iFly GPS Forum

Hi Walter,

I purchased an iFly 700, and I am sorry to say, the condition that if I don't purchase a monthly subscription the screen goes blank turned me off. To not have an up-to-date set of charts is one thing; to deny the customer the charts (s)he already purchased through a previous subscription is a totally different ballgame. I think it is completely unfair that, after I paid for a subscription on a given year, have that information removed or made unusable if I don't continue the subscription the following year. I paid for it!
(I also believe it's unfair business to coerce a customer into continuing subscriptions at the threat of having his/her device rendered unusable until (s)he returns to paying subscriptions.)

So, I returned my iFly 700. To me, it makes more logical and financial sense to have a tablet PC (like iPad or Samsung Galaxy Tab, about $500 each) with GPS software that would not remove the old data if I do not renew the subscription. Even if the GPS software were to become unusable if I don't renew the subscription - which, it doesn't - I can still use the tablet for other useful activities. And, since the portable GPS is NOT approved by FAA as the primary flight device whether VFR or IFR, it doesn't make sense to update the information every 28 or 56 days. After all, the VFR paper charts are updated only 2 times a year.

Regards,

Ferdinand Badescu.

Fly with current data for G-d sakes ! The price is small, the benefit great. If you can't afford current data you shouldn't be flying.

My two cents.

I can understand some of the reasons that could exist for not allowing the display of sectionals that are too far outdated. After all it is quite affordable to maintain the subscription, especially if I regularly use several charts. My biggest concern is that if the iFly corporation goes out of business, I would no longer be able to use the iFly.

If the iFly no longer displayed current information I'd likely purchase the required sectionals in order to have current, accurate information.

However...

Even though outdated, the iFly display will resemble the current sectional close enough to allow me to know where I am on the paper sectional I'd have to purchase.

I'd still be able to use the flight planning feature to have a colored line to follow to my destination, which could be a random waypoint if the airport is a new one not displayed on the iFly.