Entries by Bret Koebbe

Top Apple Watch features and apps for pilots

There are a lot of aviation apps out there that allow you to access useful aviation and weather data from your wrist. Here we’ll take a look at the top weather and aviation apps for Apple Watch, along with how to take advantage of some of the standard Apple Watch features on your next flight.

Video: iPad proficiency check webinar

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.

How to scan documents into your favorite aviation app

More and more pilots are going completely paperless in the cockpit, but that requires some paper documents to be scanned first. Fortunately, Apple includes some hidden capabilities in the Notes app, including the addition of a powerful scanner utility. This can be used to scan just about any type of physical document.

Top 10 aviation apps for student pilots

The iPad is a great tool for pilots of all skill levels, from airline captains to student pilots. In addition to displaying digital charts and navigation data in the cockpit, the iPad is also very good for both organization and as a training resource on the ground. Here are 10 apps for new pilots to consider.

Pilot’s Guide to iOS 16 for iPhone

Apple released iOS 16 for iPhone users today, adding a new customizable lock screen and hundreds of other new features to the operating system. Here’s a look at what’s new, and why you won’t be able to update your iPad to iPadOS 16 just yet.

Apple announces new iPhone 14 with satellite connectivity

Apple unveiled their first iPhone model with satellite connectivity at the annual press event in California today. Living up to the hype of the event’s “Far Out” theme, the new iPhone 14 includes the ability to connect to satellites in space for SOS emergency communications and location tracking.

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.

How to find NOTAMs in ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot

The preflight weather briefing has transitioned over the last decade from a Flight Service assisted process to self-service using online resources and mobile apps. Here we’ll show how to make sure you know where to find all pertinent NOTAMs when completing a self-briefing with both ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot.