ABOUT THE PROJECT

Having started my private pilot certification lessons, I noticed the common reception of pilot reports (PIREPs) in the map view of ForeFlight (an amazing app used by most pilots to manage flight plan, traveling, etc).

Pilot reports are information provided from pilots flying areas of turbulence, icing, and/or any weather related situations. Although Foreflight shows them as beautiful icons, the way of reading the reports are still based in their raw format, meaning a large string with several information stacked together. Veteran pilots can read them pretty fast but, learning ones like me, could have a bit of help. That’s the idea of PireApp, an app prototype to improve the visualization of pilot reports. In the example below, the pirep says:

  • Observed at: 1544 UTC 16 Aug 2018
  • Aircraft type: P28A
  • Location: 28.5046 latitude, -80.9312 longitude
  • Flight level: 030 (3,000ft)
  • Skies: Scattered at 035 (3,500ft)

ForeFlight app showing a PIREP in the center of the screen.

Veteran pilots can read them pretty fast but, learning ones like me, could have a bit of help. That’s the idea of PireApp, an app prototype to improve the visualization of pilot reports.

PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY

Besides the difficult in reading the content of the raw format, depending on the position of the pirep icon in the map, you may find the information “cut”, like the example below:

 

Also, multiple pireps may be missed due to their position in the map, especially when you are flying.

PIREAPP

PireApp tries to facilitate the visualization of pireps, classifying them due to their severity and importance, distance from the current aircraft/pilot position, and making them readable to any user.

In order to facilitate user experience, I have kept ForeFlight color palette. The top bar shows the Map and List View modes (left icons), plus a quick way to re-center the map (right icon):

Pireps are shown in different colors, depending on their severity/importance.

Besides the map view, users can check the list mode:

List View mode shows reports by proximity.

The tabbed bar (bottom) shows icons depending on their status. The first one shows all reports, while the second shows turbulence, the third icing, the forth storms and the last one tornadoes.

Map View showing only turbulence reports.

When a pirep icon is clicked, the map is zoomed and dimmed, the report icon is centralized and the information is presented in a “human readable” way:

Selected pirep showing the information in a much readable way.

In this example, the report was submitted 25min ago, almost 24mi, SouthWest from my current position, indicating light to moderate turbulence ahead at 2,500ft.

LIVE PROTOTYPE

Below the live prototype for your evaluation. I hope you enjoy and leave your comments.