Bicester Aviation Services

Software

IGC Flight Records An IGC flight record which is downloaded from an IGC approved flight recorder, is produced in two versions. The secure file is in binary format and in the case of Cambridge files will carry the .CAI extension, while a simpler, text based version will have the .IGC extension. Normally, the security inherent in the binary file is transferred to the text based file and therefore the text based file, denoted by the .IGC extension, can be submitted as flight evidence to support badge, diploma and record flights. Unfortunately, .IGC files obtained from the legacy Cambridge recorders, the GPS10, 20 and 25 do not contain this security information and the BGA will need the .CAI file to validate the flight. This limitation is removed with the later 300 series of Cambridge varios.

GPS/NAV

DOS Software The original software for programming the GPS10, 20 and 25 was written in DOS. This program, which also has a simple flight analysis capability, is still available, but as it is runs under DOS, users with Windows XP loaded might find it easier to run the Windows based program. As explained above, if you want a flight record to support a badge, diploma or record flight, then this program has to be used to produce the .CAI file. then the current version, 5.882 can be downloaded from here. It is a Zipped file and should be extracted into a temporary directory. One of the 8 files unzipped will be named install.exe. Run this file and your computer will switch to DOS and load the program. The files will be installed in C:\CAI by default but you can change the directory as necessary, remembering that as it runs under DOS, you are limited to 8 character file and directory names. Once installed, run gps.bat to activate the program. BGA turnpoints for a selection of UK sites are already installed. A manual in Word format can be found at C:\CAI\DATA\SWGUIDE.doc

Windows Software An excellent Windows program for the uploading and downloading data from these earlier instruments is a Windows Utility which can be downloaded from here. This is a self extracting .exe file that will load the program on your computer. The basic program has no turnpoints loaded and it recommended that these are loaded for specific sites using the 'Manage Navpoint Database' option to create a new site and then go to 'Navpoints/Import' to import the turnpoints from one of the specfic specific site databases which can also be downloaded from Windows Utilities. Take care that you only import a database with less than 250 turnpoints in it, as if larger databases are transferred to a Cambridge legacy recorder they will cause problems. While this program works well it has neither has analysis capability nor can it produce a secure .CAI file. The standard .IGC file it produces can be analysed in any flight analysis program, however, as outlined above it does not append any security to the .IGC file and requires the secure .CAI file if the flight record is to be submitted as evidence for any badge, diploma or record flight. The .CAI file can only be downloaded using the DOS program.

Some years ago, Cambridge produced a Windows analysis program, Aero Explorer, which had many shortcomings and is no longer supported. However Guy Byars has developed Aero Explorer and which can be downloaded from his web site.

300 Series

The latest Cambridge utilities to use with the 302 can be downloaded from Paul Remdes excellent site.