As the old saying goes, “train like you fly, fly like you train.” If you fly with an iPad, don’t hide it during your training flights. Better to make it an integral part of your proficiency program, whether you’re on your own or with an instructor, including what to do if it fails. Here’s a suggested list of topics to cover.
Last year at Oshkosh 2018, Sporty’s introduced a handy battery pack that is specifically made for pilots. We loved it from the start and we’ve carried it on every flight. Now there’s a new option with the same great features but in a more compact size and at a lower price. Here’s a look at the specs.
Now there’s an affordable and easy-to-use option for flying with ADS-B weather and traffic. Sentry Mini, introduced this week at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, is an incredibly small, lightweight ADS-B receiver that’s specifically made for ForeFlight. It delivers subscription-free datalink weather, including radar, lightning, METARs, TAFs, and TFRs, plus dual band ADS-B traffic and WAAS GPS position. All these features are packed into a case that weighs less than two ounces and is smaller than a deck of cards.
Garmin’s top-of-the-line portable weather receivers, the compact GDL 51/52, receive more than just GPS, traffic, 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 – and they are probably a little different than what you expect. Here’s a step-by-step explanation.
ForeFlight has been on a torrid pace lately, shipping significant app updates every few weeks this spring and early summer. That continues with version 11.6, a new version that adds some unique planning and debriefing tools, enhanced annotation options, and some helpful logbook upgrades. Here’s a hands-on look at what’s new.
The latest version of this helpful app, called simply AltitudeAlert V3, works on all iOS devices from iPhone to iPad Pro to Apple Watch. That latter device is a nice addition if you fly with one – the app will now deliver haptic alerts in addition to pop-up notifications and audio alerts. Depending on how you set up your devices, you could have an audio alert in your Bluetooth-enabled headset, a vibration on your wrist, and a message on your iPad screen.
Canada is an easy flight for many pilots in the United States, and summer is the perfect time to visit. Fortunately, there are a number of iPad apps that make it easier than ever to plan and fly your flight to Canada. On a recent trip north, we were impressed with how powerful the major Electronic Flight Bag apps have become when it comes to cross-border flying.
The latest generation of iPad Pro models from Apple are some of the most powerful tablets ever made, with desktop-class performance and vibrant screens. However, the gorgeous screens come with one minor footnote: their edge-to-edge design means not all kneeboards work well with them.
We often get asked, “If I have a panel full of Garmin, does that mean I should use Garmin Pilot for my EFB app?” There’s no simple answe, but it’s definitely worth a serious look. Here are some examples of the deep integration possible with a Flight Stream and Garmin panel-mount avionics (in this case a Garmin GTN 750 and G600 TXi glass panel).
One of the promises of ADS-B datalink weather (technically called FIS-B) was that it would improve over time, with new weather products and better performance coming out free of charge. Over the last month, tens of thousands of pilots flying with subscription-free ADS-B weather have seen even more new products appear. It doesn’t require any new hardware, just an update to the latest version of ForeFlight.
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.
Securing your iPad while you fly is important for safety (to prevent your tablet from flying around the cockpit), but also for convenience (to keep it close by and easy to use). There are plenty of different mounts to choose from, but they aren’t all universal. Which one is right for you? It depends a lot on the type of airplane you fly. Let’s look at some examples.
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