Entries by John Zimmerman

iPad pilot gift guide—2020 edition

Whether you’re a pilot shopping for another aviation enthusiast or you’re a non-pilot desperately trying to figure out what to buy the (slightly weird?) aviator on your list, iPad apps and accessories are a good bet. Ten years into the tablet revolution, pilots are still snapping up this gear at a tremendous rate. Here’s our list of the top 10 things any iPad pilot would like this Christmas.

Plane English adds IFR scenarios to communications training app

Last year we reviewed Plane English, an interesting app that used voice recognition to help pilots improve their VFR communication skills. We liked the interactive nature of this app, which means that pilots can get graded on simulated transmissions instead of just listening to recordings. Now there’s a new option for IFR pilots.

7 iPad settings pilots should understand

The Settings app has evolved into a collection of hundreds of options, with multi-tier menus that can make it difficult to find what you’re looking for. All these settings and configuration options are great for customizing everything to your liking, but at the end of the day there are really only a few settings you need to be concerned about when using the iPad as an EFB in the cockpit. Here’s a quick rundown.

New PIVOT cases fit multiple iPad models

For many years PIVOT has offered a line of iPad cases and mounts specifically made for the cockpit. In that time, they’ve won a loyal following among airline pilots for their rugged design and flexible mounting options. The company has recently released two new mounts that fit a variety of devices, making them more universal and more future-proof.

Understanding ADS-B traffic: when can you trust it?

Portable ADS-B receivers for the iPad (like the Sentry, Garmin GDL 50 and Stratus 3) can receive ADS-B traffic in addition to weather. But unlike weather, which is broadcast continuously, traffic is only transmitted in certain cases. This can make ADS-B traffic very confusing—when does it work and when does it not work?

Step-by-step guide to planning a flight in Garmin Pilot

Aviation apps like ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot have been adding in-flight features at a rapid pace over the last few years, from new terrain alerts to better IFR procedure tools. What sometimes gets overlooked in this app competition are the preflight tools that make planning a flight faster and easier. Today, let’s look at how to plan a flight in Garmin Pilot, moving step-by-step through the main options.