FDE is a simple browser-based form to enter hobbs and tach (flight) time for a flight. You must have access to internet when using the form.
When you load the page for the first time on a new device, it will initiate an authentication flow, which starts asking you to enter an email address associated with JATO Aviation. For CFIs, this is your @jatoaviation.com address, for customers, this is the email address that JATO has on file for you.
If that address is known to JATO, the tool will send you an authentication code. Check your email and enter that code in the dialog. If you didn’t receive the email, check your spam folder for an email sent by software@jatoaviation.com with a subject line: “Access to JATO Flight Data Entry”. After you entered the code, you are authenticated. The next time you open the browser, authentication will be automatic. The browser first displays a small spinner and then your email address.
Please note that authentication token is specific to the device and browser you use, so if you used Safari for the 1st time and Chrome the 2nd time on your iPhone, you will go thru authentication flow twice. After authentication, the Login button changes to Logout and you may logout if you don’t plan to use the device anymore.
The Pilot field is preset to the logged user name. JATO personel can edit this field, which is required when a JATO CFI fills the form on behalf of a client. For others, this field is read-only. Keep in mind that JATO billing will use this name to charge the correct account. The Pilot field offers autocomplete. After checking the Pilot, you should select the Airplane. Type few characters of the airplane tail number and you will be able to select the airplane. The system will now display tach and hobbs start times in the respective fields, based on the last flight the previous pilot entered. Note that these numbers may be incorrect, if the previous pilot didn't yet entered the data. Correct it if necessary.
After the flight, make sure that all four time fields are entered correctly (tach and hobbs start and end times). If you added oil, please enter the number of quarts. If you run TKS, please mark it with the corresponding checkbox. Note that TKS checkbox is only visible for airplanes with FIKI. Finally, if there are any squawks, enter them in the appropriate field, otherwise check the “None” checkbox for the squawks. When all the input fields are entered, the Submit button is enabled. Press Submit and you should get a green “Thank you!” message in return.
If there are no squawks, you must check the "None" checkbox, otherwise you will not be able to submit the form. If there are squawks, please enter the description in the Squawks field. You may also optionally take pictures by clicking on the camera icon. If you are on a mobile device (phone, tablet), the system will ask you if you want to take a picture with a camera or choose one of your existing pictures. On a computer, a file selection dialog will be opened so that you can choose one of the existing pictures. You may attach multiple pictures. If you wish to remove a picture, click on the small 'Minus' icon above it.
You must provide a description if you'd like to attach pictures.
Flight time fields are disabled until airplane is selected. This is because when you select the airplane, hobbs and flight start times are pre-filled with the last ones that were entered. You should always start by selecting a pilot and an airplane.
Submit button is disabled until all required information is entered, this includes pilot name, airplane, hobbs and flight start and end times, and either no squawks or squawk description.
Please contact software@jatoaviation.com with any problems you see.