How to Preflight Your iPad Before Every Flight (5-Minute Checklist)

The good news is that iPads have proven to be remarkably reliable in the cockpit. Still, like any piece of aviation equipment, they’re most dependable when you take a few minutes to verify everything is ready before engine start. It’s much easier to discover a missing chart or low battery while you’re on the ground than after you’ve leveled off at altitude.

The exact checklist will vary depending on your apps, accessories, and airplane, but here’s a simple routine that applies to almost every pilot. Once you get in the habit, it takes less than five minutes.

1. Start with a full battery

A fully charged iPad should be your goal before every flight. While many airplanes now have USB charging ports or 12-volt power adapters, they aren’t always reliable. Starting with 100% battery gives you the greatest margin if your charging solution doesn’t work as expected.

If you’re planning a long flight without dependable cockpit power, consider enabling Low Power Mode before departure. It reduces background activity while having little impact on the performance of most Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) apps.

2. Check your accessories and backup power

If you fly with a Sentry, Stratus, Garmin receiver, or another external GPS or ADS-B receiver, make sure it’s fully charged as well. These devices often have similar battery endurance to the iPad, so charging everything together the night before is an easy routine.

It’s also smart to have a backup charging plan. A portable battery pack or charging cable weighs very little but can save the day if your primary power source fails.

3. Verify your backup device

No matter how reliable your iPad is, it’s wise to have a Plan B. Whether that’s a second iPad, your iPhone, or even current paper charts, make sure your backup is charged and ready before you leave the ground.

4. Launch your EFB before engine start

Open your primary aviation app while you still have an internet connection. Confirm it starts normally and that your maps, charts, and flight planning tools are working as expected.

If your app updated recently, this quick check becomes even more valuable. While app problems are rare, they’re much easier to solve before you’re strapped into the cockpit.

5. Confirm your databases and charts

One of the easiest mistakes to make is assuming everything has downloaded simply because it was visible at home on Wi-Fi.

Verify that your chart coverage, procedures, navigation data, terrain, and obstacle databases (as applicable to your app) are downloaded and current for your planned route. Most EFB apps also include tools to verify download status—ForeFlight’s Pack feature is a great example.

For extra confidence, place the iPad in Airplane Mode (re-enabling Bluetooth or Wi-Fi if needed for your accessories) and verify you can access airports, charts, and approach plates without an internet connection.

6. Load today’s route

Enter your planned route before engine start, along with any favorite airports, approach plate binders, or flight planning information you’ll want during the flight. Taking care of these small tasks on the ground reduces workload once you’re airborne.

7. Minimize distractions

Your passengers don’t need to know your phone buzzed during an approach.

Enable Do Not Disturb or another Focus mode before takeoff so incoming texts, emails, and notifications don’t cover critical information during busy phases of flight.

8. Connect the accessories you’ll actually use

Unlike a few years ago, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are often essential in today’s cockpit. If you’re using an ADS-B receiver, panel connectivity, or another wireless accessory, confirm it’s connected and working before taxi.

If you don’t need a particular wireless radio during the flight, you can leave it off, but don’t disable Bluetooth or Wi-Fi simply to save battery life. The display remains the biggest power consumer on the iPad.

9. Optimize your display

The screen is still the iPad’s biggest battery drain.

Set the brightness only as high as necessary for current conditions. Even reducing it from 100% to around 70-80% can noticeably extend battery life on a long flight. While you’re at it, wipe away fingerprints and smudges—a clean screen is easier to read and often allows you to use a lower brightness setting.

10. Keep your iPad cool

Heat is one of the biggest enemies of cockpit electronics. Avoid leaving your iPad sitting in direct sunlight on the glare shield before departure, and use cabin air vents whenever possible to help keep it cool. In very hot weather, removing a bulky protective case can also improve cooling.

11. Check your mount

Finally, verify that your iPad mount is secure, properly positioned, and won’t interfere with the flight controls or block important instruments. It’s a quick check that can prevent an annoying—or unsafe—surprise after takeoff.

A five-minute iPad preflight isn’t about assuming something will go wrong. It’s about making sure one of your most important cockpit tools is ready when you need it. Just like a walk-around inspection, this routine quickly becomes second nature—and spending a few minutes on the ground can prevent problems that are much harder to solve once you’re airborne.

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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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