Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why would I want to use Minkstro instead of the one that's been around for years and still works perfectly fine?
A. If the traditional elk-like system is working and you like it, stick with it! But if you're like me, I find myself using less and less of the route & clearance aspects and it has more become a standard place to look for the callsign, times, tower & ground frequencies, and field elevation. I don't see the sense in paying $60 a year for information I'm not going to use, hence the creation of Minkstro!
Q. What will Minkstro cost?
A. Minkstro is targeted to cost $1 a month (that's $12 a year!). Pretty cool for a high quality accessory!
Q. Is Minkstro FAA approved?
A. Just like the other elk product, Minkstro is neither FAA nor Company approved. While most of the data is pulled directly from the FAA sources, we make every effort but no guarantee that the data on your sheet is 100% accurate. It should be verified just like any other piece of flight data you are using.
Q. Can I try out Minkstro before I give you my 12 bucks (or whatever the final cost works out to be) for the year?
A. Absolutely. New users will get 3 months free to try it out and see if they like it. New First Officers on probation will get their first year complimentary (if the program could buy them a beer on their overnights too, it would!).
Q. Is Minkstro going to run on Windows, Mac or Linux? What about web access, and iPhones & Android?
A. The first version of Minkstro will run on Windows (any reasonable flavor). Most of you Mac users have a virtualization-program like Parallels where you can run a copy of Windows inside your MacOS, so initially that will be your best route to run Minkstro when released. If there's enough demand, we'll see about working a version that runs on MacOS, Linux, AnyOSYouCanThinkOf, etc.
Q. Okay, I want to try it out! Where do I download it?
A. Minkstro is still in development. Once the initial program is finalized, it will go through a beta field test to shake out the major bugs and recommend improvements. When the beta testers are happy with the product, it will be posted for download under the tab at the top of the page, along with updates as available.
Q. How do I sign up to be a beta tester?
A. Send me an email with your name, employee number, email address & phone number, crew base, and whether you use an existing product now or just rely on the dispatch release to get the job done.
Q. Why did you call it Minkstro -- what is the "stro" part of all these names anyway?
A. If you go back in LUV history, what we now refer to as CWA (Crew Web Access) used to be called "Maestro". So if you wanted a proper name for the program, you could refer to it as "Minkstro For Maestro", although this would be a bit on the nostalgic side and take more words to say and type.
Q. Why are you doing this?
A. 'cause that's the way Herb would have wanted it -- a great product at the lowest cost, hot pants excluded (you get what you pay for in those). And I need something to talk about on overnights to get beers...chicks dig Minks!
Q. How to I ask another question that isn't addressed here?
A. Send a message on the contact page. I'll either answer you directly and/or post it here for others to see.
A. If the traditional elk-like system is working and you like it, stick with it! But if you're like me, I find myself using less and less of the route & clearance aspects and it has more become a standard place to look for the callsign, times, tower & ground frequencies, and field elevation. I don't see the sense in paying $60 a year for information I'm not going to use, hence the creation of Minkstro!
Q. What will Minkstro cost?
A. Minkstro is targeted to cost $1 a month (that's $12 a year!). Pretty cool for a high quality accessory!
Q. Is Minkstro FAA approved?
A. Just like the other elk product, Minkstro is neither FAA nor Company approved. While most of the data is pulled directly from the FAA sources, we make every effort but no guarantee that the data on your sheet is 100% accurate. It should be verified just like any other piece of flight data you are using.
Q. Can I try out Minkstro before I give you my 12 bucks (or whatever the final cost works out to be) for the year?
A. Absolutely. New users will get 3 months free to try it out and see if they like it. New First Officers on probation will get their first year complimentary (if the program could buy them a beer on their overnights too, it would!).
Q. Is Minkstro going to run on Windows, Mac or Linux? What about web access, and iPhones & Android?
A. The first version of Minkstro will run on Windows (any reasonable flavor). Most of you Mac users have a virtualization-program like Parallels where you can run a copy of Windows inside your MacOS, so initially that will be your best route to run Minkstro when released. If there's enough demand, we'll see about working a version that runs on MacOS, Linux, AnyOSYouCanThinkOf, etc.
Q. Okay, I want to try it out! Where do I download it?
A. Minkstro is still in development. Once the initial program is finalized, it will go through a beta field test to shake out the major bugs and recommend improvements. When the beta testers are happy with the product, it will be posted for download under the tab at the top of the page, along with updates as available.
Q. How do I sign up to be a beta tester?
A. Send me an email with your name, employee number, email address & phone number, crew base, and whether you use an existing product now or just rely on the dispatch release to get the job done.
Q. Why did you call it Minkstro -- what is the "stro" part of all these names anyway?
A. If you go back in LUV history, what we now refer to as CWA (Crew Web Access) used to be called "Maestro". So if you wanted a proper name for the program, you could refer to it as "Minkstro For Maestro", although this would be a bit on the nostalgic side and take more words to say and type.
Q. Why are you doing this?
A. 'cause that's the way Herb would have wanted it -- a great product at the lowest cost, hot pants excluded (you get what you pay for in those). And I need something to talk about on overnights to get beers...chicks dig Minks!
Q. How to I ask another question that isn't addressed here?
A. Send a message on the contact page. I'll either answer you directly and/or post it here for others to see.
