Author Archive for: bkoebbe

Entries by Bret Koebbe

How to mount your iPhone in the cockpit

The larger iPhone 7, 8 and X models are finding a home in many cockpits, as pilots come to appreciate larger screens on these new phones. Regardless of how you use your iPhone, it’s smart to secure it in the cockpit. Here are a few options from RAM and MyGoFlight that offer convenient ways to keep them stable.

Ask a DPE: Is it ok to use an iPad on the checkride?

We recently held a roundtable with three prominent FAA Designated Pilot Examiners (DPE), Eric Crump, Jason Blair and Todd Ritchey, to discuss common misconceptions about the FAA checkride. One of the most common questions we received during the discussion related to the use of an iPad during the oral and flight test, and whether pilots still need to demonstrate planning and navigation using traditional techniques and paper charts.

How to keep your iPad from overheating in flight

Based on an iPad Pilot News reader survey we recently conducted, over 70% of respondents reported that they have had the iPad shut down on them at least once in flight due to overheating. This is by far the most common problem reported by pilots when flying with an iPad, but it can be prevented with a little bit of planning and preparation.

iPad Flight Review – 8 key questions

Ok, you’ve been flying with the iPad for several years and the thought of manually calculating the time en route to your destination or unfolding a sectional chart in the cockpit makes you cringe. But like everything in aviation, it pays dividends to spend some time to brushing up on the basics to keep your knowledge and skills sharp. Take our latest quiz to see where you stand.

Video tip: How to use datalink weather effectively for in-flight weather avoidance

Pilots are flying with datalink weather now more than ever, thanks to advances in low-cost ADS-B and SiriusXM receivers and software support from all the major aviation apps. While both datalink weather systems are fairly intuitive to use, there are some technical limitations to be aware of when using them to fly around hazardous weather. Here’s a look at how to avoid the common pitfalls and improve your in-flight decision making.

© Copyright 2026 - iPad Pilot News. All Rights Reserved.