ForeFlight adds new weather radar layer
iPad Pilot News

ForeFlight’s interactive map is the first place most pilots go when planning a flight to view a composite display of aviation charts, terrain, airspace, weather and much more. One of the most useful overlays here is the weather radar layer, which provides a big-picture view of your planned route in relation to current precipitation returns.

The latest app update includes a new and improved radar layer, in addition to a few other new features in the app. Here’s a quick summary of what’s new based on subscription type, with full details included below:

Basic – New “Beta” radar layer, map annotations eraser, logbook filtering, hide airspace activated by NOTAM

Pro Plus – Interactive flight profile line in the Profile view

Performance Plus with Runway Analysis – Missed approach climb requirements, added support for Citation C700 Longitude and Dassault Falcon 2000

New “Beta” Radar Layer

ForeFlight transitioned to a new weather radar provider late last year, which affected how the precipitation returns were rendered in the app. As many pilots noticed after the update, the radar graphics looked pixelated, and there were often reliability issues with the refresh rate.

The ForeFlight team has been hard at work developing a new radar layer, and it’s now available in the latest version of the app as the Radar (beta) layer. The first thing you’ll notice compared to the original radar depiction is smoother, less pixelated imagery that updates much faster:

ForeFlight decided to keep the original radar layer around, for now, to allow pilots to compare it with the new layer during the transition. While the new layer is named “beta” to differentiate it from the original radar layer, the source data is the same as the original radar layer.

Logbook filtering

You’ll find a new filter button at the top of the Logbook screen, which lets you quickly filter your flights by date range, aircraft type, airport, instrument or night conditions, flight role and much more.

Map annotations eraser

When enabled, the map annotations tool allows you to mark up the main map using an interactive drawing tool. To allow for more control, ForeFlight added a dedicated eraser tool in the top menu, which allows you to erase specific annotations without clearing them all out at once.

Airspace activated by NOTAM

Certain types of special-use airspace, like many Military Operations Areas (MOA), are active based on a set schedule (e.g., M-F 13:30 – 16:30). Other MOAs are only activated by NOTAM, as shown in the details here for the Drifter MOA:

To help declutter the airspace view for certain flight planning scenarios, ForeFlight added a new setting in the Airspace section of the Aeronautical Map settings called “Activation by NOTAM.” When this setting is disabled, airspace that is only activated by NOTAM will be hidden. You can see here that the same Drifter MOA is no longer shown on the map when this setting is turned off:

If you do decide to disable the display of Airspace activated by NOTAM, we recommend always checking the separate NOTAM layer on the map to view the status of this type of special-use airspace before each flight:

Interactive flight profile line

Pro Plus subscribers can now interact with the profile view by tapping and dragging in this space to locate hazards and easily visualize the profile corridor along your route. Drag your finger left and right to move the line to view the height above terrain and hazards, as well as highlight hazards, obstacles, and airspace on the map.

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Weather planning with Garmin Pilot: widgets and flight profile
iPad Pilot News

One of Garmin Pilot’s standout features is its split-screen mode. Accessed from the Map page, this offers numerous options for displaying important flight information while keeping the main moving map page in view. While many pilots know how to use split-screen for viewing approach charts or traffic, there are also some valuable tools for weather planning, both before takeoff and during cruise. Here’s how to use the Widgets and Flight Profile features.

Widgets

Widgets have been part of the Garmin Pilot app since the earliest days of the app, and is a feature not found on any other aviation app. Widgets are essentially data blocks that can be configured to show airport information, including METARs, TAFs, winds aloft, and NOTAMs. To display them, first tap on the arrow on the right side of the screen to open up split-screen mode, then tap the icon above the arrow to choose Widgets.

Two widgets are shown by default (on most iPad screens) when in landscape mode; in portrait mode you’ll usually see three. To change what the widgets show, tap on the arrow next to METAR or TAF to open the menu of widget types. This allows you to display whatever information is most valuable for you.

The powerful part is that the app allows you to quickly scroll through numerous widgets with a slider bar at the bottom of the screen. So if you want to see how visibility is dropping along your route, slowly drag the slider to the right and watch the METAR move along your route. You’ll see a pin on the map at left showing where the widget is located, and it will move as you continue to slide along your route. Also note the bottom of the widget shows the source (in this case SiriusXM), the timestamp (18 minutes ago), and how far off course the report is (0.8 miles northwest of your route).

Widgets make it easy to review a lot of information in a short amount of time, and are just as valuable in-flight as they are when planning. For example, if you’re considering changing altitude due to winds aloft, you can scroll through a number of winds aloft forecasts to see how your new plan might work further along your route.

Flight Profile

Another valuable tool that’s exclusive to Garmin Pilot is the Profile view, also accessible from the split-screen menu. This brings up a side view of your flight, complete with terrain and weather. You can choose which overlays you prefer by tapping the stacked layers button in the bottom left corner of the Flight Profile screen. In our experience, it’s particularly good for wind and icing.

You can also tap on a METAR to see the full report, which is great for putting weather information in context. If there’s a forecast icing layer, you can quickly find out if the airport underneath is above freezing or not.

PIREPs are another helpful layer in the Flight Profile view. The 3D nature of the tool is helpful for deciding what might impact your flight and what can be ignored, since PIREPs are shown at their altitude and it’s easy to see how close it is to your current cruising altitude.

Bonus features

It’s worth mentioning that widgets aren’t just for airport data. You can also set them to show navigation data like groundspeed, ETA, and distance to destination.

You can even set a widget to display logbook entries and then view the track on the left side of the screen; simply tap on a track to see the green flight path on the map. This is a great way to quickly review recent flights.

The post Weather planning with Garmin Pilot: widgets and flight profile first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post Weather planning with Garmin Pilot: widgets and flight profile appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Pilot’s Guide to iOS 17 and iPadOS 17
iPad Pilot News

Last week, Apple held its annual September media event and debuted the new iPhone 15, Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. The feature that attracted the most attention was the change from Apple’s proprietary Lightning port to the standard USB-C type on iPhone 15, a welcome change for anyone who carries a bag full of chargers when traveling.

Beyond the USB-C update, most of the hardware and software updates were relatively minor, mostly design or performance improvements to existing features. The iPhone 15 won’t start shipping until later this week, but pilots can now download and install the free iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 update on existing iPhones and iPads starting today.

With that in mind, here’s a look at iOS and iPadOS 17, including an overview of device compatibility, update considerations, and how to use a few of the new features.

Should I update to iOS 17?

Pilots should always be cautious about updating to a brand new version of iOS right when it is released, due to the importance of aviation apps to our flying. While Apple and app developers test the software extensively months in advance, all new operating systems have undiscovered bugs that may cause unexpected device or app issues.

So it’s important to check for guidance from your aviation app developer and GPS/ADS-B receiver manufacturer to see what they say. To help with this task we offer the iOS Green Light Program, which serves as your one-stop shop to determine if your favorite EFB app or accessory is compatible with the latest iOS release from Apple. We keep in touch with all the major app and accessory manufacturers to get their recommendations on whether or not to update, based on their extensive testing with each iOS release. The iOS Green Light page is updated regularly, so check back often to see when you’re ok to update.

Compatible devices

iOS 17 is compatible with the following devices:

• iPhone 15 (all), iPhone 14 (all), iPhone 13 (all), iPhone 12 (all), iPhone 11 (all), iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone SE (2nd gen or later)

iPadOS 17 is compatible with the following devices:

• iPad Pro (2nd gen or later), iPad Air (3rd gen or later), iPad (6th gen or later), iPad Mini (5th gen or later)

How to update

When you decide you’re ready to update, the first thing to do is back up your device to iCloud or a computer by following these instructions. Next, make sure your device’s battery is charged and you are connected to the internet via Wi-Fi, and go to Settings > General > Software update, and tap the Download and Install button.

You’ll find that this update installs pretty quickly, thanks in part to the smaller file size of the download. This is good news, too, for those that don’t have much free space on their iPhone, eliminating the need to temporarily delete apps or aviation chart databases to make room for the update.

What’s new in iOS 17 for iPhone

Apple split the iPad and iPhone operating systems several years ago when it began developing features specifically for the iPhone’s smaller screen, and more powerful productivity features designed for the iPad’s larger screen. This split is most evident this time of year when the major OS updates are released. With that in mind, let’s first look at some of the new features available exclusively for iPhone.

Full-screen StandBy mode

The new StandBy mode turns your iPhone into a smart display when mounted horizontally and connected to a charging source, like a MagSafe or Qi wireless charging stand. It provides large, at-a-glance info, that can be customized using app widgets. Here’s an example from the latest Flighty app update, showing a large clock and airline flight status.

Roadside Assistance via Satellite

For iPhone 14 and 15 users, Apple had a new Roadside Assistance service when out of cellular coverage. This allows you use the AAA Roadside Assistance service using the built-in satellite connectivity to request help. Simply start a new message to the recipient, “Roadside” and follow the onscreen prompts.

Find your AppleTV remote with iPhone

The AppleTV set-top box provides convenient access to streaming smart TV content and apps for display on the big screen at home. It includes a high-tech remote with voice search capabilities, but as many have learned the hard way, it can easily be misplaced thanks to its thin design. Fortunately Apple offers a new solution, enabling the “Find-My” experience for this remote. After updating your AppleTV to tvOS 17, you’ll see a new “Find” button in the Remote app on your iPhone, which will help you pinpoint the lost remote (requires 2021 or newer AppleTV 4K model and 2nd-gen Siri remote or newer).

What’s new in iPadOS 17 for iPad

Apple introduced several new features just for iPad in this release, while also bringing the customizable lock screen to the iPad, based on the same feature designed just for iPhone last year in iOS 16.

Customizable lock screen

The first thing you’ll notice after updating is the ability to customize the lock screen on iPad with new motion wallpapers, custom fonts/colors and interactive widgets. Just like with iPhone, you can create a variety of custom screens and quick switch between them. Learn more about how to set these up here.

Live Activities

We’ve been using Live Activities for the past year on iPhone and it’s a great feature for viewing real-time updates from apps on the lock screen of your device. This feature is now available for iPad, allowing you to stay up with sports scores, flight status, delivery status and more right from the lock screen. Here’s an example from the Sports Alerts app:

Health App

There’s a new dedicated Health app available for iPad, that displays all of you key metrics on a large dashboard:

What else is new for both iPhone and iPad

Here are a few additional features we found interesting, available in the latest release for both iPhone and iPad.

Interactive Widgets

Apple has been continuously updating the utility of home screen widgets over the past few years, and the latest update adds a new type: interactive widgets. Previously, widgets displayed current data (like weather radar, current temperature, flight status, etc), and clicking on the widget launched the respective app. The new interactive widgets allow app developers to create controls within the widget to accomplish a task right from the home screen, like control music, add a note or log a workout stat at the gym. Here’s an example from the Things app:

Apple Maps – Offline Mode

The Apple Maps app was updated to allow you to download map data for offline viewing when off the grid. To save a map area, first use the search field in the upper left and enter a city name or point of interest, press the new Download button, and then select the region on the map to download:

Multiple Timers

Apple finally added the ability to start multiple timers, which is equally useful for simple tasks like cooking, or managing fuel and flight time in the airplane. And thanks to the addition of live activities, you’ll see a live countdown of all active timers on the lock screen:

These are just a few of the hundreds of new features included with iOS and iPadOS 17. For a full rundown of all the features, including minor updates to Apple apps like Safari, Messages, Notes and more, check out Apple’s guides:

Apple’s Guide to iOS 17 for iPhone

Apple’s Guide to iPadOS 17 for iPad

The post Pilot’s Guide to iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post Pilot’s Guide to iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

iOS Update Green Light program: iOS and iPadOS 17
iPad Pilot News

Apple released iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 for iPhone and iPad today, representing the largest annual software update for your mobile devices. The most notable update for iPad users is the introduction of Lock Screen customization features, similar to what was released for iPhone last year in iOS 16. This update also allows app developers to create interactive widgets designed for the home screen (read the full list of updates from Apple below).

As with any software update, we recommend waiting until your app or accessory developer has time to test it out and verify there are no compatibility issues.

iOS 17 brings big updates to Phone, Messages, and FaceTime that give you new ways to express yourself as you communicate. StandBy delivers a new full-screen experience with glanceable information designed to view from a distance when you turn iPhone on its side while charging. AirDrop makes it easier to share and connect with those around you and adds NameDrop for contact sharing. Enhancements to the keyboard make entering text faster and easier than ever before. iOS 17 also includes updates to Widgets, Safari, Music, AirPlay, and more.

Phone
– Contact Posters let you customize how you appear on other people’s devices when you call them with a customized poster
– Live Voicemail displays a live transcription as someone leaves a message and allows you to pick up the call

Messages
– Stickers iMessage app brings all your stickers into one place including Live Stickers, Memoji, Animoji, emoji stickers, and your third party sticker packs
– Live Stickers can be created by lifting the subject from photos or videos and stylizing them with effects like Shiny, Puffy, Comic, and Outline
– Check In automatically notifies a family member or friend when you arrive at a destination safely and can share helpful information with them in case of a delay
– Audio message transcription is available for audio messages you receive so you can read them in the moment and listen later
– Search improvements help you find messages faster by allowing you to combine search filters such as people, keywords, and content types like photos or links to find exactly what you are looking for
– Swipe to reply to a message inline by swiping to the right on any bubble
– One-time verification code cleanup automatically deletes verification codes from the Messages app after using them with AutoFill in other apps

FaceTime
– Leave a video or audio message to capture exactly what you want to say when someone does not pick up your FaceTime call
– Enjoy FaceTime calls on Apple TV by using your iPhone as a camera (Apple TV 4K 2nd generation and later)
– Reactions layer 3D effects like hearts, balloons, confetti, and more around you in video calls and can be triggered with gestures
– Video effects allow you to adjust the intensity of Studio Lighting and Portrait mode

StandBy
– Full-screen experience with glanceable information like clocks, photos, and widgets designed to view from a distance when iPhone is on its side and charging in places such as your nightstand, kitchen counter, or desk
– Clocks are available in a variety of styles including Digital, Analog, Solar, Float, and World Clock, with elements you can personalize like the accent color
– Photos automatically shuffle through your best shots or showcase a specific album you choose
– Widgets give you access to information at a distance and appear in Smart Stacks that deliver the right information at the right time
– Night Mode lets clocks, photos, and widgets take on a red tone in low light
– Preferred view per MagSafe charger remembers your preference for each place you charge with MagSafe, whether that’s a clock, photos, or widgets

Widgets
– Interactive widgets let you take actions, like mark a reminder as complete, directly from the widget by tapping it on the Home Screen, Lock Screen, or in StandBy
– iPhone widgets on Mac enable you to add widgets from your iPhone to your Mac desktop

AirDrop
– NameDrop lets you exchange contact information with someone new by bringing your iPhones close together
– New way to initiate AirDrop allows you to share content or start a SharePlay session over AirDrop by bringing your iPhones close together

Keyboard
– Improved autocorrect accuracy makes typing even easier by leveraging a powerful transformer-based language model (iPhone 12 and later)
– Easier autocorrect editing temporarily underlines corrected words and lets you revert back to what you originally typed with just a tap
– Enhanced sentence corrections can correct more types of grammatical mistakes when you finish sentences (iPhone 12 and later)
– Inline predictive text shows single and multi-word predictions as you type that can be added by tapping space bar (iPhone 12 and later)

Safari and Passwords
– Profiles keep your browsing separate for topics like work and personal, separating your history, cookies, extensions, Tab Groups, and favorites
– Private Browsing enhancements include locking your private browsing windows when you’re not using them, blocking known trackers from loading, and removing identifying tracking from URLs
– Password and passkey sharing lets you create a group of passwords to share with trusted contacts that stays up to date as members of the group make changes
– One-time verification code AutoFill from Mail autofill in Safari so you can log in without leaving the browser

Music
– SharePlay makes it easy for everyone to control and play Apple Music in the car
– Crossfade smoothly transitions between songs by fading out the currently playing song while fading in the next so the music never stops

AirPlay
– Intelligent AirPlay device list makes finding the right AirPlay-compatible TV or speaker even easier by showing your devices in order of relevance, based on your preferences
– Suggested AirPlay device connections are proactively shown to you as a notification to make it even more seamless to connect to your preferred AirPlay devices
– Automatic AirPlay device connections are made between your iPhone and the most relevant AirPlay-compatible device so all you have to do is tap “Play” to begin enjoying your content

AirPods
– Adaptive Audio delivers a new listening mode that dynamically blends Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency to tailor the noise control experience based on the conditions of your environment (AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with firmware version 6A300 or later)
– Personalized Volume adjusts the volume of your media in response to your environment and listening preferences over time (AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with firmware version 6A300 or later)
– Conversation Awareness lowers your media volume and enhances the voices of the people in front of the user, all while reducing background noise (AirPods Pro (2nd generation) with firmware version 6A300 or later)
– Press to mute and unmute your microphone by pressing the AirPods stem or the Digital Crown on AirPods Max when on a call (AirPods (3rd generation), AirPods Pro (1st and 2nd generation), or AirPods Max with firmware version 6A300 or later)

Maps
– Offline Maps allow you to select an area you want to access, search, and explore rich information for places to download for use when your iPhone doesn’t have a Wi-Fi or cellular signal
– EV routing improvements give you routes based on real-time EV charger availability for supported chargers

Siri
– Option to say “Siri” in addition to “Hey Siri” for an even more natural way to make requests
– Back-to-back requests can be issued without needing to reactivate Siri in between commands (iPhone 11 and later)

Visual Look Up
– Expanded domains in Visual Look Up help you discover similar recipes from photos of food, Maps information from photos of storefronts, and the meaning of signs and symbols on things like laundry tags
– Multiple or single subjects can be lifted from the background of photos and videos and placed into apps like Messages
– Visual Look Up in Video helps you learn about objects that appear in paused video frames
– Visual Look Up for subjects in photos enables you to look up information about objects you lift from photos directly from the callout bar

Health
– State of Mind reflection allows you to log your momentary emotion and daily mood, choose what factors are having the biggest impact on you, and describe your feelings
– Interactive charts give you insights into your state of mind, how it has changed over time, and what factors may have influence such as exercise, sleep, and mindful minutes
– Mental health assessments help you understand your current risk for depression and anxiety and if you might benefit from getting support
– Screen Distance leverages the TrueDepth camera that powers Face ID to encourage you to increase the distance you view your device to reduce digital eye strain and can help reduce the risk of myopia in children

Privacy
– Sensitive Content Warnings can be enabled to prevent users from unexpectedly being shown images containing nudity in Messages, AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, and FaceTime messages
– Expanded Communication Safety protections for children now detect videos containing nudity in addition to photos that children may receive or attempt to send in Messages, AirDrop, Contact Posters in the Phone app, FaceTime messages, and the system Photo picker
– Improved sharing permissions give you even more control over what you share with apps, with an embedded photo picker and an add-only Calendar permission
– Link tracking protection removes extra information from links shared in Messages, Mail, and Safari Private Browsing that some websites use in their URLs to track you across other websites, and links still work as expected

Accessibility
– Assistive Access distills apps and experiences to their essential features in Phone and FaceTime, Messages, Camera, Photos, and Music, including large text, visual alternatives, and focused choices to lighten cognitive load
– Live Speech lets you type what you want to say and have it be spoken out loud in phone calls, FaceTime calls, and for in-person conversations
– Personal Voice enables users who are at risk of losing their voice to privately and securely create a voice that sounds like them on iPhone, and use it with Live Speech in phone and FaceTime calls
– Point and Speak in Magnifier Detection Mode uses iPhone to read text out loud on physical objects with small text labels, such as keypads on doors and buttons on appliances

This release also includes other features and improvements:
– Roadside Assistance via satellite lets you contact AAA to help you with vehicle issues when out of Wi-Fi or cellular range (iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max)
– Pets in the People album in Photos surfaces individual pets in the album just like friends or family members
– Photos Album widget lets you select a specific album from the Photos app to appear in the widget
– Item sharing in Find My allows you to share an AirTag or Find My network accessory with up to five other people
– Activity History in Home displays a recent history of events for door locks, garage doors, security systems, and contact sensors
– Grid Forecast in Home shows when your electrical grid has cleaner energy sources available (Contiguous US only)
– Grocery Lists in Reminders automatically group related items into sections as you add them
– Inline PDFs and document scans in Notes are presented full-width, making them easy to view and mark them up
– New Memoji stickers in Keyboard include Halo, Smirk, and Peekaboo
– App Shortcuts in Spotlight Top Hit offer you app shortcuts to your next action when you search for an app
– Redesigned Sharing tab in Fitness provides highlights of your friends’ activity like workout streaks and awards
– Email or phone number sign-in lets you sign into your iPhone with any email address or phone number listed in your Apple ID account
– New drawing tools in Freeform include a fountain pen, watercolor brush, ruler and more to create expressive boards
– Crash Detection optimizations (iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max)

Unique features for iPadOS 17

iPadOS 17 brings a redesigned Lock Screen with new ways to customize, showcase your photos, and add widgets for information at a glance. Messages includes a new Stickers experience which brings all of your stickers together. The Health app comes to iPad designed for the larger display. Productivity improvements make it easier to work with full-width PDFs and document scans in Notes and Stage Manager adds more flexibility to the positioning of windows and adds external display camera support. iPadOS 17 also includes updates to Safari, Keyboard, Music, AirPlay, and more.

Lock Screen
    •    Redesigned Lock Screen gives you all new ways to personalize your Lock Screen by showcasing favorite photos, customizing font styles, displaying widgets, and more
    •    A multilayered depth effect places the subject of the photo in front of the time
    •    Multiple Lock Screens can be created and you can easily switch between them
    •    Lock Screen gallery offers personalized suggestions as well as Apple curated collections, with new wallpapers like Kaleidoscope, Hello, and Lake
    •    Motion effect for Live Photo wallpaper makes your Lock Screen feel more dynamic with Live Photos which settle into your Home Screen when unlocked
    •    Live Activities make it easier to stay on top of things that are happening in real time, right from the Lock Screen
    •    Notifications appear at the bottom of your Lock Screen and can be displayed in an expanded list view, stacked view, or count view

Widgets
    •    Widgets on the Lock Screen let you glance at information like the weather, time, battery levels, calendar events, alarms and third party widgets
    •    Interactive widgets let you take actions, like mark a reminder as complete, directly from the widget by tapping it on the Home Screen or Lock Screen
    •    Undo on Home Screen lets you undo where you placed a widget by shaking iPad or using a three-finger tap

Notes
    •    Inline PDFs and document scans are presented full-width in your note, making it easy to view and mark-up a document you’re reviewing
    •    Linked notes allow you to create hyperlinks to other notes to connect ideas, content, or any information
    •    Block quote formatting makes it easy to visually offset a section of writing with a quote bar
    •    Monostyled text formatting features monospace text inset with a distinct background
    •    Open in Pages lets you create a Pages document from your note from the share menu

Freeform
    •    Improved drawing with new tools, like fountain pen, ruler and watercolor as well as shape recognition
    •    Follow Along allows you to guide collaborators around your board so that they can see what you see as you move around the canvas
    •    Better diagraming helps you quickly build diagrams and flowcharts by dragging connector handles to connect objects
    •    Share to Freeform lets you add content from other apps to your Freeform boards using the share sheet
    •    PDF markup allows you to annotate directly on PDFs in your board
    •    3D interaction lets you preview 3D objects on your canvas with Quick Look

Stage Manager
    •    More flexible window positioning lets you create your ideal window layout with larger draggable areas for precise selection and positioning of apps
    •    External display cameras can be used for FaceTime and video calls

The post iOS Update Green Light program: iOS and iPadOS 17 first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post iOS Update Green Light program: iOS and iPadOS 17 appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Apple announces new iPhone models with a USB-C port
iPad Pilot News

There are a handful of events you can count on every year: Sun ‘n Fun in the Spring, EAA AirVenture in late July and Apple’s annual iPhone event in September. Today is officially that final day, iPhone day, where Apple shows off the latest iPhones and Apple Watch models. While we tend to focus more on using the iPad as the pilot’s best friend here at iPad Pilot News, the iPhone plays an equally important role as a preflight planning tool and backup EFB in the cockpit.

With what was once again the world’s worst-kept secret, Apple announced new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro models today. But we won’t sugarcoat it: the event was a bit of a snoozer with only modest feature updates in the new models, except for the news that Apple finally switched the charging port from Lightning to USB-C.

What’s new with iPhone 15

Except for new color options and a contoured edge around the screen, the overall size and design of the new iPhone 15 models are very similar to the iPhone 14. The biggest thing you’ll notice on the front is the upgrade from Apple’s infamous “notch” to the dynamic island at the top of the screen.

This hybrid design feature was first introduced on the iPhone 14 Pro last year and intelligently mixes the front cameras and sensors with a live activity display. We’ve been using the dynamic island in the iPhone 14 Pro for the past year, and it’s a great way to keep up with sports scores, airline flight status and much more while simultaneously using other apps.

Through a partnership with the AAA (American Automobile Association), Apple also expanded the utility of the SOS satellite connectivity feature introduced last year. In addition to emergency search and rescue requests when off the grid, you can now request roadside assistance via satellite when an internet connection isn’t available.

What else is new on iPhone 15:

• A16 processor
• Super Retina XDR OLED can go up to twice as bright as iPhone 14 when outdoors
• A new 48-megapixel camera allows for higher-resolution photos
• The next-generation camera portrait mode allows you to blur the background behind people and pets after you take a photo
• Improved ultra wideband chip enables a more precise “Find My Friend” feature
• Voice isolation feature to make it easier for others to hear you on phone calls in noisy environments
• USB-C connector replaces the Lightning port (finally we’ll have one less charging cable to travel with!)
• There are two models: the iPhone 15 (starts at $799 for 128GB) and iPhone 15 Plus (starts at $899 for 128GB), both of which can be pre-ordered starting Friday

What’s new with iPhone 15 Pro

The iPhone Pro models traditionally feature a higher-performance processor and upgraded camera technology. The same is true this year, as Apple’s primary focus during the event was on advanced mobile gaming capabilities and professional photography and videos (we think this model also makes phone calls, but we haven’t confirmed that yet).

The Pro model incorporates a new dual-function “action” button above the physical volume control on the left side, which replaces the ring/silent switch. Hold the button to switch between ring/silent, or press it once to activate a user-specified feature, like launching the camera app, turning on the flashlight, or running a custom-programmed action from the Shortcuts app.

Unique to the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max is a new 5x telephoto lens, equivalent to a physical 120mm lens on a traditional camera. Apple developed a new internal set of lenses inside the iPhone’s body to pull this off, eliminating the need for a bulky lens protruding from the device.

What else is new on iPhone 15 Pro:

• A17 processor
• New strong and lightweight titanium design which is 9% lighter than iPhone 14 Pro
• The USB-C port supports USB 3 with up to 10Gbps transfer speeds (2ox faster than USB 2)
• The camera system can capture spatial (3D) video to allow for 3D viewing on Apple’s Vision Pro headset
• There are two models: the iPhone 15 Pro (starts at $999 for 128GB) and iPhone 15 Pro Max (starts at $1199 for 256GB), both of which can be pre-ordered starting Friday.

What’s new with Apple Watch

Apple also announced two new watches today, the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Like the iPhone, these include a modest set of updates focused on faster processors and brighter screens. Apple added one new feature on both models, a Double Tap Gesture, which can automatically detect when you tap your index finger and thumb together twice quickly and perform a pre-programmed action.

Double tap controls the primary button in an app so it can be used to stop a timer, play and pause music, or snooze an alarm. The gesture can be used to answer and end a phone call, and even to take a photo with the Camera Remote on Apple Watch. Double tap will also open the Smart Stack from the watch face, and another double tap will scroll through widgets in the stack.

We hope that aviation app developers will take advantage of this capability, which could allow a pilot to start a timer or find the nearest airport with one-hand operation.

The post Apple announces new iPhone models with a USB-C port first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post Apple announces new iPhone models with a USB-C port appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Overlooked tools for learning about an airport in ForeFlight
iPad Pilot News

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. (It should go without saying that this preparation should take place before you buckle into the left seat.) 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.

The Airports tab in ForeFlight is packed with information about runways, weather, and NOTAMs. These are all important—but don’t overlook the Procedure section. Many VFR pilots assume this is only for instrument approaches, but it’s actually the place to find helpful resources for pilots of any type. Especially at busier airports, this is essential reading. Go to Airports -> Procedure -> Airport.

You’ll find familiar options like the airport diagram here, but keep digging and you might find some new options. The Hot Spot option shows areas where runway incursions are common, and should get extra attention both before the flight and while taxiing. These are not available for all airports, but if a hot spot diagram is available then it was created for a reason—HS2 in the picture below is a notoriously tricky turn for anyone who has ever flown into PDK. Note that ForeFlight displays both a diagram (with orange areas) and a textual description. If you want to go a step further, you can circle or annotate your regular airport diagram based on these warnings.

If runways or taxiways are closed for construction, especially if it’s for an extended period of time, you’ll find a Construction Notice as well. This is like a long term NOTAM, and shows which areas are closed and an expected start/finish date. At some large airline airports there can be dozens of small taxiways closed, and reviewing this chart is much easier than scrolling through hundreds of lines of NOTAMs.

Arrival Alerts are a relatively new resource developed by the FAA: “To address wrong surface events where an aircraft lines up to, lands on, or departs from the incorrect runway, taxiway, or airport, the FAA is releasing Arrival Alert Notices at several airports with a history of misalignment risk.” Like a Hot Spot chart, if one of these exists you should pay attention—pilots like you have made this mistake.

For a more interactive view of the airport, ForeFlight offers a powerful 3D View at the top right corner of the Airports page. This feature, which requires a Performance Plus subscription, allows you to preview your approach to any runway, complete with satellite pictures of the area. You can pan around, zoom in, and even see current traffic conditions in the area.

Finally, don’t forget the value of other pilots’ opinions. ForeFlight is loaded with this information, so much so that pilots are often confused about the options. There are actually three places to read about an airport: Remarks, Comments, and FBO Comments. The first two are accessed by tapping the Comments button at the top right corner of the Airports page. Remarks are FAA notes about the airport, including noise abatement procedures, weight restrictions, and operating hours. Comments are submitted by pilots, and offer invaluable tips about clearance delivery frequencies and nearby restaurants. FBO Comments are accessed by tapping the FBOs button at the top right, then the Comments menu option. These are FBO-specific PIREPs, so often relate to service quality, parking fees, and crew cars. All three of these options provide helpful information for planning where to go on the airport and what to do after you shut down.

Do you have a favorite resource for evaluating airports? Add a comment below to share your tip.

The post Overlooked tools for learning about an airport in ForeFlight first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

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iOS Update Green Light program: iOS and iPadOS 16.6.1
iPad Pilot News

Apple recently released another incremental update, iOS 16.6 for iPhone and iPad, which delivers several bug fixes and security updates. As with any software update, we recommend waiting until your app or accessory developer has time to test it out and verify there are no compatibility issues.

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Video: Flying an instrument approach with Foreflight synthetic vision on iPad – connected to Sentry Plus
iPad Pilot News

Ride along as we fly a Citation jet on an instrument approach into Raleigh County Memorial Airport in Beckley, WV (BKW). ForeFlight synthetic vision takes situational awareness to the next level – especially when connected to a Sentry Plus ADS-B receiver. This portable device provides real-time pitch and bank information and now it even uses baro-corrected altitude for the ultimate backup display. 

The post Video: Flying an instrument approach with Foreflight synthetic vision on iPad – connected to Sentry Plus first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post Video: Flying an instrument approach with Foreflight synthetic vision on iPad – connected to Sentry Plus appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Six aviation apps worth checking out
iPad Pilot News

Most pilots with an iPhone or iPad are probably familiar with some of the most popular do-it-all navigation apps for the cockpit, like ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot. These are great, but we’ve found the App Store has a plethora of niche apps that might do well do supplement and automate tasks for pilots. Here’s a list of six apps we find useful in no particular order.

SkyTimer

An easy-to-use app that makes logging trips and tracking fuel burn as easy as tapping a button. The app will track total time, time out, time off, and time on each fuel tank. Using the fuel burn you entered when creating an aircraft profile, SkyTimer offers updated endurance estimates, fuel load in each tank, and total fuel burn. Additionally, SkyTimer has a full-featured Apple Watch app that works with or without your iPhone nearby.  SkyTimer is free to download and start tracking block and flight times (iPhone and Apple Watch).

Fly Virga

One company is attempting to improve the process of submitting PIREPS by allowing you to submit right from your iPhone. Fly Virga, a free app which connects directly to Flight Service does exactly that, with a clean, easy to use interface. The first screen you’ll see is an interactive map with color-coded symbols representing current PIREPs. Tap one to read the details. Adding a PIREP is easy too. Tap the “New Report” button at the bottom of the screen and follow the graphical prompts to input your observed data. You can also attach pictures with your PIREP which can viewed by other Virga app users.

AOG Alerts

This is a simple app, but it’s a brilliant concept; an app that would connect stranded pilots with nearby owners, mechanics, and pilots who might be interested in helping. Simply create a profile in the app and you’ll have the option to either ask for help or receive notifications when other pilots need help. Best of all, there is no fee to participate. AOG Alerts is free to download, and is available for both iOS devices and Android devices.

ATIS App

This free app pulls the Digital ATIS (D-ATIS) messages for over 75 airports across the U.S. and displays them in the app. You can set favorite airports for quick access, and set one default airport to automatically load when the app is launched. While you can find D-ATIS info from other sources and apps, this one is the quickest to access and doesn’t require a user account. While you can find D-ATIS info from other sources and apps, this one is the quickest to access and doesn’t require a user account. Download the free ATIS app here.

Civil Twilight

Civil Twilight is a simple but robust guide to sun and moon data for pilots and aviation enthusiasts. Easily determine where and when rises and sets will occur during flights and estimate the flight duration between the end of evening civil twilight and the beginning of morning civil twilight. Quickly compute daily solar and lunar almanac data, including moon phases and eclipses, for over 72,000 airports. Civil Twilight is available for iPhone and iPad.

Cloudtopper

What if you could tell in advance whether or not your current altitude was high enough to clear the tops? That’s the purpose of one of our long-time favorite iPhone/iPad apps called Cloud Topper Pilot Sight Level. Using your iPhone or iPad’s internal camera, gyro and accelerometers, the app helps you hold the device level and displays guides on the screen to help you gauge whether or not your current flight path will clear the tops.

What’s your favorite aviation app? Add a comment below.

The post Six aviation apps worth checking out first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

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Quiz: ForeFlight map airspace features
iPad Pilot News

Many pilots prefer to use ForeFlight’s interactive Aeronautical Map layer instead of a VFR Sectional, thanks to its ability to scale up and down based on the current zoom level. This layer is especially useful when flying in and around complex airspace since it allows you to customize what elements are shown on the chart. Take our latest quiz and see if you can know how to get the most out of these advanced settings.

How do you enable visual airspace depictions in the route editor profile view?

Choose airspace from the dropdown on the bottom left of the route editor

Airspace depictions are always visible in the profile view

Toggle on Airspace Depictions in the main app settings view

Correct! Wrong!

How can you change the visual depiction of the airspace vertical altitude boundaries in the aeronautical chart layer?

Tap the airspace and select "Details" in the pop up menu

Select the VFR Sectional chart map layer

Enable Worldwide altitudes in the map settings

Correct! Wrong!

What does it mean when a TFR is depicted as a yellow color on the maps view?

The TFR denotes VIP activity

The TFR has expired

The TFR is scheduled

Correct! Wrong!

What is the name of the feature that will dim airspace depictions on the Maps view that are not relevant to your flight?

Airspace Dimming

Airspace Auto Highlight

Route Highlight

Correct! Wrong!

In the profile view, how can you determine the altitude of the floor of a Class C shelf?

Select details from the pop over menu

Enable the aeronautical layer

Tap the airspace depiction

Correct! Wrong!

How can you enable Class E airspace depictions in the Aeronautical Chart layer?

Enable “all airspace” in the app settings

Select Class E toggle in the airspace map setting

Enable Worldwide Altitude toggle in the airspace map settings

Correct! Wrong!

How can you quickly toggle off all airspace depictions in the Map view when the aeronautical layer is selected.

Tap the airspace declutter button at the bottom left of the map view

Disable all airspace types in the airspace settings menu

Turn on the VFR Sectional chart layer

Correct! Wrong!

What type of airspace is depicted on the aeronautical layer as solid grey rings?

Class E

Special use airspace (SUA)

Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA)

Correct! Wrong!

What type of airspace is depicted on the aeronautical layers as an orange segmented circle?

Alert Area

Military Firing Area

Parachute Jump Area

Correct! Wrong!

Where can you find specific definitions of airspace depictions for the aeronautical chart layer in ForeFlight?

Tap the map layer and choose "details"

Select "More" then "About" to get additional information

Download the Legends from the ForeFlight library in the Documents view

Correct! Wrong!

What is the name of the setting that allows you to view sectional chart legends directly in the maps view?

Auto highlight

Bring chart to front

Bring chart to front with legends

Correct! Wrong!

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The post Quiz: ForeFlight map airspace features first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post Quiz: ForeFlight map airspace features appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Using Davis weather stations as backup weather reports
iPad Pilot News

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. That’s especially true if you’re flying to a remote area or even landing off-airport, where the nearest “official” weather report can easily be 100 miles away. In those scenarios, we’ve come to rely on websites like weathercams.faa.gov (which shows live views of mountain passes) or AnyAWOS (which shows live METARs from participating airports).

Davis weather stations can share data via the WeatherLink app.

Another tool we’ve recently been using is the WeatherLink app from Davis Instruments. This free app provides easy access to thousands of private weather stations all across the United States. While these are not official AWOS/ASOS sensors—there is no ceiling or visibility reported, for example—they are better than nothing and are often available in many areas where no METARs exist.

The company behind the app, Davis Instruments, makes some of the finest personal weather stations we’ve seen and are in use at homes, businesses, farms, wineries, and even private airports. Most models include temperature, dew point, wind speed, wind direction, barometric pressure, and rainfall. Owners of these stations can view all this data on a color screen, or opt to broadcast it publicly, in effect creating a huge network of weather sensors that are accessible for free in the WeatherLink app.

The app can show Davis stations nearby or you can search for a specific location. The map also makes it easy to browse multiple stations—simply tap on one for complete details. The page for each location includes all the weather data available, and is presented in an easy-to-read graphical format. This is helpful for understanding the trend in wind speed, temperature, or barometric pressure.

The WeatherLink app isn’t flawless (it only works in portrait mode on the iPad), but it’s free and it opens up a whole new world of weather data. For helicopter pilots who need a wind check before an off-airport landing, or for backcountry pilots interested in the current temperature at a private grass strip, it’s another tool in the toolbox. Just remember that you’ll need an internet connection to get fresh data.

WeatherLink is free to download, and is available for both iOS and Android devices. The Vantage Vue Weather Station, the latest model from Davis, is available for $695.

The post Using Davis weather stations as backup weather reports first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

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ForeFlight updates fuel price submission process
iPad Pilot News

Pilots have been crowd-sourcing data for decades (PIREPs!), long before the days of Waze police reports and Google Maps traffic updates. ForeFlight also includes crowd-sourced data for pilots, such as FBO fuel prices and FBO/airport comments. The latest update to the app streamlines the process of updating these fuel prices after you visit an FBO in person.

To try this out, go to the FBOs section for an airport and you’ll see newly formatted fuel price buttons next to each fuel type. Tap it to confirm the displayed price or submit a new price:

While you’re there, help out your fellow pilots and leave a general review or comment based on your experience at that FBO or airport. The comments button on the FBO screen is designed for review specific to that FBO, while the Comments button on the main Airports screen is designed for general comments about the airport.

The post ForeFlight updates fuel price submission process first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

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How to scan documents into your favorite aviation app
iPad Pilot News

More and more pilots are going completely paperless in the cockpit, which requires some paper documents to be scanned first. Fortunately, Apple includes some hidden capabilities in the Notes app, including the addition of a powerful scanner utility. This can be used to scan any physical document or receipt and save or share it using the traditional iOS methods. The scanned images can even be sent to apps that support document viewing, like ForeFlight or FltPlan Go. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Notes app (installed by default on all iOS devices—look for the notepad icon)

2. Tap the writing icon in the upper right corner to make a new note

3. Tap either the camera icon and select the Scan Documents option

SHORTCUT: You can also tap and hold on the Notes app icon from the home screen; this will bring up a quick-access menu and one of the options includes Scan Documents. This eliminates the need to open the app and create a new document.

4. The camera will activate, allowing you to take a snapshot of the document. By default, it will be in Auto mode, which automatically scans the document when it senses the document is still on the screen. We’ve found that the manual mode is easier to use since it gives you more time to square up the document before taking the picture. Use the button with three circles to choose color, grayscale or black and white.

5. Make sure the yellow box is lined up with your document, and press the white circle camera button to take the picture.

6. Adjust the edges using the small corner buttons around the document to refine the edges of the scan.

7. Press the Keep Scan button in the bottom right corner. If you’d like to add more pages to the document (to create a multipage PDF for example), scan additional pages using the same steps listed above. When finished, press the Save button in the lower right corner.

8. The scanned document will now be saved in the new note, and you can use the share button in the upper right corner to create a PDF, share it or send it to another app. Select your aviation app’s icon from the top row (ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, FltPlan Go, WingX, FlyQ, etc.) to send it right to the Documents section of the respective app, where it’ll be stored with your other aviation resources.

If you don’t see your app at first in the top row, scroll all the way to the right and tap the More button to view the full list of compatible apps installed on your iPad.

Your iPad will automatically switch to the selected app, where you’ll see the scanned document has been saved for offline reference:

We’ve used the Notes scanner for all kinds of things: checklists, pilot’s operating handbook pages, avionics supplements, non-aviation maps, insurance information, fly-in procedures, and even restaurant menus. Once you get the hang of it, the process is fast and reliable—and the document will be easily accessible in your favorite app so it’s easy to find.

The post How to scan documents into your favorite aviation app first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post How to scan documents into your favorite aviation app appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Understanding pressure altitude and GPS altitude in aviation apps
iPad Pilot News

Nine years ago, ForeFlight introduced synthetic vision and gave pilots a new way to view the world on their iPads. Nowadays, most other aviation apps offer a similar view. In addition to a 3D view of terrain and obstacles this shows glass cockpit-style tapes for speed and altitude, making it an excellent backup tool in case of panel avionics failure. But if you’ve flown with synthetic vision for long, you’ve probably noticed that the speed and altitude don’t match the panel. What’s going on?

The answer is pretty simple—the panel and the iPad are showing different data from different sources—but the details are important. Here’s a somewhat geeky dive into the details.

Airspeed and altitude differences

Consider speed first. The panel in your airplane is showing indicated airspeed (IAS, derived from the pitot tube on the wing), while the iPad is showing groundspeed (derived from the GPS in your ADS-B receiver or iPad). These are significantly different things, since one shows the speed at which your airplane is moving through the air mass and the other shows the speed at which your airplane is moving across the ground. If you’re worried about stall speed or best glide speed, indicated airspeed is the number you care about—this is the speed the wing “feels.” Groundspeed is helpful for estimating your time en route, but it is affected by wind and other factors. It’s helpful as a rough guess in an emergency, but it’s hardly a replacement for IAS.

Altitude seems like it should be easier to compute, but similar problems quickly pop up. Take the example below, where we’re flying at 11,500 feet in a Cirrus and connected to an ADS-B receiver. Even though we are level at 11,500 with the autopilot on, ForeFlight shows 11,910 for altitude—a difference of some 410 feet. Your first clue is just below the altitude tape, where the app tells you it’s using GPS for the altitude source.

One source of error here could be GPS accuracy. A GPS receiver needs at least four satellites for a 3D position fix (one that includes altitude in addition to lat/lon), but even with 10 satellites and WAAS correction signals the vertical error can easily be 10 to 20 meters. That’s over 60 feet, which is enough to make a noticeable error, but not enough to explain the 400 foot difference we see above.

Just like we saw with airspeed, the real issue is that you’re drawing data from two different sources: the panel is showing indicated altitude (that is, pressure altitude from the pitot-static system, corrected for the local altimeter setting), while the iPad is showing geometric altitude (from the ADS-B receiver’s GPS).

Pressure and temperature

Geometric altitude does not correct for non-standard temperature or pressure. Most pilots think about pressure, since we’re constantly adjusting the altimeter setting, but even that isn’t enough to explain the difference. Look at the example below, from a completely different flight where we were at 32,000 feet in a Citation. At 18,000 feet and above all airplanes set the altimeter to 29.92 (standard pressure), so that should be pretty close to the GPS altitude, and yet ForeFlight still shows us 300 feet high.

Confused yet?

The answer (or at least most of the answer—we’ve already geeked out enough) is temperature. This plays a big role, especially in summer. Back to the Cirrus flight we’ve been discussing. On this warm day, the temperature at altitude was -5 degrees C, which was 13 degrees warmer than standard (ISA+13 in the jargon). While the altimeter in the airplane can be adjusted to correct for the local altimeter setting, there is no temperature knob to twist. Thus pressure altitude (what the altimeter is sensing) will almost never match geometric altitude (what the GPS is calculating).

You can see the difference from the ADS-B Out Ownship menu in ForeFlight. When connected to an ADS-B receiver, tap the gear symbol at the top left of the Maps page, then tap your ADS-B receiver (in this case Sentry), then tap Ownship. You’ll see under “Location” the two different altitudes.

The science can get a little confusing, but the takeaway is simple: GPS altitude will almost always differ from your indicated altitude and when the temperature is above standard GPS altitude will display higher than pressure altitude. Use it as a ballpark number, not a precise number to fly.

Pressurization check

The difference between pressure altitude and GPS altitude isn’t all bad. In a pressurized airplane you can use the difference to check the status of your pressurization system. Here’s an example where we were flying in a Pilatus PC-12 at 15,000 feet and using a Sentry Plus ADS-B receiver, which has a built-in pressure sensor. This allows you to set one of the data blocks at the bottom of the Maps page in ForeFlight to show cabin pressure—a direct reading of the pressure altitude where the Sentry Plus is mounted. Compare this to the GPS altitude, which should be higher if the pressurization is working properly. In a climb the GPS altitude should be going up much faster than the cabin altitude, and it’s also a good idea to check the cabin pressure number as you climb through 10,000 feet.

Can you display IAS and IALT?

All hope is not lost. You can display actual airspeed and indicated altitude on your iPad, but only if you have the right equipment.

One option is to use panel avionics. The screenshot below shows the Garmin Pilot synthetic vision screen, while flying at 10,500 feet. The altitude tape shows 10,500 on the dot.

Notice the data label above the altitude tape that says “PRESS ALT.” This is your clue that Garmin Pilot is actually displaying pressure altitude, not GPS altitude. That’s only possible because the app is reading pressure altitude directly from the airplane’s air data computer (this particular airplane has a Garmin G500 TXi glass panel) over a wireless connection to the Flight Stream 510. This essentially pulls actual panel-mount sensor data and sends it to the iPad. So in this case, the app shows a perfect reproduction of the panel instruments—you’ll even see IAS above the speed tape, indicating it is showing indicated airspeed.

ForeFlight has also added this option in a recent app update, but once again only if you have the right equipment on board (in this case, a portable ADS-B receiver with a built-in pressure sensor). The app uses the nearest airport’s altimeter setting from a METAR, via the ADS-B receiver, and applies the baro correction. You’ll see the label “BARO ALT” and the current altimeter setting value displayed under the altitude tape when ForeFlight is using this source.

The end result is that you’ll now see the exact same altitude displayed in ForeFlight as on your instrument panel, provided your airplane’s altimeter is set to the same local altimeter setting. This significantly increases the utility of ForeFlight’s backup instruments and synthetic vision display, making it even more useful for instrument pilots who need to get down on the ground after a primary instrument failure in IFR conditions.

The post Understanding pressure altitude and GPS altitude in aviation apps first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post Understanding pressure altitude and GPS altitude in aviation apps appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Should you buy an iPad with a built-in GPS?
iPad Pilot News

One of the most widely discussed topics among iPad pilots centers around which model is best to use in the airplane to display digital charts and navigation data. The short answer is that every iPad available from Apple today can easily run even the most demanding aviation app. The decision ultimately comes down to personal preference, specifically regarding screen size, performance, internal storage and the option to add cellular data connectivity (check out our 2023 buyer’s guide for a review of the pros/cons of each option).

Many may not realize that the model with cellular data includes a bonus hardware feature in the form of a dedicated internal GPS receiver. This provides an obvious benefit to pilots in the airplane when using aviation apps, providing location and navigation data without the need for an external GPS accessory.

Going back over a decade to the first several generations of iPads, the cellular model’s internal GPS performance was pretty disappointing. It took a long time for it to get an initial satellite fix, position accuracy was subpar, and putting your iPad’s screen to sleep caused a loss of reception.

The Facts – Apple’s iPad GPS Option

Before going further, here are some simple facts about the cellular data option. Every iPad ever made has WiFi and Bluetooth, two wireless technologies for connecting to nearby devices (in the case of Bluetooth) and the internet (in the case of WiFi). The only additional option is to add cellular service, which allows the iPad to connect to the internet anywhere your cell phone works.

This comes at a premium, though, costing an extra $130 to upgrade to the WiFi + Cellular model.  But as previously mentioned, the upgraded cellular model also includes a built-in GPS/GNSS receiver, which operates completely independently from the cellular antennae and does not require a cellular data plan or connection for the GPS to work. For this reason, many pilots purchase an iPad with cellular data, never sign up for service with Verizon or AT&T, solely to take advantage of the built-in GPS for reliable navigation in any aviation app.

Flight testing the internal GPS

While just about every electronic device you can buy today includes a GPS chip, performance, speed and accuracy can vary greatly. For example, the dedicated GPS receiver in a Sentry ADS-B receiver will provide a much better experience when connected to an iOS device, compared to the GPS chip in a smartwatch. Differences result from antenna placement, sensitivity, power requirements, and the quality of the firmware in the device itself.

To test out the performance of the iPad’s internal GPS, we brought an iPad mini 6 along on both an airline flight (as a passenger) and then in the cockpit of a Cessna for a flight across the U.S. For the tests, we disabled Bluetooth and WiFi to help measure battery life and ensure it was disconnected from the ADS-B receiver in the airplane.

The airline test ended up being purely accidental, as we were sitting in the aisle seat of an Airbus A320 and decided on a whim to test out the GPS reception. After disabling WiFi and Bluetooth from the main settings apps, we set the iPad on the tray table, opened up ForeFlight and waited. Much to our surprise, it only took about 30 seconds, and ForeFlight was showing 5-meter accuracy from a spot over 4 feet away from the nearest window!

The next test was a bit more formal and designed to see how the iPad’s GPS performed when used in the cockpit. The trip included two 2-hour legs, between Las Vegas and Cincinnati. Here are some key takeaways.

GPS Reception

We positioned the iPad on our lap in the front seat of the airplane, opened ForeFlight and it displayed our position on the chart in less than a second. ForeFlight showed an accuracy of 4 meters, which is very good (for comparison, a Sentry ADS-B receiver typically provides 1-meter accuracy). We then positioned the iPad on the floor of the airplane to test an obstructed view of the sky; while the accuracy dropped to 22 meters, it worked just fine.

GPS performance worked equally as well in Garmin Pilot. The accuracy displayed in this app was 15 feet, which is about the same as the 4-meter accuracy reported in ForeFlight.

Switching Apps

One of our previous gripes with the GPS found in older iPads is that the GPS often took a while to lock in a good satellite fix and display our position on the chart when either switching between apps or putting the iPad screen to sleep and waking it back up. This is no longer an issue, as ForeFlight showed our location instantly each time the app was opened.

Backup GPS

Many pilots prefer to connect their iPad to a portable ADS-B receiver, like Sentry, to receive weather and traffic updates in the cockpit (these accessories include a GPS receiver as well). If your iPad also has a built-in GPS, ForeFlight will automatically use the more accurate position source for location services, which in most cases will be the GPS from the ADS-B receiver. We ran a test to simulate the ADS-B receiver going offline by turning off the Sentry at altitude and found that the iPad automatically switched to using the internal GPS after about 5 seconds.

Synthetic Vision

While many think the synthetic vision feature in aviation apps require an AHRS (attitude) source to function, this is not entirely true. When relying solely on the iPad’s internal GPS, the synthetic vision will display the same ground features, terrain and digital flight instruments, but will not show pitch or bank information.

Final thoughts

There is a lot to consider when buying an iPad for aviation use and most of the decisions come down to personal preference. At the end of the day, the entry-level iPad for $329 will display aviation charts and data just as well as a decked-out iPad Pro for $2,399. Based on our experience flying with just about every iPad model over the past decade, the most important premium feature to consider is the addition of an ADS-B receiver. This will provide datalink weather and traffic in your aviation app, improve your decision-making, and increase the safety of the flight.

Adding an ADS-B receiver will satisfy the GPS requirement for your aviation apps, but if you have room to spare in your budget, choosing the cellular model with an internal GPS may be the next best upgrade. It provides reliable and fast position data, serves as an instant backup to your primary GPS source and can add more utility to your iPad when away from your airplane.

The post Should you buy an iPad with a built-in GPS? first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post Should you buy an iPad with a built-in GPS? appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Charging your iPad—it’s all about the watts
iPad Pilot News

One of the standout features of the iPad is its long battery life—a fully charged battery should last you about 9-10 hours for everyday tasks like accessing the internet, and 4 to 5 hours when using it in the airplane to navigate. Even though most general aviation flights rarely last that long, it’s always a good idea to charge the iPad the night before your flight and start with a full battery. In fact, running out of battery power is about the only problem we’ve had in over a dozen years of flying with the iPad.

The good news is that charging technology has improved significantly over the past decade and the latest gear allows you to add a 50% charge to your iPad in just 30 minutes (instead of 2 hours). Here we’re going to explain how the latest technology works, including a review of electricity 101, and review the best charging accessories for pilots to use both at home and in the air.

Electricity 101

The fundamentals of electricity and charging can be overwhelming when you start to read both the technical jargon from an engineer’s perspective and the marketing messages from charging manufacturers. With that in mind, let’s start with the basic electrical terms and what they practically mean:

Volts (V): Voltage is a measure of electric potential difference between two points in a circuit. Think of it like the pressure in a water hose. The higher the voltage, the greater the “push” driving the electric charge through a circuit.

Pilot takeaway – In your home in the U.S., the voltage for your wall outlet is 110 volts and all plug-in wall chargers are designed to be compatible with this standard. Most airplane electrical systems, however, range from 14 to 28v. This really only comes into play when using a cigarette lighter plug with a USB charger. The cigarette lighter port in most airplanes will convert the output down to the standard 12v, but some older airplanes may output the full 28v from the electrical system. Know your system and read the fine print on your USB charger to make sure its compatible with the higher voltage.

Amps (A): Amperage, or current, is the flow rate of electric charge. If voltage is the pressure in the hose, then current would be the flow rate of water through it. The more current, the more charge is flowing through the circuit.

Pilot takeaway – In the early days of the iPhone and iPad we primarily cared about the amp rating on a charger. The iPhone included a one amp charger, and the iPad included a 2.1 amp charger, to allow for a faster flow of power to charge the iPad’s larger battery. Today’s advanced chargers deliver power at a much faster rate, and as a result, knowing a charger’s max watt output is more useful than knowing its amp output (most draw no more than 3 amps).

Watts (W): Watts measure power, or the rate of energy transfer. If you want to know how much work is being done or how much energy is being used in a certain amount of time, you’ll use watts. In the water hose analogy, watts would represent how quickly you can fill a bucket. (Watts is also equal to amps times volts.)

Pilot takeaway – All iPhones and iPads sold over the past 3 to 4 years support fast charging and can take advantage of the latest fast charging technology, allowing them to charge at rates between 25 and 30 watts. With this in mind, look for a charger that is rated for a minimum of 30 watts to allow you to charge it as efficiently as possible.

More about fast charging (aka Power Delivery)

Prior to the iPad, most of us lugged around bulky laptops and they used a charger with a large brick attached to one end of the charging cable. These charging cables were inefficient and generated a lot of heat, which is why they had to be separated from the computer. Fast-forward to today and you’ll find a charger rated for the same wattage is just a few inches in size and plugs right into the wall. This is in large part thanks to the use of gallium nitride (GaN) in the chargers, which allows for high wattage throughput without producing excessive heat.

The technical term for this latest generation of chargers is “Power Delivery (PD),” though you’ll also hear it referred to as “fast-charging.” Power Delivery is a specification for handling higher power and allows a range of devices, including iPads, to charge more quickly over a USB connection. It’s a part of the USB-C specifications, which enable more robust and faster charging capabilities. Here’s what it means for your iPad:

1. Faster Charging: Power Delivery can deliver up to 100W of power, though the actual maximum depends on the device and charger specifications. For an iPad, which typically requires less power compared to larger devices like laptops, this can still mean significantly faster charging compared to standard USB charging.
2. Smart Power Management: PD communicates between the device and the charger to negotiate the optimal power level. This ensures that the device gets exactly the power it needs, neither too little (which would be slow) nor too much (which could be harmful).
3. Universal Compatibility: Though the standard was designed to take advantage of USB-C’s capabilities, it also maintains some level of compatibility with older USB standards. This means you might be able to charge different devices with the same charger, though without USB-C you won’t get the full benefits of PD.
4. One Cable Solution: With USB-C and Power Delivery, you can use a single cable to charge your iPad, sync data, and even connect to other peripherals like external displays. It’s a versatile standard that simplifies the need for multiple different cables and connectors.
5. Safe Charging: Power Delivery ensures that the charging process is controlled and monitored, so it adjusts to the optimal charging profile for your particular device. This can help to prolong the lifespan of your battery by avoiding overcharging or other harmful charging practices.

USB Charging Options

Make sure you’re charging your iPad with at least a 10 or 12-watt charger.

One of the few accessories included with the iPad is a USB power adapter, which will charge the device from a wall outlet. It’s worth taking a close look at the adapter and noting the specs to understand what they mean. The power output of these adapters (measured in watts) has steadily increased over the years so it can quickly get confusing.

Here’s a quick rundown of what is included with each iPad model:

• 5 watts (1 amp): almost all iPhones. Note that newer iPhones do not come with a wall charger anymore, just the cord.
• 10 watts (2.1 amps): iPad Air, Air 2, mini 2-4, iPad 2
• 12 watts (2.4 amps): iPad Pro 9.7″, 10.5″, 12.9″ (1st and 2nd gen), iPad Air (3rd gen), iPad mini 5, iPad 5-7
• 18 watts (3 amps): iPad Pro 11″ (1st and 2nd gen), iPad Pro 12.9″ (3rd and 4th gen), iPhone 11 Pro/Pro Max. Note that this power adapter uses a USB-C connector on the plug instead of the older USB-A plug on the lower-watt models.
• 20 watts (3 amps): iPad mini 6, iPad 8-9, iPad Air 4-5, iPad Pro 11″ (3rd gen), iPad Pro 12.9″ (5th gen), iPhone 12-14 Pro Max. Also a USB-C connection.

Understanding your power adapter’s specs is important since most iPhone, Apple Watch, and other replacement USB power adapters are typically rated at 5 watts and 1 amp. The higher 2.1/2.4/3 amp charger allows the large battery in the iPad to charge more quickly than when using the traditional 1 amp adapter (it will take around 4-5 hours to charge a completely drained iPad battery).

A couple of notes here:

• You can still charge an iPad with a 5-watt/1 amp USB power adapter, but it will take longer than 5 hours to fully charge. This is really a last resort.
• A 12/18/20 watt charger is still safe to use with your other USB devices (iPhone, AirPods, etc.) and will not damage them.
• You can even use your laptop’s higher-wattage power adapter (some are rated up to 140W) to charge your devices if needed.

For the ultimate charging experience, we recommend the Flight Gear 3-Port Smart Charger, which offers 65W of output and 3 USB ports (2 USB-C and 1 USB-A). The front of the charger includes a digital display with a wattage readout, allowing you to see exactly how much power your devices are drawing.

You can also use a 12-24V cigarette lighter charger in your airplane to charge your iPad, and this is often the most convenient and affordable option. We carry two of these pretty much every time we fly. Pay close attention before just buying any USB charger though, as you’ll want to make sure it provides at least 2.1 amps for optimum charging. This model offers two USB ports, both rated at 3 amps, and works on both 12V and 24V electrical systems. It also has a built-in screen that displays battery voltage and amp draw—a handy backup. There’s a version with one USB-A port (the standard, larger plug) and one USB-C port (the newer style found on the latest Apple wall chargers), or one with dual USB-A ports.

Charging Cables

Charging cables are the path through which our “providers” (mentioned above) move electricity to our receivers (handheld devices we use on the flight deck). There are plenty of cable designs and features out on the market today. For the sake of simplicity, we’ve created a graphic below that will convey the four most common cables out there.

1. USB-A to Lightning Cable (Red) – Most popular charging cable out there thanks to the iPhone inventing and mass producing the Lightning port. Works with iPhones and small to medium-sized iPads. 12-watt delivery speed.

2. USB-A to USB-C Cable (Green) – First cable option to allow Power Delivery (PD). The USB-C side of this cable creates a handshake between the devices and if the power “providing” device has PD capabilities, this will lead to a fast yet safe charge. USB-C port-equipped handhelds include ADS-B In devices, the PJ2+ backup radio, and the Garmin Aera 760. 66-watt delivery speed.

3. USB-C to Lightning Cable (Blue) – This is the least popular cable of the four options. It’s gained popularity recently with Apple releasing new iPhones with just this cable and not providing the wall plug. USB-C charging ports are growing in popularity so it makes sense for an iPhone (with a Lightning in port) to have the ability to use them. 20-watt delivery speed. 

4. USB-C to USB-C Cable (Purple) – This is the most powerful of the four cables. These are the types of cables used to power laptops or desktop computers, yet they can also be used for our USB-C receiving handhelds. 100 watts delivery speed.

Like the chargers highlighted above, many cables also include screens to show charging status. The Flight Gear smart charging cables are a great example and incorporate a braided design for extra durability.

iPad battery backups

You can also charge the iPad when on the go with a portable backup battery. We like the Flight Gear model, which is designed for pilots and feature both USB-A and USB-C charging ports. The Flight Gear Battery Pack (20,000 mAh) will last for multiple flights and can be recharged with a micro-USB, USB-C, or Lightning plug—so you don’t have to bring a rare cable just to keep it charged.

It’s our electronic Swiss Army knife, and we never travel without it. These are also great for airplanes without an electrical system or a cigarette lighter plug, and they can also be useful outside the cockpit too (campers love them).

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How to use the Sentry Plus advanced features (and unlock a new one)
iPad Pilot News

Portable ADS-B receivers have become essential gear for most pilots flying with an iPad these days, providing ADS-B traffic/weather and GPS navigation. The beauty of these systems is that they’re dead simple to operate: just turn it on, and you’ll see your aircraft position, radar imagery and real-time traffic on your iPad’s moving map when each data source becomes available.

ForeFlight introduced the Sentry Plus model last summer and it’s the most capable ADS-B receiver available on the market, incorporating an OLED status screen, CO detector, AHRS and flight data recorder, on top of the standard ADS-B and GPS features. When you dive deeper, though, you’ll find there are several advanced features to further customize Sentry Plus for your particular setup. On top of that, ForeFlight just added a new feature to Sentry Plus that will automatically shut it down after 30 minutes of inactivity, to help preserve battery life.

We’ll first cover how to update your Sentry Plus firmware to enable the new Auto Shut Off Setting, and then explore the other advanced features in more detail.

How to update Sentry Plus Firmware

ForeFlight makes Sentry firmware updates a breeze. Here’s how to do it:

1. Update to the latest version of ForeFlight from the App Store
2. Connect Sentry Plus to your iPad
3. Go to the Devices section, tap the Sentry Plus icon and the row labeled “Wi-Fi” Firmware, which will show that version 1.0.10 is available in orange text

4. Tap the orange Update text, and ForeFlight will wirelessly update the firmware in just a few minutes. Make sure to keep both the iPad screen active and Sentry Plus powered on during the process.

5. You’ll see a success message when the update is complete and you can resume using the app. You’ll see the current firmware version on the Sentry Plus screen the next time you power it on, which will read “1.0.10” at this point in time.

Sentry Plus Advanced Settings

After updating the firmware, scroll down further on the Sentry status screen and you’ll see multiple settings at the bottom of the list. First, you’ll see the new “Shutdown After Inactivity” setting in the middle of the list, which will default to on. Here’s a quick rundown of what the rest of the settings do.

LED Brightness > Either use the slider control to manually set the brightness of the 4 LEDs on the front of the unit, or select “Auto Brightness” to automatically adjust brightness based on ambient light.

Import Tracklogs > Use this option to manually import individual track logs recorded by Sentry Plus. You’ll see the last 16 track logs saved in Sentry’s internal memory, and press the blue download button to save it to your ForeFlight app.

Automatic Tracklog Import > When this setting is enabled, ForeFlight will automatically transfer tracklogs when your groundspeed drops below 10 knots after landing.

Auto Power > If you leave your Sentry Plus in the airplane and connected to airplane power or a USB port in your airplane, turn this setting ON to have the Sentry automatically turn on when it receives power (e.g. turn on the airplane’s Master Switch), and turn off when the power source is removed with GPS groundspeed less than 10 knots for 45 seconds.

Shutdown After Inactivity > This is the new setting discussed above that will automatically power off Sentry Plus after being disconnected from ForeFlight for 30 minutes (saves you during those times when you toss it in your flight bag without turning it off first…)

Use as GPS > If you’re connected to multiple input sources (e.g. Sentry Plus and Garmin Flight Stream), use this option if you want to disable the Sentry Plus GPS, allowing ForeFlight to use the GPS source from the other input. It’s perfectly fine to leave this on though for all inputs, as ForeFlight will use the GPS source with the best accuracy, but this setting can be useful if troubleshooting is needed.

Use as AHRS > This has the same functionality as the GPS setting above, allowing you to configure exactly which AHRS source ForeFlight uses when connected to multiple data inputs.

Cabin is Pressurized > enable this setting when flying in a pressurized airplane, which will allow you to display a “Cabin Pressure” instrument at the bottom of the Maps screen (and disables the instrument display for Pressure Altitude)

Show ADS-B Towers > This will depict all ADS-B towers Sentry is currently connected to. This can be useful when figuring out the best place to mount Sentry while en route (e.g. the left or right window).

At the very top of the Sentry status screen, you’ll see additional network settings, providing additional flexibility and security controls. First we’ll review the options for “Sentry Plus Network”:

SSID Broadcast > If you’d prefer to hide the Wi-Fi network so that others can’t connect (e.g. professional operation with lots of passengers on board), turn off this setting. Authorized crewmembers can still connect, but they’ll need to manually enter the name of the Wi-Fi network (shown in the setting below).

SSID > Use this setting to change the name of the Wi-Fi network that appears when connecting to Sentry Plus. For example, if your device is used for a specific airplane, you could change it to SentryPlus_N253WP, making it easy to quickly identify your unit on the ground when there are multiple networks nearby.

WPA2 Security Enabled > Use this setting to require a passcode to first connect to SentryPlus.

Wi-Fi Client Network > If your aircraft is equipped with onboard internet over Wi-Fi, this allows you to configure your iPad so that you can connect to both Sentry Plus for all of its features and connect to onboard Wi-Fi for internet.

Are you new to ForeFlight or Sentry? Check out the detailed article on Getting Started with Sentry to help choose the right model and learn how to use all of its features.

The post How to use the Sentry Plus advanced features (and unlock a new one) first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post How to use the Sentry Plus advanced features (and unlock a new one) appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

iOS screen gestures: how to navigate your iPad faster
iPad Pilot News

You can do almost everything on your iPad without touching a button—in fact, all the new models have removed the home button completely. Whether it’s closing an app, switching apps, opening the control center, or searching for something, iOS has multiple gestures that can save time or unlock additional features. Once you get proficient with them, they can really save time in the cockpit.

Apple has added some new gesture options over the years to provide quick access to the Notes and Screenshot features. Here’s a look at all the options, starting with the gestures you’ll need to know when using a newer iPad without a home button.

Gestures to replace the home button

Swipe up (a little) for the dock – From any app, just swipe up from the bottom of the screen about an inch to display the tray of favorite apps. The ones on the left are set by you; the ones on the right are auto-filled by the iPad based on popular or recently used apps. This is a fast way to change apps, and it’s also how you set up a split-screen (see below). 

Swipe up (a lot) to close the current app – This is the home button replacement. Swipe up to about the middle of the screen and you’ll close the current app and display the home screen. If you’re on one of the secondary home screens, doing this will return you to the first page of apps.

Swipe down from the top right corner for Control Center – The Control Center provides quick access to some of the most commonly used settings, including Airplane Mode, WiFi, Bluetooth, and screen brightness. It’s also where you turn on the flashlight feature, so this is a frequently-used menu. Make sure you’re swiping down from the top right corner.

Swipe down from the top for notifications – Did you get an alert and want to review it? Swipe down from the top of the screen to see a list of all your notifications, whether it’s a new email or an expected route from ForeFlight.

Swipe down from the middle of the home screen for search – Most people learn this one by accident, but it can be useful if your iPad has a lot of apps. Swipe from top to bottom on the center of the home screen and you’ll see a search box at the top. You can use this to find an app that’s hidden in another folder, a contact, or even search the internet. Swipe back to the left to return to your home screen.

Swipe up and hold to see the app switcher – Use this instead of pressing the home button twice to access recently-used apps. Swipe up from the bottom until about the middle of the screen and hold it for a second.

Drag an app from the dock to get split-screen – While an app is open, swipe from the bottom of the screen to display the tray with favorite and recent apps. Then, tap and drag an app icon to overlay it on the app that’s already open. This is a great way to use a checklist app or an E6B app without closing your favorite EFB app. Some apps go a step further and allow a full split-screen view, with two apps side by side. To view this, first drag an app icon out of the tray to display a second app and slide it over the far left or right side of the screen. You should see your original app resize and both apps will be active at the same time. You can even go from a 50/50 split to an 80/20 split by then dragging the new window from the left edge.

You can also use the iOS multitasking controller at the top center of the screen to activate split-screen multitasking—learn more about how to do that here.

Swipe right on the home screen to view widgets – When viewing the home screen, swipe from left to right in the middle of the screen to view your widgets.

Multitasking Gestures

Next, here are several gestures that require four or five fingers—Apple calls them Multitasking Gestures. To activate this functionality, go to Settings -> General -> Gestures and enable the toggle for the “Four and Five Finger Swipe” setting.

Pinch to the home screen – Use this instead of pressing the home button to access the home screen from within any app. Place four or five fingers spread out on the screen, and pinch together.

Swipe up from the app switcher to close multiple apps – Once you’ve opened the app switcher, you can close apps that are running in the background by swiping up. This doesn’t delete the app, it simply closes it down completely. However, you can close multiple apps at the same time by swiping up with multiple fingers. This is handy if you want to close a lot of open apps, which is useful if you’re trying to troubleshoot. 

Swipe left or right between apps – This allows quick movement between applications that are currently running. With an app running, place four or five fingers spread out on the screen. Now, move your hand to the left to switch to the last opened app. With the same motion, move your hand back to the right to switch back to the previous app.

Corner Gestures

Apple added new “Corner Gestures” back in iOS 15, but many pilots only stumble across these accidentally. These allow you to customize a few actions when swiping up from the bottom left or right corners of the screen. By default, swiping up from the bottom right corner of the screen launches the Quick Note feature, which can be used to jot down a quick thought or note:

You can disable the Quick Note gesture by going to Settings -> General -> Gestures and setting the Right Corner Swipe action to Off. Additionally, you can also set the left or right corner swipe action to take a Screenshot, which you may find more convenient than simultaneously pressing the power and volume buttons to accomplish this action.

The post iOS screen gestures: how to navigate your iPad faster first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post iOS screen gestures: how to navigate your iPad faster appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Quiz: What do these aviation iPad app acronyms mean?
iPad Pilot News

Aviation has always been full of acronyms and the growth of new FAA services and the iPad means there are now more than ever to learn. Take our latest quiz and see if you know the meaning of these codes found in ForeFlight and other aviation apps.

EFB

Enroute Forecast Briefing

Electronic Flight Bag

Electronic FIS Broadcast

Correct! Wrong!

LAHSO

Land and Hold Short Operations

Lineup and Hold Short Operations

Light and Helicopter Safety Operations

Correct! Wrong!

Advisory Circular 91-78

Flying with ADS-B Datalink Weather

Importance of Transponder Operation and Altitude Reporting

Use of Class 1 or Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB)

Correct! Wrong!

FIR

Flight Intercept Range

Flight Information Region

FAA Identification Radar

Correct! Wrong!

AHRS

Advanced High-level Routing Service

Attitude Heading Reference System

Aligned Height Runway Slope

Correct! Wrong!

ADS-B

Automatic Data Service - Broadcast

Altitude Detection System - Bravo

Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast

Correct! Wrong!

MOS

Model Oceanic Systems

Model Output Statistics

Modern Objective Station

Correct! Wrong!

MEF

Minimum Enroute Flight

Miles Estimated Flown

Maximum Elevation Figure

Correct! Wrong!

RAIM

Receiver Autonomous Integrity Monitoring

Route Altitude Icing Model

Radar Azimuth In Motion

Correct! Wrong!

TIS

Traffic Intelligence Survey

Terminal Information Status

Traffic Information Service

Correct! Wrong!

QPF

Quantitative Precipitation Forecast

Quality Probabilistic Forecast

Query Probablility of Freezing

Correct! Wrong!

PAPI

Path After Pilot Indicator

Probablilty of Advection Precipitation Intensity

Precision Approach Path Indicator

Correct! Wrong!

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ForeFlight releases new aviation app for Apple Watch
iPad Pilot News

Apple released the Apple Watch back in 2015 and early critics weren’t exactly sure why people would want to buy one. Apple initially focused on its fashion appeal and many early adopters wore one as a status symbol. Fast forward eight years later and it has become the most popular smartwatch on the market, offering innovative health, fitness and safety features and an app store offering thousands of bite-sized apps for your wrist.

Aviation app developers quickly joined the party and developed a wide range of apps designed specifically for the Apple Watch back in 2015 (read our full Apple Watch review for pilots and aviation app directory here). As many may recall, ForeFlight offered a full-featured aviation app when the first version of the watch debuted, but decided to discontinue it a few years later for undisclosed reasons.

There’s good news today though, as ForeFlight has released an all-new Apple Watch app that is included with the latest iPhone app update. The app allows you to check local weather and complement your preflight planning with favorite and nearby airport details like runways, NOTAMs, and much more. Here’s a quick look at what it offers, along with a few other features included in the ForeFlight 15.7 update.

ForeFlight for Apple Watch

The design of ForeFlight’s watch app is simple but effective. The first thing you’ll see at the top of the screen is local weather based on your location, including winds, visibility and ceiling. Tap on it to view detailed information presented in an easy-to-read graphical view.

Head back to the home screen and you’ll see a summary of METAR reports from your favorite, recent and nearby airports. Tap one, and you’ll see a graphical summary of the same METAR, along with a menu of four options to dive deeper into the airport details.

First, the frequencies view displays all relevant communication freqs and phone numbers for the airport.

Tap the weather option to view all available reports and forecasts for the airport, including the raw and decoded METAR, TAF, MOS, hourly forecast and winds aloft forecast.

The Runways section shows basic runway details, traffic pattern direction and headwind/crosswind components using the current winds, and the NOTAMs screen shows current and future notices:

The ForeFlight Apple Watch app is packaged with the ForeFlight iPhone app and should automatically install on your paired watch after updating to the latest version of ForeFlight on your iPhone.

You’ll find that the app is easy to use and a great resource for quickly checking the latest weather when on the go or quickly grabbing an airport detail while in the air. There are no in-flight or GPS navigation features at this time, but it’s a must-have for pilots with an Apple Watch and ForeFlight.

What else is new

ForeFlight 15.7 also includes some minor feature updates to the main app for iPhone and iPad:

• Synthetic Vision was upgraded with an improved presentation of 3D obstacles (including unique objects for buildings, towers and windmills) and displays red or white lights on obstacles that have them when flying at night (requires Pro Plus subscription).
• The profile view will now show if there are multiple “strikes” with obstacles or terrain along a planned route (requires Pro Plus subscription).
• New Runway Analysis support for the King Air 350ER, Cessna CJ1+ and Cessna C700

The post ForeFlight releases new aviation app for Apple Watch first appeared on iPad Pilot News.

The post ForeFlight releases new aviation app for Apple Watch appeared first on iPad Pilot News.