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Logbook Pro & APDL Newsletter October 2006 Edition

In this Newsletter:

Logbook Pro Palm Companion 1.10.5 Released

Announcing a free yet important upgrade to the Logbook Pro Palm Companion.  Version 1.10.5 updates the core runtime engine "AppForge CrossFire Client" to the new version 6.5 offering compatibility with newer devices such as the Treo 700p and improved performance on all Palm OS platforms.  We also updated the Logbook area preferences section so when you make a change such as the display of block times or takeoff/landing times, the change takes effect immediately and you do not have to exit and restart Logbook Pro.  Treo users who have to engage the "option" key to use the numbers instead of letters will enjoy the new feature where Logbook Pro will automatically engage the option lock for numeric fields. 

Click here to download the new version.  After HotSyncing and importing Logbook Pro Palm Companion data via the PDA Wizard, uninstall "Logbook Pro Palm Companion from the Windows Control Panel Add/Remove programs area, install the new version to your PC then HotSync to install to your Palm OS device.

Turn-Key Printing Service Version 2

We improved the turn-key printing service making it absolutely painless now!  All you need to do is provide us a backup of your Logbook Pro data file, tell us which binder series you are currently or planning to use (Full Size or Premier/Old-World) and we'll send you the 1200x1200 dpi professional output.  No longer do you have to purchase a binder, paper, figure out how much paper you'll need, send it to us, nothing!  Just send us the file, we'll include the paper!  It can't get any easier than this!

Do you have an interview "tomorrow?"  Not a worry, we recently set a new record by receiving a backup data file at 4:30 PM on Friday afternoon and the customer had a complete binder filled with all the reports we produce for interview prep on Saturday morning at 8:00 AM!  First impressions are crucial at your interview, realize your competitors are going to have top notch "pristine" logbook presentations with our Cirrus Elite Binders and Logbook Pro printouts, so should you!  Don't stress it, don't fuss with the printer, we'll do it all for you, you just go to the interview!  Click here to learn more and let us get your professional logbook solution to you for either a hard copy backup or for that dream interview.

APDL Users - Time Change Sunday

Don't forget, this Sunday (for most US locations) to set your clock BACK an hour.  Daylight Savings ends on Oct. 29th at 2:00am (USA). For a list of changes worldwide click here.  On or after Oct 29th, uncheck "Daylight Savings is in effect" on the "Timezone Settings" preference page.  If you are importing trips after October 29th, wait until you have unchecked "Daylight Savings is in effect".  If you have a trip that starts before October 29th, Import the trip. Then switch to your Logbook Timezone, and manually correct the times after 2:00 am on Oct 29th.

APDL - Time Zones Explained

There have been a few questions lately regarding the Time Zone functions/settings of APDL. Setting time zones up correctly can be a fairly simple task, but setting them up incorrectly will create a host of problems that will yield less than desirable results. It is very important to set up the different time zone functions correctly so that the many different internal calculations of APDL will function correctly, enabling a more accurate "picture" of each situation unique to different pilot groups. Therefore I will attempt to “break it down” for you. The following is a discussion of the different time zone settings and functions. The discussion is broken down into two sections, Time Zone Settings Explained and Examples. At the end of the initial discussion section, you will find specific examples that should help you apply these settings more accurately to your specific situation. I hope you find it useful.

Time Zone Settings Explained:

Daylight Saving Time begins for most of the United States at 2 AM on the first Sunday of April. Time reverts to standard time at 2 AM on the last Sunday of October. In the U.S., each time zone switches at a different time. In the European Union, Summer Time begins and ends at 1 AM Universal Time (Greenwich Mean Time). It starts the last Sunday in March, and ends the last Sunday in October. In the EU, all time zones change at the same moment.

I have included this chart to help you figure out when DST Begins and ends:

United States

DST Begins:
At 2:00 a.m. Local:
2003 April 6
2004 April 4
2005 April 3
2006 April 2
2007 April 1

DST Ends:
At 2:00 a.m. Local:
2003 October 26
2004 October 31
2005 October 30
2006 October 29
2007 October 28

European Union

Summertime Period Begins:
At 1:00 a.m. UT:
2003 March 30
2004 March 28
2005 March 27
2006 March 26
2007 March 25

Summertime Period Ends:
At 1:00 a.m. UT:
2003 October 26
2004 October 31
2005 October 30
2006 October 29
2007 October 28

Sounds complex huh? It is. That is why APDL has been designed so that once set up correctly, you will only have to make one change to one setting at the start and end of daylight savings time. That’s it! All you have to do is ensure that the initial time zone settings are correct. They will only have to be set up once, and never again. APDL will do the rest.

Preferences:

It is important to set up your user defined preferences correctly. These preferences are the settings that control look and feel of the program, as well as how it performs a myriad of internal calculations. These preferences are found by tapping (Options)(Preferences). I will walk you through all that have an effect on Time Zones and a few that do not, yet are important.

(Options)(Preferences)(General):

Use Popup Lists? Although this setting will not affect time zone calculations or functions, I recommend setting this to “Yes”. It will make entering information and using the program in general, easier.

Use Datebook? Although this setting will not affect time zone calculations or functions, setting it to yes will enable your individual flights to be viewed in the Datebook program in your Palm device. After you have all of your time zone settings set up correctly, you will be able to view your trips in your Datebook correctly. (Datebook not yet supported on the Pocket PC)

Airport Domicile? This setting is very important and must be set correctly. The default airport is LGA. You will need to enter the three letter identifier of your specific domicile airport. This setting is what the program will look at for per-diem, among other calculations.

YTD Starting Hours? Enter the hours you have accumulated since Jan 1 of the current year. Enter the value in aviation (1/10th) time. This allows the program an accurate picture of your cumulative yearly hours. It is important that this number be as correct as possible as it will affect different functions of the program such as FAR 121 flight time limitations.

End of duty offset? Enter your contractual duty off time from the last leg flown in minutes. This number is usually 15, (15 minutes), but depending on your specific airline contract, it may be more or less. This number is important for per diem calculations as well as the duty and rest requirement functions of the program.

(Options)(Preferences)(Timezone Settings)

Now we get to the meat and potatoes of Time Zone calculations.

Domicile’s Time Zone? This setting should be set to your Domicile’s Time Zone for when daylight savings is NOT IN EFFECT. Once set, this setting will never need to be adjusted again, whether or not daylight savings is in effect.

Logbook Time Zone? WARNING: DO NOT CHANGE THE TIME ZONE ONCE YOU HAVE STARTED ENTERING INFORMATION. If you have already started entering information, leave this setting as is, even if it is wrong. Changing it after you have entered information will have adverse affects on internal time calculations.

The "Logbook Time Zone" is the time zone we store all your flight times in. The software needs a reference point, which is why we put the warning message up. If you have kept all your previous logbook data in UTC-6, for example, then I suggest leaving it set to UTC-6.

If you have not yet entered any data this setting should usually be set to your domiciles time zone for when daylight savings is NOT IN EFFECT. Once set, this setting will never need to be adjusted again, whether or not daylight savings is in effect.

Import Schedules in? This setting is company specific. Most users will find that their company prints their schedules in local time. Find out what time zone your company prints your schedule in and enter it accordingly.

Daylight Savings is in Effect This setting is probably the single most important setting when it comes to setting up your time zone information. It is the only setting that will need to be changed each April and October (See chart above for specific times & dates). Place a checkmark in the box when Daylight Savings is in Effect, and remove the checkmark when DST is no longer in effect.

(Options)(Airport Lists)

This is the section that you will edit, add, or delete airports in your programs airport data base. I have found that many users that have had problems with time zones and time computations, have either one or more airports set up incorrectly. Set up each airport carefully in order for your time computations to work correctly.

To add an airport simply tap the “Add” button on the (Airport Lists) page. When you do you will see a new page pop up titled “Add Airport”.

(Airport): The first line will be for the three letter identifier for the airport that you want to add. i.e. Atlanta = ATL.

(Conus) The second line is for the CONUS/OCONUS rate for this city. Visit www.irs.gov to get the current rate. Enter it, if desired, in dollars and cents format. i.e. 2.50 = $2.50.

(Time Zone) - Select the appropriate time zone. This setting is VERY IMPORTANT. It should be set to the airports Time Zone for when daylight savings is NOT IN EFFECT. Once set, this setting will never need to be adjusted again, whether or not daylight savings is in effect.

(Apply Daylight Savings) – This checkbox is commonly misused. Place a check mark in the box if the airport you are adding complies with daylight savings time. Most airports do, but some do not. Important: Do NOT uncheck this box in April & October (U.S.) or March & October (EU). i.e. Leave it checked all year long. It simply tells the program to include this airport in time computations requiring the addition or subtraction of one hour each time daylight savings goes into or out of effect twice a year.

Examples:

Example 1:

My domicile time zone is ATL (Atlanta) and is currently UTC-4, but in October (See chart above) Standard Time will go into effect and change my domicile’s time zone to UTC-5. What setting should I set in (Options)(Preferences)(Timezone Settings) “Domicile’s Time Zone?”

Set this to the time zone for when daylight savings is NOT IN EFFECT. I.E. UTC-5.

Example 2:

I have my Logbook Time Zone set to UTC. I would really like it set to my domicile’s time zone of UTC-5. I see that you have a warning against changing it. What adverse affects will I see if I change it now that I have already entered data into my program?

For those of you that have it set incorrectly and must see it displayed correctly, if you do change your (Logbook Time Zone) your previous data (prior to changing the time zone) when viewed using (Zulu) or (Local) time picker on the logpage will be incorrect. The data itself, when viewed using the (Logbook) time zone will be correct. There is no effect to crew rest/required rest or totals. In other words, if you change this setting after data has already been entered, old data will only be viewed correctly when viewed with the (Logbook) time zone. Again, I suggest leaving it alone if you have already entered data.

Helpful Hints:

Daylight Savings Time can be confusing. The following tips will help you to make a smooth transition to and from daylight savings time. If you have correctly set up your time zone settings by following the above instructions, you will only have to make ONE change to the program each time daylight savings goes into or out of effect.

Helpful Hint #1: This one change is found in (Options)(Preferences)(Timezone Settings). It is the last one at the bottom of the page. It is a checkbox that says “Daylight Savings is in Effect”. To reiterate, place a checkmark in the box when Daylight Savings is in Effect, and remove the checkmark when DST is no longer in effect.

Helpful Hint #2: Always enter the time zone for a specific airport as if DST was NOT in effect, EVEN IF IT IS.

Helpful Hint #3: Remember to place a checkmark in the box that says, “Apply Daylight Savings” when adding a new airport, if the airport complies with DST. Once this check mark is there, LEAVE IT no matter if daylight savings is in effect or not.

Spotlight:  Cirrus Elite Terra Binders

This month we are shining the spotlight on the nifty "Terra" leather binders.  These binders are sharp, clean, and very professional looking.  They provide an older mystique worn appearance for those that like the nostalgic logbook look and feel.  Terra leather binders come in the "Full Sized" version for the corporate/airline pilots and the "Old-World" series for the sport/general aviation group.  Click the images below to learn more.

Figure 1:  98-004 Full-Sized Landscape Carry/Desk Model in #604 Terra Leather



Figure 2:  98-002 "Old-World" in #604 Terra Leather


 

Have you lost your unlock code?

This is by far our most frequent inquiry "Please send my codes" and there are days we'll get upwards of 70 e-mails of this very same question.  We have resources available which can be referenced in the "Lost Unlock Code" section of our policies which guide you on how to use our automated resources to recall your prior order information and registration codes.

1) Try the Registration Recall Center.  Enter your e-mail address then click Submit.  This system will find orders placed before September 2005 when we switched to our new web sites.

2) For those that ordered AFTER September 12, 2005, you can view your order information by clicking the "My Account" button at our Secure Online Store.  If you don't remember your access info, follow the forgot option on the lower right of the sign-in page to have it sent to you.  Once signed in you'll see a blue bar titled "Order History" with the invoices listed below.  Click the invoice and on the bottom you will see your issued registration information.

3) If you are unable to retrieve your registration codes whether ordered from Sporty's, or as a prior APDL customer, please send us proof of purchase to further assist you.  If we have to assist you in regenerating your license information there is a small fee to pay for the service. 

When you receive registration codes please print out your invoice, write down your information, or use our AVCataloger application which has a Software section for tracking this very information.  You can also use Microsoft Outlook and create a contact "Logbook Pro" and then enter the registration information in the notes area.  Save the e-mails in a special folder such as "My Software" as yet another option.  There are many ways to save your registration information.  The more time we spend helping customers retrieve lost information takes away from our development time building new and exciting software.  I appreciate your cooperation to use our automated resources before contacting us for assistance.

Logbook Pro & APDL Matrix

Product Version
Logbook Pro PC Edition 1.10.25
Logbook Pro Palm Companion 1.10.5
Logbook Pro Pocket PC Companion 1.10.16
APDL-Palm OS 6.0.4
APDL-Pocket PC 6.0.5
APDL Schedule Importer 6.1.5

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