Aviation industry powerhouses Jeppesen and Foreflight followed through July 12 on a May announcement to join forces. The companies released a library of standard chart coverages with enhanced data and situational awareness designed to benefit users of the mobile electronic flight bag app, for additional fees.
A news release stated that Jeppesen’s charts are now integrated into ForeFlight’s plates on map feature “that allows pilots to view their aircraft position on geo-referenced departures, arrival, or approach plates along with weather overlays in one seamless moving map view." The charts also are enabled for color inversion, which can help reduce screen glare when flying at night.
Tyson Weihs, ForeFlight co-founder and CEO, wrote that the combination “offers aviators the most powerful combination of Jeppesen charts and EFB functionality available on the market today.”
The latest release of ForeFlight includes Jeppesen’s high-quality NavData, which improves data consistency between the mobile device and installed avionics.
ForeFlight will continue to charge $99.99 a year for its Basic Plus plan and $199.99 a year for its Pro Plus plan. Foreflight’s Performance Plus plan is $299.99 a year and is geared toward commercial, military, and business operations.
For those wishing to use Jeppesen charts, an additional $199 will cover the continental United States and Hawaii, according to the app’s subscription page. Additional subscription charges apply for Alaska and international travel, depending on the region.
ForeFlight customers with Jeppesen subscriptions will be able to download Jeppesen charts at the touch of an on-screen icon, and those who already have a Jeppesen subscription for their panel-mount systems can install the charts at no additional cost on ForeFlight.
However, the news release pointed out that the mobile database “is separate from Jeppesen NavData for installed avionics,” which requires its own subscription from Jeppesen.
A May AOPA article announcing the partnership explained that although the companies were previously competitors, representatives of the firms said “they’ve held on-again, off-again discussions for years about possible areas of cooperation.”
The relationship brings added benefits to business aviation and commercial airline operators using Jeppesen’s FliteDeck Pro. The two companies “are working together on a next-generation release” of the professional-caliber electronic flight bag for both iOS and Windows users “that will deliver a combination of the familiar capabilities in FliteDeck Pro and significant features and functionality from ForeFlight Mobile.”
Also in May, Jeppesen had announced that it was teaming up with The Weather Co. to deliver unified weather products for pilots. An agreement called for The Weather Co. to provide “real-time, forecast services and weather briefings” for all Jeppesen aviation market segments, which includes general and business aviation, the airlines, and the military.
A follow-on release for the app is expected “later this summer” and will bring Jeppesen’s data-driven IFR en route charts to ForeFlight for users who have purchased or linked Jeppesen charts on ForeFlight.