The PocketFMS Crew.
Somewhere in March 2003, Rob Weijers and Marcel Knol were introduced to each other by a mutual pilot acquaintance. At that time, Rob had just started developing a little program that used a GPS and a Pocket PC to serve as an aid in his CPL training. Marcel offered to assist him by developing documentation and a web site, and by doing software beta testing - remember, Pocket PC's were few in those days. It was the start of a cooperation that still lasts, and has resulted in the versatile PocketFMS software you may already be using.
Rob and Marcel both live in the center part of the Netherlands, and are home-based at Lelystad Airport (EHLE) which also is home for the PocketFMS Headquarters. Both are licensed aviators as well as ICT professionals, and frequently take national and international flying trips together. Building PocketFMS was done in the evenings and weekends, and initially the software was offered as Donationware. In July 2005, their cooperation was formalized in the PocketFMS Foundation. Per January 2006 Ron Grenfell has teamed up, becoming the Regional Partner for Australia and New Zealand. In March 2007 the next step was taken: developing PocketFMS has become the daytime job for Rob and Marcel, abandoning the Donationware model for a subscription based one. On popular request, the non-subscription Fusion version was added lateron.
Rob Weijers is PocketFMS' mastermind. He made the program into the powerful tool it is today via an ever continuing process of improvement, and is an innovative thinker, and a genuine C++ & SQL Server Guru, always coming up with further ideas to enhance PocketFMS' usability and versatility.
Rob holds a JAA CPL-IR. He flies Diamond Katana & Star (in any configuration), Fuji FA-200, Cessna 172 and 177RG (Cardinal). He acts as First Officer on a PA-31 Navajo as well.
Marcel 'Nosegear' Knol is a former software developer with roots in the Royal Dutch Air Force. He maintains the PocketFMS documentation such as the manual and this website, but also builds various php/ASP/SQL Server solutions that PocketFMS uses to connect to the servers, and coordinates the AeroData maintenance.
Marcel holds both US and JAA licences. He flies Cessna 152, 172, 177RG (Cardinal), Piper Warrior, American Tiger, Diamond Star (any configuration), Piper Cub and Socata TB10. For the ever so necessary aerobatics he mostly uses the Fuji FA200 & General Avia F22B.
Dr. Ron Grenfell has joined the Crew as the Regional Partner for Australia and New Zealand. Ron has an academic background in business development, mapping and Geographic Information Systems. He provides the Foundation with valuable strategic information for program development and marketing.
Ron holds an Australian PPL. He is a member of the Royal Victorian Aero Club and flies Piper Warrior, Archer & Arrow, Cessna 172, and Socata TB10.
