Announcing the iGlide Moving Map Software for the iPhone, iPad and iTouch

iPhone 5

iPhone 5

iGlide is a gliding moving map software specifically developed by Butterfly Avionics of Germany for Apple iOS devices.  It can be run on Apple’s iPhone, iPad or iPod touch.  iGlide offers an entirely new level of situational awareness in navigation and yet is super easy to use.  Route planning, airspace awareness and the map has been completely re-imagined.  iGlide assists pilots even with the most challenging situations.  Using iGlide in flight is fun and requires no pens, only fingers.

iGlide has been sold over 2,000 times in Europe so far and is on the market since 2010. Key to this huge success its is simplicity.

When starting to design iGlide back in 2008, the development team at Butterfly Avionics had the clear vision to create an easy aid for navigation.  “One of the biggest problems with PDA navigation devices that existed back then was the rather old and not so easy to use user interfaces, combined with non-robust, old technology.” Says Marc Förderer, heading the marketing and support team at Butterfly. “Using PDA software to the entire extend of its features, forced many users to invest lots of time each and every spring – there needed to be an easier way”.  The team started developing iGlide based on one whole new platform, Apple Smartphone devices such as the iPad, iPhone or iPod.

iPad Mini (click to enlarge)

iPad Mini (click to enlarge)

“With the iOS platform we have been able to deliver an amazing user experience, our users gain access to the latest in mobile hardware and software technology and we got a streamlined distribution channel that makes it really easy for our customers to install iGlide on their devices.” Says Tobias Fetzer, head of Development at Butterfly Avionics. Installing iGlide is really simple, you simply load it from the Apple AppStore onto up to five devices you own. There is no synchronization with PCs required, you don’t have to download data from the internet and import it, its all just there and works.

“The best thing about iGlide is that every pilot who owns a smartphone or an iPad already knows how to use it.  There is no expert know-how or training required, it is as simple as using any other smartphone-app.

“The most important feature of iGlide of course is the map.  The iGlide map features airports and airspace information and also topographical information such as lakes, forests, cities and mountains.  The map is very detailed and look crisp and three-dimensional. View this YouTube video to see more:

Planning and changing routes in-flight is very easy with iGlide. not only basic airport navigation is very simple and intuitive.

You can drag-and-drop waypoints with your fingers, and you can use modern optimization features to plan the perfect FAI-Task, Assigned Area Task or free OLC-Task.

iGlide is able to import many common file-types such as .DAT or .CUP waypoints, but it also comes with preloaded airports and navigational data. In fact, iGlide features the entire openAIP dataset.  openAIP is a new project founded by Butterfly Avionics in 2012 and has the goal to deliver free, current and precise navigational data to anyone.  openAIP is a web-based crowd-sourced aeronautical information platform that allows users to add, edit and download aeronautical data in many common formats used in general aviation.

iGlide beautifully integrates with you daily digital life. Synchronization of Data, Flights and settings via DropBox and also sharing Flights in IGC- or Google-Earth-format via eMail is possible.

iGlide is available in 3 different editions. Upgrades from one to another are possible at any time. The range begins with simple entry-level versions up to all-inclusive versions for professional users. More on iGlide editions can be found here.

“We are very happy that iGlide is now available in the USA as well and we look forward to receiving comments from the US soaring community” says Joachim Fetzer of the Butterfly Support team.

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