iFly GPS Forum

Ferdinand & all,

It has never been the case that the unit will not function without a subscription. We launched the product last year with the clearly stated stipulation that a subscription was required. If a sectional was expired more than a year, that sectional would stop being displayed. But otherwise the device would function normally: Viewing airspaces, airports, plates, etc. So technically data would need to be updated once every 2 years to prevent sectionals from going away.

This was our reasoning: 1) It is safer to fly with current data. 2) Planning on a higher % of subscriptions per unit sold allows us to spread fixed costs. 3) This would allow us to dramatically reduce our product and annual subscription cost. 4) This contributed to making the iFly affordable for a lot more folks.

This policy has been under review for some time. Not because we think there is anything unethical about it, but because sales have dramatically exceeded our plan, and we have enough subscriptions to adequately cover fixed costs even without making the subscription mandatory.

So you have somewhat popped my balloon, but we will be shortly announcing and issuing a press release that the policy has been changed; a subscription is no longer required. In fact, the iFly software was modified with version 4 to no longer enforce this policy. However we do strongly recommend a subscription for safety reasons. But we will leave this decision to you.

Kind regards,
Walter Boyd

I can't understand for the life of me why someone would invest in ANY product and not want to keep the data current. If you can't afford the VERY reasonable updates from AP, I doubt you can afford to put gas into your plane. You would probably just have a 5 year old sectional laying in the back and motor happily along. To me, this is just a non-issue. If you can't afford the updates, just sell the unit to someone who can. I hope Walter didn't change the policy for a few grumblers, as I have to think the vast majority of iFly owners were ever concerned about the issue. It does show, however, that the company really does give a hoot about their customers.

The logic and decision making involved here is poor and, I hope, not indicative of dicisions made in the cockpit. A kneejerk reaction without all of the information. Based on the date of the post, it appears the concern was a non-issue given the version 4 information provided (and you should have had version 4). A simple call could have cleared up the confusion.

Financial sense??? Many people pay more per month for cell and TV service than the annual fees for the iFly subscriptions. Contrary to some peoples' beliefs, their lives don't probably depend on having cell service and cable/dish TV. Can't, exactly, say that for charts, can you? The iFly fees are lower, by design, than competitor's subscriptions for the very purpose of making this pilot friendly.

Furthermore, why is it so many think 'profit' is a bad word? Walter had an idea that can/does benefit others. He has worked it and continues to upgrade it (at no additional cost to current owners!). Why should his company not profit from the fruits of their labor? I consider myself very frugal (cheap, some might say). I don't pay for TV service and only have a cell because of my job. Nonetheless, I pay the subscription for the iFly and I don't complain about the prospect that someone may be making a profit from it. If no one purchased subscriptions, how could the business continue to create revenue/cash flow to sustain operations and/or make improvements. One who makes a profit is not a villain, nor is it "unfair" for them to set up the business to allow for/ensure their companies survival thru sustaining cash flow or, dare I say, profit.

By the way. . .good luck to anyone fitting an i-Pad on your Yoke (or anywhere), so you can actually see it (fyi. . .an iFly yoke mount option would be agood option--had to rigg mine)! A friend who has an iPad (and tried to tell us how great it is) has to have his wife hold it for him to be able to use it in flight. Enjoy!