Jeppesen ForeFlight Glide Mode Includes Potential Off-Airport Landing Sites

Jeppesen ForeFlight has added Emergency Glide Mode to help pilots find suitable airports or potential off-airport landing sites in case of emergency. ForeFlight already has a continuously updating glide range ring, but the new feature pinpoints potential landing spots, in order of best suitability, and provides the best glide speed and ratio to reach them, taking into account the known winds. “While Glide Advisor helps pilots understand how far they can glide, Emergency Glide Mode goes further by identifying and ranking the best landing options within that range,” the company said in a news release.

If the engine fails in a single, the pilot activates the Emergency Glide Mode and the screen is cleared of anything not dedicated to getting the aircraft on the ground safely. “It highlights nearby airports based on factors including distance, runway length, current altitude and heading, winds aloft, and real-time weather conditions,” Jeppesen ForeFlight said. It also calculates the expected altitude on arrival so the pilot can determine the best options for setting up the landing. If no airports are in gliding distance, Possible Landing Areas, which was developed using U.S. Geological Survey data, is triggered and displays detailed maps that show fields and other open areas, what’s growing on them, and whether there are power lines or other hazards near them. The system is built on top of the already existing glide ring display so setup is minimal, the company said.