Skip to content

First Launch

When you first open JBalloonNav, the app will ask for a few permissions and you'll need to download a map.

Permissions

On first launch, the app requests:

  1. Location permission — required to show your position on the map. The app uses GPS for position, speed, altitude, and bearing.
  2. Storage permission — required to store downloaded maps and airspace files on your device.

Grant both permissions. Without location, the app cannot display your position. Without storage, maps cannot be saved for offline use.

Tip

You can also grant background location permission later. This allows track recording to continue when the app is in the background (e.g., when your screen is off or you switch apps).

Download Your First Map

After permissions are granted, you'll see a blank map. To get started:

  1. Tap the ☰ Menu button (top-left)
  2. Select Download Maps
  3. Choose your country from the tree list
  4. Select a region or the full country map
  5. Wait for the download to complete

Note

For faster downloads and better performance on older devices, download a regional map (e.g., "Bavaria") rather than a full country map (e.g., "Germany"). See Performance Tips.

Select the Map

After downloading, you need to activate the map:

  1. Tap ☰ Menu → Set Active Map
  2. Select the map you just downloaded
  3. The map will appear on screen

Download Airspace (Optional)

To see airspace boundaries:

  1. Tap ☰ Menu → Set Airspace Country
  2. Select your country
  3. Tap ☰ Menu → Download Airspace
  4. Airspace boundaries will appear as coloured overlays

You're now ready to fly. See Your First Flight for a walkthrough of recording a track.