Author Archive for: johnz

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 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.

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.

Garmin Pilot makes it easy to do the basics: view aviation charts, plan a flight, and navigate direct to airports. But if you’re looking to take your EFB skills to the next level, this app is loaded with time-saving features and advanced in-flight tools. Here are three we’ve been using recently.