As I was logging a flight from earlier today, I noticed that FlightAware was showing a flight time of 1:50 and 191 miles flown. My Stratus 3 showed about 112 miles flown with the aircraft Hobbs time at 2.2 hours. I am logging the 2.2 hours of this XC flight, and while it doesn’t mean anything in terms of currency with the FAA, I would like the ForeFlight logbook to reflect the actual distance flown, so not sure which source is more accurate. ForeFlight shows 111 miles in its flight plan, but those are straight-line distances, not including holds, PTs, and numerous vectors.
Regardless, I can’t figure why the Stratus 3 (or is it ForeFlight), wouldn’t show something similar.
TIA.
Link to flight on FlightAware
EDIT: In the FF logbook, it suggested using 111.1 miles for the XC distance, but when reviewing the flight’s track and clicking on the “INFO” button in the top right, it’s showing a total distance of 170nms, total time of 2:15, and flight time of 1:50. I am pretty sure I wasn’t puttering along the ground for 21 miles, lol.
Engine was running for 2:15, you were in the air for 1:50.
Total distance: FlightAware is reporting miles, FF/ Stratus is reporting nautical miles. 170 nautical miles = 195.6 miles, so Stratus/ FF is actually reporting slightly more than FlightAware.
Slight speculation here– I’m not a pilot, and I don’t have personal experience with Stratus or ForeFlight, but I think the 191 vs 195.6 distance is (mostly) your ground puttering and takeoff/ landing rolls. FlightAware doesn’t include ground movement, Stratus is running from startup to shutdown.
FlightAware (and other similar sites) also depends on coverage from ground-based receivers hosted by volunteer enthusiasts. Reception range is very limited for low-altitude (and ground) traffic. As a result, there are sometimes coverage gaps for low-altitude traffic, especially at small airports with nearby terrain. This isn’t a major factor for your flight, though– looks like FlightAware is missing maybe half a mile before your landing.
