How did that flight go? It’s a simple question—one that every pilot should ask themselves after every flight—but there’s usually not a simple answer. When you’re judging your proficiency as a pilot or tracking the performance of your engine, it pays to be specific. That’s what makes FlySto, a free software platform that offers powerful debriefing tools for pilots, so valuable.
More and more general aviation pilots are flying with Starlink Mini, the first truly portable and affordable satellite connectivity system that works in small airplanes. Passengers can browse social media and pilots can access additional weather products at any altitude, and all with simply a square antenna mounted in the window and a $65/month subscription. We are both excited and nervous about the Starlink revolution, but it’s undeniably a powerful tool when used properly.
After nearly a decade of work, avionics giant Garmin has released SmartCharts, a fully interactive version of those familiar approach plates that is accessible in its Garmin Pilot EFB app. This seemingly modest change is actually the result of sophisticated software development, rigorous testing, and exhaustive validation work. In other words, it’s a big deal—a Jeppesen Airway manual moment for the EFB age. Here’s how it works.
One of the most under-appreciated features of the iPad is its fantastic battery life. Even with a high-resolution screen and a powerful processor, Apple’s tablet offers a battery life of 4 to 6 (or more) hours in the air—better than almost every other competing tablet. But there are a number of things you can do to improve the performance of your iPad battery and keep it in top working condition.
It seems like there are two types of pilots: those who have never heard of Skew-T log (p) charts and true believers who know they are the source of all truth and knowledge about weather. The second group is overstating things just a bit, but the first group is definitely missing out on some helpful weather information. With a little training—and the affordable SkewTLogPro app—it’s easy to integrate Skew-T diagrams into your normal preflight routine. Here’s how to get started.
Garmin’s top-of-the-line portable weather receivers, the compact GDL 52 and GDL 51, receive more than just GPS and weather. With an active SiriusXM subscription, pilots and passengers can also enjoy music and live sports in flight. Once you’ve configured all your devices, it’s very easy to listen to SiriusXM Radio, but the first time you do it there are a few steps to follow.
One of the most common questions we hear as pilots is, “Do I really need to put my phone in Airplane Mode?” The airlines have been saying yes for years, but many travelers think this advice is outdated and it’s safe to ignore. Is that true in a small airplane? And what is Airplane Mode anyway? Here’s our advice.
Electronic flight bag apps like ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot have dozens of weather resources, from radar images to icing forecasts, but sometimes these familiar weather products aren’t enough. One tool we’ve recently been using is the WeatherLink app from Davis Instruments. Here’s what it can do.
One of Garmin Pilot’s standout features is its split-screen mode. While many pilots know how to use split-screen for viewing approach charts or traffic, there are also some valuable tools for weather planning, both before takeoff and during cruise. Here’s how to use the Widgets and Flight Profile features.
To get the most out of our EFB, a few additional accessories are worth considering, like ADS-B receivers and charging products. There is always something new in this market, and in this post we’ll review three products we’ve been testing recently.
If you’ve flown with synthetic vision for long, you’ve probably noticed that the speed and altitude don’t match the panel. What’s going on. The answer is pretty simple—the panel and the iPad are showing different data from different sources—but the details are important. Here’s a somewhat geeky dive into the details.
The iPad is decidedly middle-aged now, at least for consumer technology, which means there is a busy used market for older tablets. An original iPad, which came out in 2010, can be purchased on eBay for under $50—a great deal, right? Not so fast.
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