The new Sporty’s PJ2 GPS handheld radio does more than provide backup communications—it can also send GPS position data directly to ForeFlight. That means even if your iPad doesn’t have an internal GPS, or your panel connection or portable receiver is unavailable, the PJ2 GPS can provide a reliable backup position source for moving map navigation.
Like any piece of aviation equipment, the iPad is 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.
Heading to Oshkosh? Download the official EAA Events app and learn how to listen to live AirVenture ATC from your iPad or iPhone.
Today’s aviation apps are incredibly stable. More often than not, if you encounter a problem with your iPad, it probably isn’t the app, it’s an iPad setting that was never configured properly or accidentally changed after an iOS update.
A clean iPad or iPhone isn’t just about appearances. In the cockpit, a smudge-free screen is easier to read in bright sunlight, often lets you run a lower screen brightness to save battery life, and makes it easier to zoom, pan, and enter flight plan changes without leaving fingerprints across the display.
Sporty’s recently refreshed its entire Flight Gear Kneeboard lineup to tackle the real-world issues that exist when flying with your iPad. While the new collection includes updated Bi-Fold and Tri-Fold options, the standout for iPad EFB users is the new Flight Gear iPad Organizer Kneeboard.
Artificial intelligence has arrived in aviation. From route planning and weather briefings to NOTAM summaries and aircraft-specific guidance, a growing number of apps promise to simplify preflight planning. Some of these tools are designed specifically for aviation, while others leverage general-purpose AI models that many pilots already use every day. The question is no longer whether AI can assist pilots—it’s whether it can do so reliably.
The Sporty’s Pilot Training app has steadily evolved from a course viewer into one of the most capable aviation training platforms available for pilots using the iPad. The latest addition continues that trend, with PilotWorkshops’ popular VFR Mastery and IFR Mastery series now fully integrated into the online platform and dedicated app for iOS.
The so-called “impossible turn”—attempting to return to the runway after an engine failure on departure—has been debated by pilots for decades. While some instructors teach it as a viable option under the right conditions, others warn that attempting the maneuver too low can quickly become unrecoverable. A new app called Glide2 attempts to bring more structure to that decision-making process.
The new Bluebird Aero iPad Case for iPad Mini 6/7 combines active cooling, backup power, and mounting flexibility into a single, purpose-built case for pilots using the iPad Mini.
You’re cruising along at 6,500 feet, glancing down at your iPad to review the weather ahead. Then, suddenly—it goes dark. Maybe it overheated, maybe the battery died, or maybe the app just froze. Whatever the cause, your trusty iPad electronic flight bag (EFB) is now an expensive paperweight. Now what? A good backup plan starts with a simple rule: two of everything.
Pilots looking to get more out of ForeFlight now have a powerful new training resource. Sporty’s has teamed up with ForeFlight to deliver ForeFlight Power Users Training, a comprehensive new course available exclusively on the Sporty’s Pilot Training app.
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