Just checked this out for the first time (1800wxbrief). Has some nice features and check out the UAS Operating Areas page. Also there is supposed to be a way to activate and close flight plans by text.

http://www.1800wxbrief.com

The easy activate/easy close is really convenient if you have a smartphone and there is service. Just click a link from your email. Also now you can add your spot tracker information and tie that in to your account as well.

scottf wrote:The easy activate/easy close is really convenient if you have a smartphone and there is service. Just click a link from your email. Also now you can add your spot tracker information and tie that in to your account as well.

I looked for a way to add a SPOT device but I only found DeLorme and others. Am I missing something?

I went back to the web site and looked again, but it doesn't look like there is a way to add a default SPOT device. That can be done for DeLorme, Spider Tracks, and others, but not SPOT. Does any one know why?

I suppose, the SPOT link could be copied into the comments space each time, but that would be a PIA and would be much nicer to have a default.

Blackrock, go to the findmespot website and they have the info there to link to Lockheed Martin.
http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=112
Go to the tab at the top that says "what we offer"

Sierra Victor wrote:Blackrock, go to the findmespot website and they have the info there to link to Lockheed Martin.
http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=112
Go to the tab at the top that says "what we offer"

Thanks SV, that is very helpful and is exactly what I needed.

Looks like I finally have an excuse to upgrade to a SPOT 3.

Blackrock

That's pretty neat, What do you do if you land off strip for a coffee/leak break without having to call Flight Service and without them launching SAR?

In other words if I were to do a 4 hr flight but stop someplace off strip, but leave the spot on, how will they know I'm taking a lunch break or pee break? If I wrote that in the "Remarks" in the flight plan will that work?

AKJurnee wrote:That's pretty neat, What do you do if you land off strip for a coffee/leak break without having to call Flight Service and without them launching SAR?

In other words if I were to do a 4 hr flight but stop someplace off strip, but leave the spot on, how will they know I'm taking a lunch break or pee break? If I wrote that in the "Remarks" in the flight plan will that work?

That is a really good question and I'd like to know the same thing.

Otherwise, yeah, that could be a problem alright especially since it's impossible to contact anyone by radio along a lot of the routes I fly. It would be good for short legs with the family, but then I'd have to remember to turn it on/off before leaving the house and that is just one more layer of added complexity that I really don't want to deal with.

I was hopping that they would just have the SPOT device address and tracking available so that if I was overdue, they would know where to begin looking and where not to. Since it triggers a full response when no motion is detected enroute, I would only have limited use for it since like, you, on long cross countries, I make the occasional bio-break landing.

Also, what if I use it for another activity without a flight plan being active. How does the system deal with that if I forget to turn notifications off on the website, but take off across the desert in the 4x4?

Maybe putting the SPOT device link in the remarks section would work best and be the best way for them to use the info to locate someone, if overdue.

This may answer our questions. I just remembered seeing something along these lines in an older email and went back to check. I see it starts in 8-hours so I think I can make it since it is online:

EDIT: I just went on-line to register; this is rescheduled to next Wednesday January 6th at 6 pm Pacific time due to, ironically, weather.

"FREE WEBINAR - How to use the NEW http://www.1800wxBrief.com Register Now!"
Topic: Lockheed Martin on 1800WXBrief.com
On Wednesday, December 30, 2015 at 18:00
Location:
ONLINE ONLY WEBINAR
online only

Anaheim, CA 92804
Select Number:
WP0566249
Description:
Spend a fun and educational 90 minutes with 5,500 hour ATP & Master Instructor, Gary Reeves, as he teaches you to use all the new amazing tools on 1800WXBrief.com. Activate & close flight plans from any cell phone by text. Use new planning tools that help you pick the best time & altitudes to fly. Also covers accounts, flights and plans, weather and airport conditions, alerts, and other advanced services that are all FREE!

Click Here to Register Now
https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/regist ... 2484789250
To view further details and registration information for this seminar, click here.
The sponsor for this seminar is: FAASTeam
The FAA Safety Team (FAASTeam) is committed to providing equal access to this meeting/event for all participants. If you need alternative formats or services because of a disability, please communicate your request as soon as possible with the person in the 'Contact Information' area of the meeting/event notice. Note that two weeks is usually required to arrange services.
The following credit(s) are available for the WINGS/AMT Programs:
Basic Knowledge 3 - 1 Credit

Click here to view the WINGS help page

This is a recorded video of the webinar. It is worth watching as there are some very good free tools available to us on the 1800wxbreif.com site that I didn't know how to use before watching this. Some of the info is pretty basic, so that makes listening to it a bit long for the old hats. For new pilots, this is certainly recommended. I learned enough to make it worth my time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJjeojrdJ5k&feature=youtu.be

Mike

My understanding it only tracks your SPOT when you file and activate a flight plan. I file flight plans when I go longer direct trips. It's the only thing that's free in Aviation.

Whenever I land and stop, I send an OK message.