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.

ForeFlight adds graphical en route NOTAMs in latest update

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The latest update to ForeFlight is now available, version 14.4, and adds a variety of clever new features primarily focused on improving flight planning. This includes a new graphical NOTAM layer on the moving map and the ability to specify altitude changes for the active flight plan in the profile view.

Portable ADS-B and SiriusXM receiver buyer’s guide

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Today's portable weather accessories for iPad have evolved from…

What’s the best iPad for pilots – 2021 buyer’s guide

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Considering your first iPad or upgrading your old one? There are a lot of options. In this article, we'll walk you through all the options, then offer our choice for the best overall aviation tablet.

How to view engine data in Garmin Pilot—Cirrus flight test

Garmin has spent the last few years working hard to integrate its Pilot app with its industry-dominating line of panel avionics, from simple retrofit GPSs to full glass cockpits. The latest step in this process is the ability to view live engine data on your iPad, a long-requested feature. We flew the system recently in a Cirrus SR22, equipped with a G600 TXi glass cockpit, and came away impressed.

Tips for using your aviation iPad apps with home flight simulators

Are you stuck at home and separated from your airplane, or just…

Pilot’s guide to the iPad – how to get started

Over the past decade we have written hundreds of articles here at iPad Pilot News with tips for pilots, app and accessory reviews, the latest news and of course the famous iPad app debates. To make things easier, we've collected our most popular educational articles and videos designed to help get pilots off to the right start with the iPad in the cockpit.

Video tip: How to use the ForeFlight map weather layers

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Do you know the difference between base and composite radar reflectivity, enhanced vs. infrared satellite imagery, or how to interpret the icing forecast layers in ForeFlight? Our latest video tip explains it all.

Feature focus: Garmin Pilot’s emergency mode

There are certainly important differences in how features are implemented in different apps, but there haven't been many truly new app features over the past few years. One exception is Garmin's Emergency Mode. It's simple, but thoughtfully designed and very useful. Here's how to use it.