Additional Data

[Tapestes]

Got a feature request. Wondering if it might be possible to send some additional data across the wire, including: OAT (outside air temp), pressure altitude, and indicated airspeed. Appreciate the work you did putting this together. Working like a champ for me.

[astenlund]

Hi Tapestes, thank you for your interest in my app!

It might be possible, but I am hesitant to add functionality that goes beyond the basic function of connecting Flight Simulator to EFB apps for positional data. What is the use case for these additions and which app are they for? Most apps will not recognise things like OAT, since they are not expecting it.

[Tapestes]

There are a couple of AHRS units out now that are pitot-static equipped and have OAT sensors. So, they're able to send things like IAS, pressure altitude, and OAT. Levil's BOM is the most popular example. Slowly but surely, software EFBs are starting to accept that data and do things stuff with it where it's available (stall warnings, calculating winds the aircraft is experiencing, etc).

[astenlund]

Interesting!

Do you have an example of an app that supports OAT, PA and IAS? And do you know if they have published a data format specification? I would gladly add it if I knew how, as long as it doesn't conflict with other apps (e.g. ForeFlight, SkyDemon, Garmin Pilot, Airmate).

[bvibber]

ForeFlight lets me select pressure altitude for the AHRS data display fields (currently no value supplied), but it doesn't seem to offer OAT or IAS.

I would kind of like pressure altitude when simulating IFR flights, since standard pressure often results in a pressure altitude that's a couple hundred feet off from GPS altitude, and ATC (virtual or an online network) will be watching your pressure altitude above transition. For VFR flights it doesn't matter so much since you're on a local barometer and GPS altitude is close enough. :)