Hot Air Balloons
&
The Flytec 6040 Instruments

© 2009 Keith Sproul



Flytec 6040 Balloon Instruments Web Page
GOAL:
The primary goal of this website is to provide Controled Airspace files for downloading into the Flytec 6040 Variometer. Once donwloaded into the Flytec 6040, These files make it so that it will warn you when you are getting close to controlled airspace. They should also work in the Flytec 6030, 6020, 6015. (These have not been tested yet.)
If there is an area that you need that is not listed here, send me an email to ksproul@skychariot.com and I will try to do it for you. If you have airspace files or other information about the Flytec 6040, please send them to me and I will put them up here to.

COPYRIGHT:
This webpage is © 2009 Keith Sproul. The data here can be freely distributed and put on other electronic distribution methods, but please include a link or reference back to this website.

DISCLAIMER:
This web page contains information about the Flytec 6040 Variomenter and its use with Hot Air Balloons. The information is provided as is, with no gurantees of accuracy. Use at your own risk. This information is not to be used as your primary navigation information.

DISCUSSION:
For the most part, these files have been modified from the OpenAir Format file at http://soaringweb.org/Airspace/NA/HomePage.html In most cases, the restricted airspace has been greatly simplified, usually into just a circle of the appropriate diameter around the airport. This increases the speed at which the 6040 can calculate the air spaces. The following is from the 6040 manual:
  • Hint: When selecting airspaces to upload, only choose the ones you actually need, since the instrument needs considerable calculation power to refresh the map display and generate distance calculations. Therefore, it is recommended when making an airspace file for a specific flight area hat you only include airspaces that you could possibly fly near.
Downloading waypoints and controled airspace files is pretty straight forward. See directions below. Creating waypoints is also quite easy, just make sure you are using the correct format for the Lat/Lon. Fortunately, FlyChart allows several different input formats. The following is from the 6040 manual:
  • To achieve the greatest position accuracy, the format dd°mm.mmm (factory default) should be used because this is the format used by GPS receivers. With the other formats, rounding errors could add up to 15 meters in the worst case.
The most useful thing for waypoints is to know where your local airports or launch sites are. Waypoints can be used for competion, but the design is really aimed at glider pilots and not balloonists. Also, the use of waypoints in FlyChart is very specifically aimed at glider pilots.

Creating airspace files takes knowledge of airspace charts, lat/lon, and understanding how the Flytec 6040 uses them. The "Airspace" feature is also very useful for PZs or Prohibited Zones, also called Red Zones.
The best thing to do is to use the CIRCLE feature and simply create a circle around the airport. To do this, you need to do NEW -> RESTRICTED AREA, then once you have created that, do NEW -> CIRCLE. The circle has three parameters. Latitude, Longitude, and diameter. Look up the lat/lon of your airport, enter these numbers, then figure out the diameter of the circle you need. Most class B Airports are 20 miles. A good place to look airport lat/lon is at http://www.airnav.com/airports/

HOW TO USE THIS INFORMATION:
There are steps required that are not as obvious as they could be. After you have installed the FlyChart Software do the following:
  • Run the FlyChart software
  • Turn on the FlyTec 6040
  • Wait for it to start up
  • Push and hold the OK/MENU button to switch to Main Setup Menu
  • Plug the USB cable in. DO NOT DO THIS BEFORE POWERING ON THE UNIT



Data Files

(Right-Click and do SAVE AS)
Airport CodeAirport Name Data File

Arizona
PHXPhoenix PHX.fa5

Kentucky
SDFLouisville - Standiford Field & Bowman Field SDF.fa5

Missouri
STLSt Louis STL.fa5

New Jersey
EWRNewark Liberty EWR.fa5

New Mexico
ABQAlbuquerque ABE.fa5

New York
NYCNew York City Aera Airports NYC.fa5

Pennsylvania
ABEAllentown-Bethleham ABE.fa5
HBGHarrisburg
Lancaster
Ft Indiantown		 HBGL.fa5
PHLPhiladelphia PHL.fa5
PITPittsburgh
Beaver Falls
Latrobe
Wheeling
Yougstown/Warren		 PIT.fa5

Ohio
DAYDayton
Wright Pat Airforce Base
Springfield		 DAY.fa5

Texas
AMAAmarillo AMA.fa5
DFWDallas, Ft Worth DFW.fa5


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Created Nov 24, 2009
Modified Dec 1, 2009
Mail mailto:ksproul@skychariot.com