraft, and instrument ground instructor. For more information or to order, contact Jeppesen at 55 Inverness Drive East, Englewood, Colorado 80112; telephone 800/621-JEPP, or visit the Web site ( www.jeppesen.com ).

E. Tennyson

Sporty's Altitude Reminder

Not all aircraft are equipped with sophisticated altitude alerters or even simple altitude reminder bugs, but that doesn't mean that pilots can't get some help remembering that last altitude assignment. Sporty's is now offering an extremely simple but effective altitude reminder that works anywhere. The small black plastic device allows pilots to dial in desired altitudes from 100 feet all the way up to 59,900 feet. The lightweight reminder measures three-and-five-eighths inches by one-and-one-half inches and can be attached to the panel, a kneeboard or clipboard, or just about anyplace else with double-sided tape or a hook-and-loop fastener. The altitude reminder is available for $11.95. For more information or to order, contact Sporty's Pilot Shop, Clermont County Airport, Batavia, Ohio 45103; telephone 800/ LIFTOFF; fax 513/735-9200.

E. Tennyson