Location-based applications, services and technologies in aid of flight planning and GPS-based navigation for visual flight rules in developing countries: with a case study

General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to corporate business jet flights. The majority of the world's air traffic falls into this category which covers a large range of activities, both commercial and non-commercial. As such, general aviation plays an important role in the economic development. This paper treats the importance of VFR flight planning while using a navigational database, navigation points, restricted zones, obstacles, positioning, air speed and routes based on global positioning system (GPS). It provides an overview of a spatial database for flight planning and registration of navigational coordinates. The paper continues with an analysis of the planning process and the impact of an e-system for flight planning and navigation safety during VFR flights in Kosovo airspace. The practical implementation of this paper will result in the development of a bespoke software application for planning electronic flights.