Entries by John Zimmerman

Why the 2017 iPad is a good value for pilots

Apple’s lineup of tablets has grown tremendously over the past five years, from a single iPad model with a roughly 10″ screen to three main options: iPad Mini, 10.5″ iPad Pro, and 12.9″ iPad Pro. Each of these has its place, but lost in the mix is the confusingly-named “iPad.” We think it’s a great value.

How to use Stratus for flight data recording

The Stratus line of ADS-B receivers are well-known as weather receivers, but there’s another option that many pilots don’t use as often: flight data recording. By default, Stratus 2 and 2S are always recording your flights, including position, speed, altitude, and attitude – up to 20 hours at a time. Here’s how to use these track logs.

Top 20 apps for pilots

The number of aviation apps seems to expand daily, with thousands of options for flight training, weather briefings, games and so much more. With that in mind, compiling a list of the top apps may seem foolish, but we’re going to try – after all, a brand new iPad pilot needs to start somewhere. The list below isn’t necessarily our 20 favorite apps, but rather the ones we see in use most often, and are worth considering for any pilot’s tablet.

Big Google Earth update makes 3D airport flyovers easy

Google Earth has been around for over 15 years, and in that time it has changed many people’s perception of our planet with its worldwide satellite images. More practically for pilots, the website and app can be useful for planning a flight to an unfamiliar airport. This week brought a major update for the iOS app with some helpful new features for pilots.

ForeFlight and Garmin introduce new weather receivers

EAA Airventure Oshkosh is the aviation event of the summer, and it usually brings a number of product introductions. This year is proving to be no exception, with new airplanes, new engines, and new avionics all being announced over the last week. Two of the giants in the world of aviation apps and accessories, ForeFlight and Garmin, joined the fray this week. Here’s a look at what’s new and what it all means.

How to safely contain a tablet fire

Many airlines and corporate flight departments require pilots to carry fire containment systems on all flights. After all, in a pressurized airplane at 37,000 feet, you can’t exactly throw the tablet out the window. Fortunately, there’s a new option that is both portable and far less expensive than traditional systems.

Dual continues to update its line of ADS-B receivers

For the last two years, Appareo’s Stratus 2S and Garmin’s GDL 39 3D have dominated the market for portable ADS-B receivers, but Dual Electronics has carved out a successful niche as well. Their strategy has been to offer affordable receivers that work with a wide variety of apps, making them our top picks for pilots flying with Aerovie, FltPlan Go, WingX, and FlyQ.

The best USB charging accessory for pilots?

For pilots using a tablet as their primary chart reference, keeping an iPad charged isn’t just a convenience – it’s a safety of flight issue. Fortunately, there are a whole host of solutions that can keep your battery topped off; unfortunately, many were developed for cars and not airplanes. Now there’s a new option that is made for aviation but inexpensive.