5 Ways to Make Your iPad EFB Less of a Distraction

Your iPad can put charts, weather, traffic, navigation, flight planning, and a lot more within easy reach. And with all that capability comes the issue of information overload and potential distractions. The goal should be to make your iPad easier to use when you’re busy flying the airplane, but without sacrificing capability.

Here are five ways to do that.

1) Turn Off Notifications You Don’t Need

Few things are more distracting than a notification that has nothing to do with the flight you’re currently flying. Email, text messages, news alerts, social media notifications, calendar reminders, and other apps can all compete for your attention sometimes at the worst times. Even if you don’t respond to them, the notification itself can be enough to pull your eyes away from the airplane.

Consider using your iPad’s Focus settings to create a dedicated mode for flying. That way when you’re in the pilot’s seat, the only notifications reaching you should be the ones you actually need. And don’t wait until you’re taxiing to figure this out. Set it up at home or in the hangar and make sure it works the way you expect.

2) Simplify Your Screen

Your iPad EFB can display an enormous amount of information. That’s one of their greatest strengths but do you really need every available map layer turned on? Does your screen need to show information that you rarely use? Are there overlays you routinely have to work around to see what matters?

Spend some time configuring your EFB app around the information you actually use. In ForeFlight, for example, customize the map display and choose which layers and information are visible and important to you which could depend on the nature of the flight. The exact setup will vary but remember that more information isn’t necessarily more useful information.

3) Put the iPad Where You Can Use It Without Hunting for It

EFB distraction isn’t always caused by what’s on the screen. Sometimes it’s caused by where the screen is. An iPad mounted too low, too far away, or at an awkward angle can require more head movement and more attention than necessary. Glare can make things even worse.

Think about how you’ll actually use the iPad in flight. Can you glance at it without taking your attention away from the primary flight instruments? Can you reach the controls without awkward movements? Is the screen positioned so that you aren’t constantly fighting reflections?

There’s no single best mounting location for every airplane, but taking the time to figure out what’s best for your next flight is well worth the effort.

4) Be Selective About Alerts

An alert is useful when it tells you something you need to know. Too many alerts, however, can make it harder to recognize the important ones. This applies to both visual and audio alerts. If your iPad, panel avionics, traffic system, and other devices are all competing for your attention, take some time to understand what each one is telling you—and whether you really need every alert enabled.

It’s also worth considering how you’ll respond to an alert before you enable it. Is it simply providing useful situational awareness, or is it telling you that something requires immediate action?

The goal should be to make sure that when your EFB alerts, there’s a good reason for it.

5) Know Where Everything Is Before You Take Off

One of the worst times to learn how your EFB app works is when you’re already busy flying the airplane. Before takeoff, make sure you know how to quickly access the information you’re likely to need. Know where your charts are located. Know how to find airport information. Know how to edit your flight plan. Know where to find weather information. And make sure the information you expect to have available actually is available offline.

This becomes especially important when something changes. If ATC gives you an unexpected reroute, you don’t want to spend the next few minutes figuring out how to edit your route while also trying to keep up with the airplane and the radio.

A few minutes of preparation on the ground can eliminate a surprising amount of workload.

Make Technology Transparent

The best EFB setup isn’t necessarily the one with the most features turned on. It’s the one that gives you the information you need, when you need it, without introducing unnecessary distractions. Take a few minutes before your next flight to turn off the distractions, simplify the display, check the mounting position, review your alerts, and make sure you know where everything is.

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Eric Radtke

It was his first airplane trip at age seven that made Eric decide to become a pilot. "While boarding the airplane, a flight attendant noticed my interest in the flight deck and urged me to go talk to the pilot. I give a lot of credit to that pilot for my career choice." Eric earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and went on to an airline career. He learned to fly at Sporty’s as part of the University of Cincinnati’s Professional Pilot Program, an initiative he later directed. Eric now manages Sporty’s media network. In addition, Eric serves as a Captain in a Cincinnati-based corporate flight department.

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