At the 2021 EAA AirVenture show, FlightAware introduced a new paid service, called Aviator, which offers premium tracking features specifically targeted at piston airplanes. We’ve been using it for a week now and while we wouldn’t call it a must-have, there are some nice features for active pilots and fleet managers.
Sometimes the real magic of technology is when multiple features come together to make 2 + 2 = 5. So it is with electronic flight bag apps and datalink weather—both are useful, but when used together pilots can make smarter decisions and easily avoid bad weather. This was demonstrated on a recent trip with Garmin Pilot, where the app’s Freehand feature came in handy.
CloudAhoy, the flight logging and debrief app that has found a loyal following over the past eight years, continues to roll out new features. The latest version, out this month, adds a few notable improvements that should make it easier for pilots and flight instructors to improve their flying performance.
Flying a general aviation airplane usually means being disconnected, unless you’re willing to spend over $50,000 on hardware and at least $1000/month for data. That doesn’t mean pilots are totally cut off, though. Two products, Garmin’s inReach portable communicators and AirText’s semi-permanent boxes, offer reasonably affordable services for sending text messages or retrieving text weather. Here’s a long term test report.
IFR pilots have some new toys to play with in the latest version of ForeFlight, version 13.5, which is available now. In particular, the long-awaited holding pattern tool has arrived, plus full instrument approach minima and some new runway analysis tools for jets.
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. Most aviation apps have specific requirements that eliminate some older tablets from consideration, so before you buy that used iPad, read on.
As any student or rusty pilot will tell you, staying sharp on communications is not easy. It’s not enough to read a book; by definition, talking to ATC requires a back-and-forth dynamic. That’s why ARSim (previously called Plane English) has proven to be such a helpful app over the last few years. More than just static text, this colorful and interactive app offers step-by-step lessons and practice sessions that allow you to speak to your mobile device and get feedback.
Based on iPad Pilot News reader surveys over the years, the majority of pilots 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.
Garmin has spent the last few years working hard to integrate its Pilot app with its industry-dominating line of panel avionics, from simple retrofit GPSs to full glass cockpits. The latest step in this process is the ability to view live engine data on your iPad, a long-requested feature. We flew the system recently in a Cirrus SR22, equipped with a G600 TXi glass cockpit, and came away impressed.
There are thousands of weather apps for the general public, from free to quite expensive. These are great for deciding whether you need a jacket tomorrow, but when it comes to aviation weather—looking at thunderstorms, ice, turbulence, visibility and so much more—these apps just aren’t enough. So we’ll focus on apps that offer more for pilots, both free and paid.
One positive thing to come from the pandemic is a renewed focus on cleanliness in common areas and frequently touched surfaces. Wiping down the yokes, avionics, and door handles after each flight has become standard practice at many flight schools, flying clubs, and charter companies. That focus on cleanliness extends to tablets and phones too—but […]
Each year we publish a plain-language review of the FARs and Advisory Circulars pertaining to the use of iPads and electronic flight bags in the cockpit. This is great information for pilots looking to make the transition from paper charts to an iPad, but should also be reviewed by experienced iPad pilots as well.
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