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Our top 16 tips for flying with the iPad

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Most pilots have a favorite tip or two when it comes to flying with the iPad, and we always learn something when we fly with another pilot. So we asked four Sporty's pilots who regularly fly with the iPad to share their top tips. Read what they had to say, then add a comment with your own at the bottom.

ForeFlight updates fuel price submission process

Pilots have been crowd-sourcing data for decades (PIREPs!), long before the days of Waze police reports and Google Maps traffic updates. The latest update in ForeFlight improves one of its main crowd-sourcing features, by offering an improved flow for updating FBO fuel prices.

How to clean your iPad and iPhone

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Keeping your iPad and iPhone screen clean is not only smart from a hygienic stance, but it'll also allow you to see your screen better without having to significantly increase screen brightness. Here are the best practices for cleaning your device and how to avoid damaging it with unapproved chemicals.

Keep your head up with iPad audio alerts

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The iPad is an engaging visual tool, but many pilots forget about its many audio uses. Especially for those pilots who worry about spending too much "heads-down" time with the iPad, it's worth understanding how apps use audio to make flying more efficient and safe. Let's look at some of the options, and how to set up an audio connection to your headset.

Video: iPad proficiency check webinar

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The iPad's role in aviation has come a long way over the past decade, as aviation apps and accessories have grown more and more capable. In this fast-paced webinar, Bret Koebbe, an active pilot, flight instructor at Sporty’s Pilot Shop and Editor of iPad Pilot News, explores a wide variety of topics applicable to help pilots of all experience levels get more utility out of their iPad in the cockpit.

Pilot Report: Flying with the iPad’s built-in GPS

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It's a decision every pilot makes when purchasing a new iPad: should I spend the extra money and buy the model with an internal GPS? We recently went flying with a new iPad mini with a built-in GPS to test it out and help determine if it's the right upgrade for you.

Get more out of your iPad’s battery with Apple’s built-in utility

Pilots tend to focus more on optimizing the iPad's battery life than the average iPad user, since this is critical to keeping the device functioning in the airplane over the course of a flight. Fortunately, there's a dedicated utility in the main iPad settings to help shed some light on which apps are using the most power, possibly while running in the background.

ForeFlight adds graphical en route NOTAMs in latest update

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The latest update to ForeFlight is now available, version 14.4, and adds a variety of clever new features primarily focused on improving flight planning. This includes a new graphical NOTAM layer on the moving map and the ability to specify altitude changes for the active flight plan in the profile view.

Portable ADS-B and SiriusXM receiver buyer’s guide

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

What’s the best iPad for pilots – 2021 buyer’s guide

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Considering your first iPad or upgrading your old one? There are a lot of options. In this article, we'll walk you through all the options, then offer our choice for the best overall aviation tablet.

How to view engine data in Garmin Pilot—Cirrus flight test

Garmin has spent the last few years working hard to integrate its Pilot app with its industry-dominating line of panel avionics, from simple retrofit GPSs to full glass cockpits. The latest step in this process is the ability to view live engine data on your iPad, a long-requested feature. We flew the system recently in a Cirrus SR22, equipped with a G600 TXi glass cockpit, and came away impressed.

Tips for using your aviation iPad apps with home flight simulators

Are you stuck at home and separated from your airplane, or just…