SkyWalk Platform

Professional Aviation Flight Planning & Performance Analysis

SkyWalk is a comprehensive flight planning platform designed for general aviation pilots. It provides real-time runway performance calculations, weight & balance analysis, METAR integration, and aerodrome information management to help pilots make informed go/no-go decisions.

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🚀 Quick Start

Access the application: https://skywalk-platform.github.io/app/

Read the documentation: https://skywalk-platform.github.io/docs/

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✨ Key Features

🛫 Runway Performance Analysis

• POH-Based Calculations: Automatic runway length computation using Pilot Operating Handbook data
• Multi-Factor Corrections: Accounts for temperature, altitude, weight, wind, runway surface, slope, and safety margins
• Dual Distance Modes: Calculates both threshold and 50ft obstacle clearance distances
• Real-Time Analysis: Instant performance updates based on current conditions

🌤️ Weather Integration

• Live METAR Data: Automatic retrieval from nearby stations
• TAF Support: Future weather trend analysis
• Cloud Ceiling Visualization: Interactive cloud layer charts with circuit/CTR altitude overlays
• Wind Envelope Analysis: Visual assessment of crosswind and headwind limits across variable wind conditions

Weight & Balance

• Interactive Charts: Visual center of gravity plotting against aircraft envelope
• Multi-Point Validation: Supports departure, arrival, and custom weight scenarios
• Real-Time Calculations: Automatic updates as fuel burn and passenger weights change
• Compliance Checking: Instant feedback on envelope limits

🗺️ Aerodrome Information

• Comprehensive Database: Detailed information for departure and arrival aerodromes
• Runway Visualization: SVG-based runway layout diagrams
• ATC Frequencies: Tower, ground, approach, radio, and information frequencies
• Custom Annotations: User-specific notes and images for each aerodrome
• Route Planning: Entry/exit points, altitudes, and circuit patterns

📊 Visual Analytics

• Runway SVG Overlays: Color-coded runway diagrams based on surface type
• Performance Plots: Linear regression models fitted to POH data
• Weather Visualization: Cloud coverage and wind component charts
• Interactive Maps: Folium-based aerodrome location mapping

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🎯 Use Cases

• Pre-Flight Planning: Comprehensive flight briefing with all essential aerodrome and weather data
• Go/No-Go Decisions: Data-driven assessment of flight feasibility based on performance limits
• Weight & Balance Compliance: Ensure aircraft loading meets certification requirements
• Runway Performance: Verify adequate runway length for current conditions
• Weather Assessment: Quick METAR/TAF analysis with visual cloud ceiling information
• Training & Education: Teaching runway performance calculations and weather interpretation

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🏗️ Technical Architecture

Frontend

• Framework: Streamlit-based web application
• Visualization: Plotly, Chart.js, Folium
• Interactivity: Real-time form updates and dynamic SVG generation

Backend

• Language: Python 3.x
• Key Libraries:
  • numpy, pandas: Data processing
  • scikit-learn: Linear regression for POH modeling
  • streamlit: Web framework
  • Custom modules: compute, runway, metar_info, helper

Data Storage

• Firestore Integration: User settings and aerodrome preferences
• Session State: In-memory flight plan data
• POH Models: Cached regression models for performance calculations

Core Modules

runway.py

Runway performance calculations including:

• POH data fitting and regression modeling
• Wind correction (headwind/tailwind/crosswind)
• Surface and condition corrections (dry/wet, hard/soft)
• Slope adjustments
• Safety margin application

runway.js

Client-side runway visualization:

• SVG generation for runway layouts
• Surface-based color coding
• Runway geometry normalization and centering
• Interactive runway overview diagrams

weightbalance.js

Weight & balance calculations:

• Moment and CG computation
• Envelope boundary checking
• Chart.js integration for visual plotting
• Multi-scenario support (departure/arrival/settings)

tab_aerodrome.py

Aerodrome information management:

• METAR/TAF retrieval and parsing
• ATC frequency management
• Runway condition tracking
• Route and circuit altitude planning
• Cloud ceiling and wind envelope visualization

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📐 Calculation Methodology

Runway Performance Calculation Pipeline

1. POH Correction

   • Input: Temperature, altitude (field elevation), aircraft weight
   • Method: Linear regression model fitted to POH table data
   • Output: Base distance requirement

2. Wind Correction

   • Input: Wind direction, speed, runway heading
   • Calculation: Headwind/tailwind component
   • Factor: Variable based on wind strength (from POH data)

3. Runway Surface Correction

   • Factors: Surface type (hard/soft/other) × condition (dry/wet)
   • Multipliers defined in aircraft performance settings

4. Slope Correction

   • Input: Runway slope percentage
   • Calculation: Additive correction per percent slope

5. Safety Margin

   • Final multiplier for operational safety buffer
   • Typically 1.3-1.5× depending on operation type

Weight & Balance Algorithm

CG = (Σ(weight × arm)) / Σ(weight)

Components:
- Empty weight × empty arm
- Pilot weight × pilot arm
- Copilot weight × copilot arm
- Rear passengers × rear arm(s)
- Baggage × baggage arm
- Fuel × fuel arm

Point-in-polygon algorithm validates CG is within aircraft envelope boundaries.

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🔧 Configuration

Aircraft Setup

Users must configure:

• POH Tables: Takeoff/landing performance data (minimum 3 data points)
• Weight Limits: Empty weight, max takeoff weight, useful load
• Arms & Moments: CG reference datum and station arms
• Performance Factors: Surface corrections, slope factors, safety margins
• Envelope Points: Weight & balance envelope boundary coordinates

Aerodrome Customization

Per-aerodrome settings include:

• Preferred parking position
• Default ATC frequencies
• Runway slope overrides
• Custom entry/exit routes
• Circuit altitude preferences
• Additional notes and images

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📚 Documentation

Comprehensive documentation is available at: https://skywalk-platform.github.io/docs/

Documentation covers:

• Getting started guide
• Aircraft configuration
• Flight planning workflow
• Performance calculations explained
• Weight & balance procedures
• METAR interpretation
• Troubleshooting

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🔒 Security & Privacy

• User Data: Stored securely in Firestore with user-specific access
• Session Isolation: Flight plan data isolated per user session
• No Sharing: Flight plans and custom settings remain private
• HTTPS: All communications encrypted

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Important Disclaimers

FOR EDUCATIONAL AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY

• This software is NOT certified for operational flight planning
• Always verify all calculations with official aircraft POH
• METAR/TAF data may be outdated or incomplete - check official sources
• Runway and aerodrome data should be verified with current NOTAM and charts
• Pilots are solely responsible for all flight planning decisions
• The developer assumes NO LIABILITY for use of this software

REGULATORY COMPLIANCE: Pilots must comply with all applicable aviation regulations and always maintain appropriate safety margins.

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🐛 Known Limitations

• METAR Coverage: Limited to stations with publicly available data
• Runway Database: May not include all smaller aerodromes
• VRB Winds: Variable wind (VRB) prevents accurate wind corrections
• POH Fitting: Requires minimum 3 data points for accurate modeling
• Surface Types: Generic classifications may not match specific runway conditions

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🤝 Contributing

This is proprietary software. For bug reports or feature requests, please contact the developer.

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📄 License

Copyright (C) 2024-2025, E.Taskesen - All Rights Reserved

Unauthorized copying, modification, or distribution of this software, via any medium, is strictly prohibited. This software is proprietary and confidential.

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👤 Author

Erdogan Taskesen Email: erdogant@gmail.com Year: 2024-2025

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📞 Support

For questions, bug reports, or feature requests:

• Documentation: https://skywalk-platform.github.io/docs/
• Email: erdogant@gmail.com

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🙏 Acknowledgments

• METAR data provided by public aviation weather services
• Aerodrome information sourced from Wikipedia and official aviation databases
• Chart.js, Plotly, and Folium for visualization libraries

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📝 Version History

• v0.1 (April 2024): Initial release with core runway performance and weight & balance features
• v0.2 (February 2026): Enhanced METAR integration, wind envelope analysis, and cloud ceiling visualization

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Safe Flying! ✈️