Getting Started
(eFlite Desktop Edition)
The Getting Started tutorial is organized into 4 sections for quick reference purposes. We encourage reading all 4 sections from beginning-to-end but also provide Quick Links for those wanting to jump ahead to a topic of interest.
Download & Install eFlite (Back to Top)
eFlite Desktop customers receive an email with a link to download and install the software. The email also includes an aircraft module attachment (i.e. Dash 8 400.eas)) that we recommend saving to the Documents folder on your desktop computer. Click on the download link in the email after you save the aircraft module attachment to your Documents folder.
Once you click on the email link, your browser (i.e. Internet Explorer or Firefox) will load the InstallShield One-Click Install page and prompt you to save eFlite Desktop Edition to your computer. We provide details for each browser below so go ahead and click on the Save button to proceed to the next step.
If using Firefox, the next InstallShield page prepares the file for download and a popup message appears and you must click on Save File to continue.
Once Firefox completes the download you will notice a green arrow near the top right corner and click on it for a popup menu of available downloads and then click on the eFlite_Desktop_v31x.exe file.
Firefox will dispaly a popup message and click on Run to start the installation process.
If using Internet Explorer, the next InstallShield page prepares the file for download and pops up a message to either Run or Save. Just click on the Run button to minimize downloading steps. Once the download completes, click on the next Run button to immediatey start the installation process.
The InstallShield Wizard appears once you start the installation process and click on Next.
Accept the terms of the license aggreement and click on Next.
InstallShield Wizard displays the Destination Folder for eFlite Desktop and click on Install.
The installation takes less than one minute to complete and then click on Finish to exit the InstallShield Wizard.
Start eFlite & Import Aircraft (Back to Top)
An eFlite v3.1x icon was placed on your computer desktop during the installation process so double click on it to start the app, enter your personal or business name and click on OK to complete the registration process. The eFlite Desktop homepage will appear and you are now ready to import aircraft modules.
To import an aircraft module from the computer, go to the eFlite Desktop menu bar across the top and click on Modules > Import > From Device. Search for and click on your aircraft module saved from the email (i.e. Dash 8 400) and then click on Open.
A message will then appear stating Import Complete and click on OK to complete the process.
Technically, a computer savvy individual can import aircraft modules from any folder on the computer but the Import feature defaults to the Documents folder and the reason we recommend saving aircraft module email attachments to that folder in a previous step.
You can also import an aircraft module directly from our server if the module has a current eFlite Online subscription. Click on Modules > Import > From eFlite, enter your Member ID and Password and click on View Aircraft List to display available aircraft. Now select the checkbox of aircraft to import and click on the Import Aircraft Module button. A message will appear within a few seconds and click on OK to complete the import process.
Entering W&B Data (Back to Top)
Entering weight and balance data is easy and you start by loading an imported aircraft module. Click on File > New, select an aircraft from the dropdown menu and then click OK to load the aircraft module. There are 5 panels on the weight and balance form: the Flight Details panel across the top, the Load Details panel in the center, the Load Summary panel left of center, the CG Envelope right of center and the Signature panel across the bottom. Data entry cells on the various panels have a yellow-background color: all other cells are for informational purposes only.
Use the keyboard to enter data into the yellow colored data entry cells and click on Tab or Enter keys to move the cursor to the next data entry cell and update W&B calculations. NOTE: only yellow colored cells are for data entry: all other cells are for informational display purposes.
Some aircraft modules include multiple aircraft of the same make and model and/or multiple crew, seat or cabin configurations. Aircraft modules with such functionality will have additional options listed on the Flight Details panel under the A/C Reg No and/or A/C Config dropdown menus. Clicking on an A/C Reg No dropdown menu displays available aircraft and selecting an aircraft automatically updates the software with the correct Empty Weight and CG values. Clicking on the A/C Config dropdown menu displays available crew, seat or cabin configurations and selecting one automatically updates the software with the correct Empty Weight and CG for the selected configuration.
On the Load Details panel of the Pro version you will find a Pax Type dropdown menu for entering standard passenger weights. Simply select a Pax Type from the dropdown menu and then click a blue button adjacent to a passenger loading station to enter the standard weight for the selected passenger type. Standard weights are preset to FAA Advisory Circular values but can be changed by clicking on Edit > Aircraft Module > Payload Items to open the Payload Items Editor.
There are two options for clearing the weight and balance form and starting over. Click on Edit > Clear Form to clear ALL data entry cells and click on Edit > Set Defaults to clear the form and automatically enter pre-defined default values. You set default values by selecting a cell (i.e. From), entering a preferred value (i.e. KPIA) and then right click the mouse for the Set Default Value option. The Set Default feature eliminates data entry time for items that rarely change like usable fuel quantities (for those who typically depart topped off or fueled to the tabs), taxi fuel, pilot weight, aft baggage weight (tie downs, oil, tow bar), galley items and so on.
Analyzing W&B Results (Back to Top)
A colorful interface simplifies weight and balance analysis once you enter values for passengers, baggage and fuel. Take-Off , Landing and Zero Fuel weight and center of gravity (CG) values are found on the Load Summary panel.
The Load Summary displays a Warning Indicator below Take-Off, Landing and Zero Fuel values during an Overweight condition. A load reduction is required if a bold red XXX lbs Overweight Alert appears and the load is easily adjusted by reducing passengers, baggage or fuel by the weight value indicated on the alert. For example, if you see a 212 lbs Overweight Alert then you must reduce passengers, baggage or fuel by 212 pounds.
The Load Summary also displays a Warning Indicator during an Out-of-CG condition. You must relocate the load if a FWD CG Alert or AFT CG Alert appears. Move passengers or baggage toward the back of the aircraft with a FWD CG Alert and toward the front of the aircraft with an AFT CG Alert.
The CG Envelope uses reference points to provide a graphical representation of Take-Off , Landing and Zero Fuel conditions. Each reference point is assigned a color and letter indicating its relationship with Load Summary data: T for Take-Off, L for Landing and Z for the Zero Fuel condition. Reference points automatically reposition with changes in passengers, baggage and fuel so they can be used to quickly resolve a FWD or AFT CG Alert.
