Entries by John Zimmerman

Overlooked tools for learning about an airport in ForeFlight

Flying to a new airport can be an intimidating experience, but with a little time spent studying ForeFlight you can learn a lot and enjoy a safer arrival at Big City International. This means more than just checking the runway layout and the tower frequency, though; in recent years, a number of new resources have become available. Here are five to check out.

Using Davis weather stations as backup weather reports

Electronic flight bag apps like ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot have dozens of weather resources, from radar images to icing forecasts, but sometimes these familiar weather products aren’t enough. One tool we’ve recently been using is the WeatherLink app from Davis Instruments. Here’s what it can do.

Using the Flights tab in ForeFlight—pro tips

ForeFlight’s Maps page can be a pilot’s best friend, since it’s packed with visual planning tools and helpful information. But for experienced pilots, especially those who file IFR or fly high performance airplanes, the Flights tab offers a wealth of powerful features. Here are six that are often overlooked.

Garmin PlaneSync: long term test report

Many new cars now come with remote access capabilities that make it easy to start your Chevrolet’s engine or check your Tesla’s battery level from anywhere, using nothing more than a smartphone app and an LTE connection. Garmin is hoping to bring that same convenience to aviation with its new PlaneSync system. We’ve been testing an early version of it for the last three months in a 2005 Cirrus with a retrofit Garmin glass cockpit. Here’s how it works.

New slimline kneeboard offers universal fit for under $25

The perfect iPad kneeboard doesn’t exist: every pilot has unique needs and personal preferences. But if you’re looking for a simple and affordable option, the new Flight Gear Slimline Rotating Kneeboard is a great choice. It has a couple of thoughtful design choices but still costs less than $25. Here’s what we like after flying with it for a few months.