Aithre Shield

Aithre releases new carbon monoxide detector and app

Carbon monoxide poisoning is an ever-present threat in piston airplanes, especially in winter when heating systems can introduce the deadly exhaust gas into the cabin. There's a new CO detector on the market that includes a smartphone app for additional monitoring. Here's a look at what it can do.

Video tip: avoiding thunderstorms with datalink weather

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One of the best upgrades to your iPad is a datalink weather receiver like a Stratus, Sentry or GDL. These portable avionics sit on your dash or suction cup to a side window and receive either subscription-free ADS-B weather from ground stations or SiriusXM satellite weather that requires a monthly subscription. Regardless of your receiver, there are some important rules to follow. In this video tip, you'll learn how to evaluate radar images to determine if they are dangerous thunderstorms or just rain. There's more to it than just green, yellow and red colors.

Portable ADS-B and SiriusXM receiver buyer’s guide

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Today's portable weather accessories for iPad have evolved from…

Top iPad accessories for pilots – 2019 gear roundup

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The iPad makes a great, all-in-one cockpit tool, combining maps, flight planning, weather, documents and so much more. That doesn't mean it stands on its own, though. A few carefully chosen accessories can make it so much more powerful and easy-to-use. Here's our annual list of the accessories you should consider, and our top recommendations.
Suction cup iPad mount

Robust Mounting Systems – a simple, affordable new mount option

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Still searching the perfect mount for your phone or iPad that won’t break the bank? A good mounting system normally costs anywhere from $60 to over $200. Fortunately, a new option is now available with some good-performing mounts starting around $30 for a complete kit. 
iPad Mini

How do different sizes of iPad fit in an airplane?

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Let’s consider seven different size devices in the same Cessna 172 cockpit to see what fits best. We mounted the iPads and iPhone in two ways: with a suction cup and with a yoke mount. We were able to mount nearly every device to the yoke with the exception of the new 12.9” iPad Pro 3rd Gen.

How to choose the best GPS for your iPad

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GPS position makes an iPad so much more useful in flight - moving maps, terrain alerts, and so much more become available. But how do you add GPS to your iPad? Does it already have one built in? What are the options for external receivers? We answer those questions and offer our two top choices.

iPad screen protectors – which one is best for pilots?

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Screen glare is a persistent problem for pilots flying with the iPad, but an anti-reflective screen protector can cut down on this significantly. To help illustrate its effectiveness, we installed MyGoFlight's ArmorGlas on a new iPad 9.7" on a bright sunny day to see how it did next to a 2nd iPad without a screen protector.

New X-Naut cooling case introduced for iPad Pro 10.5″

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We first reviewed the X-Naut Cooling Case in 2016, finding it to be a thoughtfully-designed solution to a persistent problem: overheating tablets in the cockpit. While the original two models accomodate the iPad Pro 9.7", iPad Air, and iPad Mini, there was no option for our preferred iPad model in the cockpit - the iPad Pro 10.5". Now the company has introduced a solution made just for that.

Tips for flying with the Garmin D2 Delta and Garmin Pilot

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Smartwatches continue to be a big hit with pilots as they've become more and more useful in the cockpit. Here we'll take a look at how to use the new Garmin D2 Delta PX watch, including how to use it with the Garmin Pilot app and take advantage of the new pulse oximeter feature.

Garmin inReach Mini offers compact way to text and track

Last year we did an extended test with the inReach satellite communicator, an established product from Delorme that Garmin had recently acquired. Overall we liked it, as it offered a relatively affordable and portable way to add some connectivity in the cockpit. Now there's a new, smaller option: the inReach Mini.

ForeFlight adds support for Garmin GDL 50, 51, and 52

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A new generation of portable weather receivers has hit the market over the last year, with new hardware from Appareo, Garmin, and uAvionix offering new features and (in general) lower prices. ForeFlight recently announced support for the latest receivers from Garmin, which means new options for pilots - especially in the world of satellite weather.