iPad Frequently Asked Questions for Pilots
The most common questions about the iPad, from basics like the difference between WiFi and Cellular models to advanced user tips. Add your own questions too.
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1005 search results for: foreflight
The 10 Best Weather Apps for Pilots—2025 Edition
There are thousands of weather apps for the general public, from free to quite expensive. These are great for deciding whether you need a jacket tomorrow, but when it comes to aviation weather—looking at thunderstorms, ice, turbulence, visibility and so much more—these apps just aren’t enough. So we’ll focus on apps that offer more for pilots, both free and paid.
The iPad Pilot’s Annual Checklist: Keep Your EFB Running Smoothly
Similar to having your airplane undergo annual maintenance, we recommend that you review the following items to keep your iPad performing.
Garmin SmartCharts: a pilot’s guide to interactive instrument charts
After nearly a decade of work, avionics giant Garmin has released SmartCharts, a fully interactive version of those familiar approach plates that is accessible in its Garmin Pilot EFB app. This seemingly modest change is actually the result of sophisticated software development, rigorous testing, and exhaustive validation work. In other words, it’s a big deal—a Jeppesen Airway manual moment for the EFB age. Here’s how it works.
What to Do When Your iPad Gets Too Hot (or Too Cold) in the Cockpit
The iPad is a powerful tool in the cockpit, but it’s still a consumer electronic device at heart—sensitive to temperature extremes. As summer flying ramps up, take a few precautions to protect your iPad from overheating.
Electronic flight bag legal briefing for pilots—2025 edition
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. We […]
Pilot’s guide to thunderstorm avoidance with an iPad EFB app
One of the major weather hazards pilots have to deal with this time of year is convective weather and resulting thunderstorms. This article takes a deep dive look at the resources available in ForeFlight to help you plan a flight around these weather hazards.
Does Your EFB Backup Plan Pass the Test?
You’re cruising along at 6,500 feet, glancing down at your iPad to review the weather ahead. Then, suddenly—it goes dark. Maybe it overheated, maybe the battery died, or maybe the app just froze. Whatever the cause, your trusty iPad electronic flight bag (EFB) is now an expensive paperweight. Now what? A good backup plan starts with a simple rule: two of everything.
iPad Storage Full? 8 Ways to Free Up Space Before Your Next Flight
It has happened to almost every pilot: you’re ready to download a new app or update your charts for an upcoming flight, and you get the dreaded “iPad Storage Full” message. Over time, as you download more apps, take more photos, and store more aviation data, your device can run out of space—usually at the worst possible time. Fortunately, it only takes a few minutes to clean things up and free up space before your next flight.
Pilot’s aviation app directory – 2025 Edition
iPad Pilot News has helped pilots discover over 100 quality aviation apps since the invention of the iPad in 2010. Here we’ve assembled a basic directory to help you locate and download them in the App Store. This certainly doesn’t represent every aviation app ever created, but it highlights some of the most useful and most popular ones.
Mastering night flying with your iPad: Tips for dimming, filters, and more
The days of holding a mini-Maglite in your mouth and shining it down on a paper sectional are gone thanks to the iPad’s backlit screen. But just because the iPad solves part of the night lighting equation doesn’t mean you can just hop in the airplane and start using it the same way you do during the day. Here are five things to consider the next time you go flying at night with your iPad.
Heads-up, hands-free: How to use iPad audio alerts for safer flights
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.
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