Davis WeatherLink app

Using Davis weather stations as backup weather reports

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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.

New iPhone 16 announced with focus on Apple Intelligence

Modest feature updates announced in the new models, with an emphasis on increased processor horsepower to support the proprietary Apple Intelligence.

Prevent iPad overheating issues in the airplane this summer

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Most pilots have had the iPad shut down on them at least once in flight due to overheating, but it can be prevented with a little bit of planning and preparation.
iPhone control center

How to customize the built-in Control Center on your iPad or iPhone

The hidden Control Center screen remains one of the most useful features on iPhone and iPad, allowing you to quickly access commonly-used settings and apps. It's especially useful during iPad preflight, allowing you to quickly optimize wireless and network settings before takeoff without the need to leave your EFB app.

Weather widgets for your iPad

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Here's a look at 3 aviation apps that offer home screen METAR, TAF and Radar weather widgets for your iPhone and iPad.
ForeFlight traffic

Our top 16 tips for flying with the iPad

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Most pilots have a favorite tip or two when it comes to flying with the iPad, and we always learn something when we fly with another pilot. So we asked four Sporty's pilots who regularly fly with the iPad to share their top tips. Read what they had to say, then add a comment with your own at the bottom.

ForeFlight updates fuel price submission process

Pilots have been crowd-sourcing data for decades (PIREPs!), long before the days of Waze police reports and Google Maps traffic updates. The latest update in ForeFlight improves one of its main crowd-sourcing features, by offering an improved flow for updating FBO fuel prices.

How to clean your iPad and iPhone

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Keeping your iPad and iPhone screen clean is not only smart from a hygienic stance, but it'll also allow you to see your screen better without having to significantly increase screen brightness. Here are the best practices for cleaning your device and how to avoid damaging it with unapproved chemicals.

Keep your head up with iPad audio alerts

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The iPad is an engaging visual tool, but many pilots forget about its many audio uses. Especially for those pilots who worry about spending too much "heads-down" time with the iPad, it's worth understanding how apps use audio to make flying more efficient and safe. Let's look at some of the options, and how to set up an audio connection to your headset.

Video: iPad proficiency check webinar

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The iPad's role in aviation has come a long way over the past decade, as aviation apps and accessories have grown more and more capable. In this fast-paced webinar, Bret Koebbe, an active pilot, flight instructor at Sporty’s Pilot Shop and Editor of iPad Pilot News, explores a wide variety of topics applicable to help pilots of all experience levels get more utility out of their iPad in the cockpit.

Pilot Report: Flying with the iPad’s built-in GPS

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It's a decision every pilot makes when purchasing a new iPad: should I spend the extra money and buy the model with an internal GPS? We recently went flying with a new iPad mini with a built-in GPS to test it out and help determine if it's the right upgrade for you.

Get more out of your iPad’s battery with Apple’s built-in utility

Pilots tend to focus more on optimizing the iPad's battery life than the average iPad user, since this is critical to keeping the device functioning in the airplane over the course of a flight. Fortunately, there's a dedicated utility in the main iPad settings to help shed some light on which apps are using the most power, possibly while running in the background.