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Additoinal PDA File info regarding the files for See You Mobile and WinPilot
( courtesy of Darryl R.)

The Williams Wave windows are available electronically in OpenAir format in the file “WSC_SUA.txt”. The OpenAir format can be read by most PDA based soaring software and advanced flight computers. Below are notes on how to set this up for SeeYou Mobile and Winpilot.

Note: The WSC_SUA file does not contain waypoint information, you need to install the current Williams waypoins from the soaring turnpoint exchange.

Note: The corner coordinates of the wave windows are close to but not exactly on known turnpoints in the Williams Waypoint database, this is correct.

SEEYOU MOBILE

SeeYou Mobile supported only one airspace .cub file. This file is in a binary format and you can’t manually add airspace to the file. However the wave window is easily added to a .cub file through the desktop SeeYou program.

In SeeYou select Tools>Airspace.

In the Airspace dialog box click on the “Add” button.

Browse for the “WSC_SUA.txt” file.

You can bring up a map in SeeYou to check the wave window appears as it should.

Now use the Mobile Wizard in SeeYou to update your PDA.

Note: The wave windows show up as “Glider Sector” airspace so you need to make sure that the “Glider Sector” check box is checked in SeeYou desktop in the
Tools>Airspace settings and in SeeYou Mobile in the Menu>Settings>Airspace dialog.

Note: As the wave windows are so important it may be a good idea to set SeeYou to show the windows with a transparent color fill to stand out on a PDA display. You can always change the display of wave-windows in-flight in Settings>Airspace.

WINPILOT

WinPilot directly supports adding one or more files in open airspace format.

Copy the “WSC_SUA.txt” files to a location on your PDA where WinPilot will find it. This needs to be either the WinPilot directory (default of My Documents) or the top level directory of the SD memory card.

In WinPilot go to Menu>Files and click on the Additional Airspace […] button select “WSC_SUA.txt".

Click the up arrow button and then the OK button.

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• The pink colored markings are the primary wave - you must realize that as you go higher in altitude, the wave moves forward, i.e. into the wind, and if you are going above 18,000 feet you will be leaving the window if you attempt to fly in the primary wave. Do NOT fly out of the Wave Window when you are above 18,000 feet!
• The purple colored marking indicate the secondary wave.
• The Yellow colored marking indicate the tertiary wave.

The Agreement

The following agreement between the FAA and WSC became effective in December 1995. Steve Dennis, an Air traffic Control Specialist from Sacramento, and a Glider Pilot at Williams, served as the Coordinator for Williams Soaring Center. John Clancy, Air Traffic Manager at Oakland Center represented the FAA in this agreement. The importance of conforming to all details of this agreement cannot be overemphasised. Class A Airspace (all altitudes above 18,000 feet) is a sterile environment for all air traffic in the United States. Every vehicle above 18,000 is under radar control. This agreement is possible, because an agreement has been coordinated which prohibits all air traffic from entering the area that we now call Williams North Glider Area and the Williams South Glider Area, when the wave window is activated. Here is a photo copy of the agreement....

Warnings and Cautions

The wave window will be open only to specific altitudes, pilots have to pay attention to what WSC advises is the max altitude - and this altitude is referenced to ISA pressure/29.92 in. Hg, not GPS altitude. That is make a note of your current altimeter setting so you can go go back to it later, but set 29.92 as you pass through Flight Level 180. Pilots must adjust their altimeter when climbing into and out of the window.

Do not exceed the authorized altitude.

Be knowledgable on the physiology of flying at altitudes that require supplemental oxygen. Many experienced pilots do not exceed 18,000 ft unless they have a pressure system, or a diluter demand system.

High altitude wave flight can be dangerous and pilots should be familiar with wave flights, dangers include hypoxia, structural failure due to high altitude VNE and flutter issues, difficulty controlling ascent and descent, possible obscuration or loss of reference to the ground due to cloud and involuntary entry to IMC becuase of rapid envelopment in lenticular cloud and fogging/icing of cockpit canopies. Then the are comfort issues form the freezing cold and usual wave issues with rotors and turbulence, as well as many other hazards.