Quiz: Your iPad just quit on you in flight, now what?

/21 Comments/in /by
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
1 min read

The iPad is one of the most stable computing platforms available today, but it is still susceptible to external factors that can cause it to become unresponsive in flight. Test your iPad troubleshooting knowledge in our latest quiz and learn how to avoid potential pitfalls when using the iPad in the cockpit.

What is the best course of action if your aviation app continuously shuts down in flight and will not open?
What is the best course of action if your aviation app continuously shuts down in flight and will not open?
Correct! Wrong!
After upgrading to a new iPad you notice that your aviation apps are updating automatically from the App Store. How can you fix this so they require you to manually update them?
After upgrading to a new iPad you notice that your aviation apps are updating automatically from the App Store. How can you fix this so they require you to manually update them?
Correct! Wrong!
What is the recommended temperature operating range of the iPad as recommended by Apple?
What is the recommended temperature operating range of the iPad as recommended by Apple?
Correct! Wrong!
What does this screen indicate on your iPad and what course of action should you take?
What does this screen indicate on your iPad and what course of action should you take?
Correct! Wrong!
What does this screen indicate on your iPad and what course of action should you take?
What does this screen indicate on your iPad and what course of action should you take?
Correct! Wrong!
You receive a message that your iPad is low on storage space when downloading new charts. Where can you do to free up space?
You receive a message that your iPad is low on storage space when downloading new charts. Where can you do to free up space?
Correct! Wrong!
Turning on Airplane Mode disables the iPad's internal GPS (for models with Cellular Data connectivity).
Turning on Airplane Mode disables the iPad's internal GPS (for models with Cellular Data connectivity).
Correct! Wrong!
During your flight, you experience odd behavior from your panel mount avionics, including interference in the communication radios and loss of GPS satellite reception. What action should you take?
During your flight, you experience odd behavior from your panel mount avionics, including interference in the communication radios and loss of GPS satellite reception. What action should you take?
Correct! Wrong!
When using the iPad for in-flight navigation with a GPS source, how long should you expect the battery to last?
When using the iPad for in-flight navigation with a GPS source, how long should you expect the battery to last?
Correct! Wrong!
What does this screen indicate on your iPad and what course of action should you take?
What does this screen indicate on your iPad and what course of action should you take?
Correct! Wrong!

Share the quiz to show your results !

Just tell us who you are to view your results !

iPad Troubleshooting: Do you know how to fix these potential problems? You got out of 10 right!
21 replies
  1. Joey
    Joey says:

    I guess the quiz taker has to assume you have a brand new Ipad. I haven’t gotten more than 4 hours per charge in years.

  2. Scott
    Scott says:

    Tip: make sure your iPhone’s hotspot is turned off in flight. It could hijack the connection to your iPad, which will no longer get information from your Status or other device.

  4. Remos pilot
    Remos pilot says:

    My I pad is fairly new and I never get more than 4 hours. More like 3 1/2 and it’s begging to be plugged in

  5. Eric
    Eric says:

    Is this what we have become, iPad dependent? What about fly the plane and go to your backup. I still keep a paper chart with my printed flight plan. Electronic devices are great, but they do fail. Remember fly the plane and mess with the iPad when and if you have the time.

    • Retired SOF Guy
      Retired SOF Guy says:

      I think the “pull the chute” option was in jest, and never read this as “if you don’t know how to fix it land immediately.” IPads with ForeFlight are common, and just like knowing how to put your transponder in standby or ident, you need to know how to work the iPad too. We still teach UNOS and ANDS so nothing wrong with knowing more about this piece of nav/safety equipment either.

  6. Paul Evenson
    Paul Evenson says:

    I Use and Android tablet… some of the silly I-pads issues don’t occur but other issues do happen

  7. Dick
    Dick says:

    Regarding storage, you should also use the Foreflight feature “Delete Expired” after downloading new charts

  9. Richard G
    Richard G says:

    I still don’t believe iPads or iPhones have actual GPS receivers in them. They use cell sites to navigate the same way LORAN works only at a much higher frequency.

    • Cary Alburn
      Cary Alburn says:

      They do have GPS chips, but they’re not nearly as accurate as a stand alone GPS. I have driven in areas without cell coverage, but my ForeFlight app continues to show own ship GPS location, unlike Apple Maps, which freezes during no cell reception.

    • Keith
      Keith says:

      The iPad models with cell data definitely do have gps functionality. The WiFi only iPad models do not, and approximate a location based on WiFi signals it sees. I’ve always felt like it was worth the extra $100 to get the gps, but now I can connect my iPad to my panel gps and it doesn’t matter.

      • JOhn
        JOhn says:

        Unless your aircraft electrical system fails… or your ship GPS software has a bug (either problem has happened from time to time)

  10. I believe they do because Apple and the US Government want to track everyone's movements, whether in your car, plane or on foot.
    I believe they do because Apple and the US Government want to track everyone's movements, whether in your car, plane or on foot. says:

    I believe they do because Apple and the US Government want to track everyone’s movements, whether in your car, plane or on foot.

  12. george quill
    george quill says:

    The GPS is great and not dependent upon Cell Towers. I just flew to St.Vincents island, South East of Puerto Rico and the Ipad did awesome. Even used it as a back up for our RNAV approach to TVSA.

Comments are closed.