Jeppesen ForeFlight introduced a new safety feature designed to help pilots quickly identify potential landing options following an engine failure.
Called Emergency Glide Mode, the tool is designed to provide rapid decision support during one of aviation’s most time-critical scenarios. When activated, it analyzes the aircraft’s position and estimated glide performance to identify reachable airports, runways, and potential off-airport landing sites, then highlights the best options on the moving map.
ForeFlight said the feature is intended to reduce cockpit workload when pilots may be simultaneously managing aircraft control, emergency checklists, communications, and navigation. Instead of manually estimating glide range or searching charts, pilots receive a real-time visual display of available landing choices.
The system also considers terrain and surrounding geography when calculating options, helping pilots determine whether a runway is realistically within reach. If no airport can be made, the software shifts to possible forced-landing sites.
ForeFlight said the feature uses a proprietary algorithm combined with U.S. Geological Survey data to generate detailed maps of potential emergency landing areas. Candidate sites must offer at least 1,000 feet of usable length and are evaluated for terrain, slope, obstacles, nearby hazards such as power lines, and tree cover.
Emergency Glide Mode can also automatically load best-glide speed and glide-ratio data for many aircraft types, while allowing pilots to customize settings for their specific airplane.
