From: system@gnd1.wtp.contel.com (Marty Anilane)
Newsgroups: rec.aviation
Subject: Re: GTE CONTEL DUAT new features
Date: 4 Oct 92 14:47:18 GMT
Reply-To: system@gnd1.wtp.contel.com
Organization: GTE Government Systems, Federal Systems Division, Chantilly, VA
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4

In article <1992Oct3.183619.23260@access.digex.com>, stephens@access.digex.com (John Stephens) writes...
>In article <1992Sep30.182012.30051@europa.asd.contel.com> system@gnd1.wtp.contel.com writes:
>>In the last year, there have been several new features added to GTE
>>CONTEL DUAT. Many users have missed their announcement and are unaware of 
>>them. Here is a synopsis of the new features:
>>
>>o Extended Decode - Additional information is provided about lat/long, 
>>	elevation, magnetic variation, Unicom Frequency, CTAF, associated
>>	Notam identifier and active Notams status.
>>
>>o State Collectives - Weather briefs are now available by state or 
>>	various pre-determined regions.
>>
>>o Fixed Radius Brief - Weather briefs up to a 500 nautical 	
>>	mile radius from any airport identifier or lat/long point.
>>
>>o NWS contractions - Definitions of approved general aeronautical 
>>	contractions and National Weather Service and aeronautical 
>>	weather usage contractions.
>>
>>o SOCAL routes - When filing flight plans within California, if a 
>>	SOCAL route exists for your dept/dest, you are presented with
>>	all applicable SOCAL routes.
>>
>>o Stored User Flight Plans - When filing flight plans, you may store up
>>	to 5 flight plans that can be used when filing in the future.
>>
>>
>>Furthermore some "undocumented" features you may use in decode -
>>
>>o Enter dept/dest airport pairs (i.e JFKBOS) to get a listing of preferred
>>	routes available on the system.
>>
>>o Enter airway identifier (i.e. A001,J001) to display the airway.
>>
> 
>I am not a regular user of the CONTEL Duat -- I am much more familiar with
>the competitive DTC offering, which I found "nicer" when they both started
>over two years ago. It would be great to hear a "feature-for-feature"
>comparison of the two. Has anyone done one? (other than the two companies)?
> 
>To comment on duats in generale: DTC offers a no-charge flight planning
>program that i now use (IFR or VFR) instead of one that I wrote for my own
>use.  It also will feed info directly to a flight plan.  I am surprised that
>CONTEL does not offer this (or so I read in some posting).

This will be available in the next few weeks...

> 
>The ONE FEATURE that i would like to see most is an immediate escape to decode
>mode, so that i don't have to go back to the main menu just to decode an
>identifier that i have never seen before.  I know that DTC does not have this,
>and they told me that it is not planned.  Does CONTEL?
> 
CONTEL has had this feature since we went online 14 February 1990. Enter a
"!" sign at any prompt and you will get immediate decode OR encode. Once 
you find the information you need use "q" to return and it will take you 
back to the prompt where you were when you entered a "!".

>Let's hear from others what they think should be added to the FREE services
>offered by the duat providers.  Maybe even the FAA will be listening (hope hope)
> 
> 
The FAA is putting together the specifications for the next generation DUAT
system right now. The final is due out to bidding vendors in January. If
you want your suggestions heard, contact the FAA now. 

----------------
 Marty Anilane, GTE Contel Federal Systems, P.O. Box 10814, Chantilly VA. 22021
 Internet: "system@gnd1.wtp.contel.com"    (703) 818-4413
----------------
Newsgroups: rec.aviation,rec.aviation.misc,rec.aviation.simulators