Video: iPad proficiency check webinar
iPad Pilot News

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

• What to look for when buying or upgrading your iPad
• Fly like a pro pilot with your iPad: developing your own standard operating procedures
• Must-have iPad accessories for the cockpit
• How ForeFlight can improve your preflight planning
• How to take advantage of automated iPad features and use it as a Digital Copilot
• In-flight ADS-B weather on the iPad

The post Video: iPad proficiency check webinar appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

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

More and more pilots are going completely paperless in the cockpit, but that 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 just about any type of 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 the camera icon in the at the top of the keyboard (this button will be in the bottom right corner of the screen if the keyboard is not in view), and select Scan Documents

SHORTCUT: you can tap and hold on the Notes app icon; 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. 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.

You’ll then be taken to the selected app, where you’ll see the scanned document has been saved for future viewing:

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 appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Top 10 aviation apps for student pilots
iPad Pilot News

10. Stratus Insight

Appareo relaunched this app in 2020 with a host of flight planning and weather tools, but the most useful feature for student pilots is the speech-to-text option for radio communications. With an adapter cable to connect your iPad to the intercom, the app will record and translate everything that comes over the radio—ideal for learning how to interpret ATC’s instructions.

Stratus Insight is available free in the App Store; a subscription costs $99.99/year.

The post Top 10 aviation apps for student pilots appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Pilot’s Guide to iOS 16 for iPhone
iPad Pilot News

Apple held its annual September media event last week and debuted the new iPhone 14, Apple Watch Ultra and Air Pods Pro 2. The highlight of the event for many was the introduction of a new emergency satellite communications feature included with the new iPhone models, allowing users to contact first responders in an emergency when off the grid and not connected to a cell network.

The iPhone 14 won’t start shipping until later this week, but pilots can now download and install the free iOS 16 update on existing iPhones starting today. What’s different this year, however, is that Apple released the iOS 16 update for only iPhones today — the iPad OS 16 update for your iPad won’t be available until next month.

With that in mind, here’s a look at iOS 16 for your iPhone, including an overview of device compatibility, update considerations, and how to use a few of the new features.

Should I update to iOS 16?

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 need fixing and 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 have to say on the topic. 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 make sure to check back often to see when you’re safe to update.

Compatible devices

iOS 16 is compatible with the following devices:

• iPhone 14 (all), iPhone 13 (all), iPhone 12 (all), iPhone 11 (all), iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone SE (2nd 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 16

Like iOS 15 from last year, iOS 16 is again a relatively modest update. The most noticeable enhancement is the updated presentation of the lock screen, which includes lots of new customization options. The update also includes hundreds of minor updates through the OS and Apple apps, which you can learn more about here.

New Lock Screen for iPhone

Let’s start with a look at the new lock screen for iPhone, which finally allows you to add custom widgets. These take inspiration from Apple Watch complications, making it easy to get information at a glance, such as upcoming calendar events, the weather, battery levels, alarms, time zones, activity ring progress, and more. And like with the Apple Watch, you can create multiple Lock Screens, each with a unique design and widget configuration.

Home Screen Search

The spotlight search feature in iOS is powerful and helps you quickly locate and launch apps, search the web or perform quick automated actions with just a few taps. In previous versions of iOS, you had to swipe down on the screen to access the Search function, but in iOS 16 Apple placed it on the home screen just below the bottom row of apps.

What’s new in Messages

You can edit or delete recently sent messages, recover recently deleted messages, and mark conversations as unread so they can come back to them later. In addition, SharePlay can now be initiated from the Messages app, making it possible to enjoy synced content like movies or songs and shared playback controls all while chatting in Messages.

Updates to the Mail app

The mail app also received a long-overdue update, which includes an overhauled search feature designed to deliver more relevant, accurate, and complete results, including recent emails, contacts, documents, and links. You can also schedule emails ahead of time and cancel the delivery of a message before it reaches a recipient’s inbox.

Maps adds support for multistop routes

Apple Maps added the ability to create multistop routes when planning a trip. You can add up to 15 stops and use Siri to add new stops to a route when navigating via CarPlay.

My Sports

Apple News introduced a new My Sports section to easily follow favorite teams and leagues; receive stories from hundreds of top publishers; access scores, schedules, and standings for the top professional and college leagues; and watch highlights right in the News app. You can also add a Live Activity widget to the lock screen to show real-time scores for the games you’re following.

Medications tracking

The Health app adds Medications, allowing you to conveniently build and manage a medications list, create schedules and reminders, and track medications, vitamins, or supplements. In the US, you can simply point your iPhone camera at a label to add a medication, read about the medications you’re taking, and receive an alert if there are potential critical interactions for medications.

Live Text and Visual Look Up Enhancements

Live Text uses on-device intelligence to recognize text in images across iOS, and it is now expanding to include video. You can pause a video on any frame and interact with text. Live Text also adds the ability to quickly convert currency, translate text, and more.

The post Pilot’s Guide to iOS 16 for iPhone appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Pilot’s Guide to iOS 16 for iPhone
iPad Pilot News

Apple held its annual September media event last week and debuted the new iPhone 14, Apple Watch Ultra and Air Pods 2. The highlight of the event for many was the introduction of a new emergency satellite communications feature included with the new iPhone models, allowing users to reach first responders in an emergency when off the grid and not connected to a cell network.

The iPhone 14 won’t start shipping until later this week, but pilots can now download and install the free iOS 16 update on existing iPhones starting today. What’s different this year, however, is that Apple released the iOS 16 update for only iPhones today — the iPad OS 16 update for your iPad won’t be available until next month.

With that in mind, here’s a look at iOS 16 for your iPhone, including an overview of device compatibility, update considerations, and how to use a few of the new features.

Should I update to iOS 16?

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 need fixing and 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 have to say on the topic. 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 make sure to check back often to see when you’re safe to update.

Compatible devices

iOS 16 is compatible with the following devices:

• iPhone 14 (all), iPhone 13 (all), iPhone 12 (all), iPhone 11 (all), iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone SE (2nd 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 16

Like iOS 15 from last year, iOS 16 is again a relatively modest update. The most noticeable enhancement is the updated presentation of the lock screen, which includes lots of new customization options. The update also includes hundreds of minor updates through the OS and Apple apps, which you can learn more about here.

New Lock Screen for iPhone

Let’s start with a look at the new lock screen for iPhone, which finally allows you to add custom widgets. These take inspiration from Apple Watch complications, making it easy to get information at a glance, such as upcoming calendar events, the weather, battery levels, alarms, time zones, activity ring progress, and more. And like with the Apple Watch, you can create multiple Lock Screens, each with a unique design and widget configuration.

Home Screen Search

The spotlight search feature in iOS is powerful and helps you quickly locate and launch apps, search the web or perform quick automated actions with just a few taps. In previous versions of iOS, you had to swipe down on the screen to access the Search function, but in iOS 16 Apple placed it on the home screen just below the bottom row of apps.

What’s new in Messages

You can edit or delete recently sent messages, recover recently deleted messages, and mark conversations as unread so they can come back to them later. In addition, SharePlay can now be initiated from the Messages app, making it possible to enjoy synced content like movies or songs and shared playback controls all while chatting in Messages.

Updates to the Mail app

The mail app also received a long-overdue update, which includes an overhauled search feature designed to deliver more relevant, accurate, and complete results, including recent emails, contacts, documents, and links. You can also schedule emails ahead of time and cancel the delivery of a message before it reaches a recipient’s inbox.

Maps adds support for multistop routes

Apple Maps added the ability to create multistop routes when planning a trip. You can add up to 15 stops and use Siri to add new stops to a route when navigating via CarPlay.

My Sports

Apple News introduced a new My Sports section to easily follow favorite teams and leagues; receive stories from hundreds of top publishers; access scores, schedules, and standings for the top professional and college leagues; and watch highlights right in the News app. You can also add a Live Activity widget to the lock screen to show real-time scores for the games you’re following.

Medications tracking

The Health app adds Medications, allowing you to conveniently build and manage a medications list, create schedules and reminders, and track medications, vitamins, or supplements. In the US, you can simply point your iPhone camera at a label to add a medication, read about the medications you’re taking, and receive an alert if there are potential critical interactions for medications.

Live Text and Visual Look Up Enhancements

Live Text uses on-device intelligence to recognize text in images across iOS, and it is now expanding to include video. You can pause a video on any frame and interact with text. Live Text also adds the ability to quickly convert currency, translate text, and more.

The post Pilot’s Guide to iOS 16 for iPhone appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

iOS Update Green Light program: iOS 15.7 and 16
iPad Pilot News

The big news this week is Apple’s release of iOS 16, which adds hundreds of new features to iPhone. What’s unique about this year’s iOS release is that the update is currently only available for iPhone, with iPadOS 16 set for release later next month. To make things more confusing, Apple also released iOS 15.7 and iPad OS 15.7 today, which is a security update. iPhone users will see the option to either update to 15.7 OR 16 in the Software Update section of the Settings app.

As with any iOS release, we recommend holding off on updating until your app or accessory developer has had time to fully test compatibility with the new version.

The post iOS Update Green Light program: iOS 15.7 and 16 appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Stratus 3 ADS-B receiver adds new app and avionics compatibility
iPad Pilot News

Pilots who have been flying with an iPad for more than a few years likely know the Stratus ADS-B receiver well, as it was the first portable ADS-B receiver to hit the market ten years ago. The original Stratus was revolutionary when released in 2012 and opened pilots’ eyes for the first time to the real benefits of the ADS-B system, in the form of subscription-free traffic and weather.

The latest model, Stratus 3, has grown up significantly since then and adds many additional capabilities when compared to the first-generation unit. Most notably, the original Stratus was designed to work exclusively with ForeFlight, but today Stratus 3 works with nearly every aviation iPad EFB app available. And thanks to a recent update from Avidyne, it can even supply ADS-B weather and traffic to some certified panel-mount avionics systems.

Let’s start by taking a look at app compatibility and configuration options.

Stratus 3 app compatibility

One of the big differences with Stratus 3 over previous-generation models is that it added support for additional apps. Stratus has always worked with ForeFlight at a very deep level (Appareo and ForeFlight developed the product together), and that’s still true. Pilots can monitor the status of the Stratus battery, adjust the brightness of the indicator lights on Stratus, and perform firmware updates right in the app. There’s also a handy Stratus Replay feature that allows you to turn off your iPad screen, then receive all the weather data you missed when you turn it back on.

To enable GDL 90, open the Stratus Horizon Pro app and turn on Open ADS-B Mode.

Stratus 3 also supports the GDL 90 protocol, an industry-standard format for sharing weather, traffic, GPS, and attitude with EFB apps and avionics. That means it’ll work with a wide variety of apps, including Fltplan Go, WingX, FlyQ, iFly GPS, and others. The list continues to grow, too, with Garmin Pilot as the latest app to add Stratus 3 support.

Some higher-end features like flight data recording and Stratus Replay are not available over GDL 90, but the essential features like weather and traffic are there.

To use Stratus 3 in GDL 90 mode, first download the Stratus Horizon Pro app from Appareo. It’s a free app that includes backup attitude and settings. There are also some audio recording and playback features, with more coming in this area (stay tuned for a PIREP on this new app). Turn on Stratus, connect it to your iPad, and open the app. From the settings menu, select Open ADS-B Mode. Then you can open your favorite EFB app and use Stratus 3 in flight.

Avidyne adds GDL 90/Stratus 3 support

Avidyne recently released a new software update for their IFD series of panel-mount GPS/NAV/COM systems. The update includes a long list of feature updates and refinements, including support for the display of ADS-B traffic and weather devices from portable devices, like Stratus 3, over the GDL 90 protocol.

Using a portable device like Stratus 3 to provide ADS-B traffic and weather to panel-mount avionics provides a more cost-effective option over a certified/installed receiver and provides the same weather and traffic information. The IFD software update is available free from Avidyne avionics dealers.

The post Stratus 3 ADS-B receiver adds new app and avionics compatibility appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Apple announces new iPhone 14 with satellite connectivity
iPad Pilot News

Apple unveiled their first iPhone model with satellite connectivity at the annual press event in California today. Living up to the hype of the event’s “Far Out” them , the new iPhone 14 includes the ability to connect to satellites in space for SOS emergency communications and location tracking. The new iPhone 14 models also include the typical array of new features like improved cameras, faster processors and improvements to the screen, and even add a new car crash detection feature. In addition to the new iPhone models, Apple also announced new Apple Watch models and Airpods Pro 2.

New iPhone 14 Emergency Features

The highlight of Apple’s event was the introduction of the new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models. Both models include a new emergency SOS via satellite feature, which allows users to send a distress message and precise location to first responders when off the grid and out of reach of a land-based cellular network.

The new iPhone models incorporate a new antenna system designed to work with the Globalstar satellite network and provide a compelling reason for pilots to upgrade to a new iPhone. The main limitation of this feature is that data bandwidth and latency are very low, so it’s designed for emergency use only and you won’t be able to send regular messages or media to your contacts. The one exception here is that you can send your location over the satellite network to other iOS or Mac users using the Find My app without triggering an emergency service request.

The system requires a clear view of the sky and in theory should work from an airplane cockpit with large windows, similar to a Garmin inReach or Spot satellite messaging device. The satellite communication feature will at first only be available to users in the US and Canada and is free to use for the first two years.

All of the new iPhone models also include a new vehicle crash detection feature. This uses a new accelerometer and gyroscope to detect a severe car crash and can automatically dial emergency services if you become unconscious or unable to reach your phone. Here’s the fine print on how this is designed to work from Apple:

Crash Detection is designed for four-wheel passenger vehicle crashes with certain mass, G-force, and speed profiles consistent with severe, life-threatening crashes. It was designed for severe, life-threatening, high-impact front and rear, side-swipe, T-bone, and rollover crashes.

What else is new in the iPhone 14

The design of the iPhone 14 remains very similar to the iPhone 13, and as in previous years, includes a nice set of core feature upgrades:

• Upgraded A15 bionic processor (same as the iPhone 13 Pro from last year)
• Larger 12MP rear camera with a 49% improvement in low light scenes; also includes a second real ultra-wide camera
• An additional hour of battery life (up to 20 hours for video playback, up to 16 hours for streaming video playback, and up to 80 hours for audio playback.
• The addition of a new larger iPhone 14 Plus with a 6.7″ screen size (the regular iPhone 14 maintains the same 6.1″ screen as the iPhone 13)
• Emergency SOS via satellite and car crash detection

The iPhone 14 starts at $799 and the Plus model starts at $899. Pre-orders for the iPhone 14 begin Friday, September 9, with availability for iPhone 14 beginning Friday, September 16, and availability for iPhone 14 Plus beginning Friday, October 7.

What’s new with iPhone 14 Pro

Apple started releasing a “Pro” series of iPhones several years ago starting with the iPhone 11 Pro, which included higher-end features and improved cameras over the “regular” iPhone. This year is no exception, with the iPhone 14 Pro including both exterior design and display improvements compared to the iPhone 14. The first thing you’ll notice is that the “notch” at the top of the screen, which houses the front camera and sensors, has transitioned into a floating oval design. The new design takes up less space, but also allowed Apple to introduce what they’re calling the Dynamic Island.

In something only Apple could pull off, they’ve taken this necessary hardware element on the front and turned it into a feature which can dynamically change size and show app-relevant data in what looks like a mini dashboard. Ongoing background activities like Maps, Music, or a timer remain visible and interactive at the top, and third-party apps in iOS 16 that provide information like sports scores and ride-sharing with Live Activities.

Apple also made significant and meaningful improvements to the main screen, which go far beyond an arbitrary increase in the number of nits of brightness or the ability to display billions of new colors. The display is two times brighter than the iPhone 13 Pro and includes always-on functionality, similar to the Apple Watch. This allows the display to drop down to an energy-efficient 1Hz refresh rate and continuously show the time, widgets and live activities without having to wake it up by tapping or raising the screen first.

The size of the iPhone 14 Pro is very similar to the iPhone 13 Pro and the remaining upgrades are primarily focused on improvements to the camera system:

• New A16 bionic processor
• The main rear camera was upgraded to 48MP and includes a variety of improvements for better low-light photos
• An additional hour of battery life when watching videos
• The video camera includes an action mode for smooth-looking video that adjusts to significant shakes, motion, and vibrations
• Video cinematic mode is now available in 4K 24 or 30 fps
• Emergency SOS via satellite and car crash detection

The ‌iPhone 14 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 14 Pro‌ Max (which features a larger 6.7″ screen) continue to be priced at $999 and $1,099, respectively. Pre-orders begin on Friday, September 9, with availability beginning Friday, September 16.

Apple will be releasing the new iOS 16 software update on September 12. This will be for iPhone only, and the iPad-specific iPadOS 16 will be available later in October.

The post Apple announces new iPhone 14 with satellite connectivity appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Quiz: Flying IFR with ForeFlight
iPad Pilot News

Where can you find the GPS RAIM status for a planned IFR flight?

A message will appear in the Route Editor in the Maps section of the app when a RAIM outage is predicted

In the More tab in the Airports section of the app

In the Navlog view in the Flights section of the app

Correct! Wrong!

Where can you find the takeoff weather minimums for an airport?

In the Departure section of the Procedure tab on the Airports screen.

At the top of any FAA approach chart for that airport.

They are automatically displayed next to the departure airport name when planning a trip in the Flights section of the app.

Correct! Wrong!

Where can you find details on the approach lighting for an airport?

In the Runways tab on the Airports screen

Enable the Approach Lighting overlay from the Settings menu on the Maps screen

They are depicted on the custom ForeFlight Airport Diagram

Correct! Wrong!

What does the Icing (US) layer depict on the Maps screen?

The forecast probability of potential icing

The forecast severity of potential icing

Observations of icing conditions that currently exist in the areas depicted

Correct! Wrong!

Where can you find suggested IFR alternate airports when planning a flight?

In the Weather section of the Airports screen.

In the Route Advisor on the Maps screen.

In the Departure/Destination section on the Flights screen.

Correct! Wrong!

What’s a quick way to view the height of the current freezing level in the U.S.?

It’s included with the Surface Analysis layer on the Maps screen

Turn on the Temperature overlay on the Maps screen

In the Lowest Freezing Level forecast product on the Imagery screen

Correct! Wrong!

Where can you view IFR routes recently issued to other aircraft between two airports?

The Routes button in the Edit tab of the Route Editor on the Maps screen

Enter the flight plan details in the Flights section of the app and press the Performance Profile button

These are available in the Chart Supplement (A/FD) publication in the Documents section of the app

Correct! Wrong!

If ATC clears you to intercept a leg between two waypoints, how do you activate that leg from the Maps screen?

Press and hold down on both waypoints simultaneously and the leg will automatically activate

Press the second of the two waypoints and press the orange Direct To button

Tap the leg on the map and select the option for Fly Leg

Correct! Wrong!

When viewing an approach chart in the Plates section of the app, how can you determine if there is a change to one of the minimum altitudes or visibility requirements?

ForeFlight automatically updates the charts to display the latest approach criteria at the bottom

Look for a red “Tap to view NOTAMs” button at the top of the chart

There is no way to view this info on the chart – it can only be found in the Briefing section on the Flights screen

Correct! Wrong!

After loading a full approach procedure on the Maps screen, ATC advises that you should now expect vectors to intercept the final approach course. How can you quickly update your flight plan from the Maps screen?

Tap the green instrument approach name in the Route Editor, and select Activate Vectors to Final.

Tap the final approach fix waypoint on the chart, and select Vectors to Final

You have to re-enter the approach using the Procedure button, and select Vectors to Final as the transition option.

Correct! Wrong!

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The post Quiz: Flying IFR with ForeFlight appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Video: complete iPad charging kit
iPad Pilot News

When you’re flying long cross-country flights or variable routes due to challenging weather, it pays to have an orderly way to charge electronics. In fact, a depleted battery is one of the few issues we’ve ever had with an iPad. That’s why we love this new charging kit—it provides everything you need to keep all your devices topped off, from iPad to iPhone to ADS-B receiver. With a powerful battery pack, rugged charging cables, and a custom organizer case, it’s a must-have for any flight beyond the traffic pattern.

Buy this kit >>

The post Video: complete iPad charging kit appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

How to wirelessly update panel avionics with Garmin Database Concierge
iPad Pilot News

Keeping your panel avionics updated with the latest databases is essential for both safe and legal flying, but that’s not always an easy task. If you have a glass cockpit, you might have up to five avionics to keep updated—that’s a lot of data cards and downloads. The result can be many hours of work every month and no small amount of frustration. Garmin set out to solve this problem about six years ago when they introduced Database Concierge, a wireless update option that uses your iPad. Here’s how it works.

The first step is to make sure you have the right components to support Database Concierge:

1. A Flight Stream 510, a special data card that creates a wireless connection between your panel and your mobile devices
2. A GTN series navigator running software version 6.21 or higher.
3. A mobile device with an active Garmin Pilot subscription.
4. A valid database subscription at FlyGarmin.com
5. While not required, a ground power unit is highly recommended to prevent your aircraft’s battery from draining—the update process can take 30 minutes to an hour depending on the number of avionics to update.

To get started, you’ll use your iPad while you have a good WiFi connection—you don’t have to be at your airplane for this step, so feel free to do this at home whenever a new database cycle becomes available. Open Garmin Pilot and go to the Devices page, then Database Concierge. If it’s not already enabled, tap Enable Database Concierge at the top of the page and then Sync. Note: your Garmin Pilot account must use the same same email address you use online at the FlyGarmin website, as the app will look for airplanes and devices attached to your account. After syncing your FlyGarmin database subscription with the Garmin Pilot app, you should see your airplane displayed as well as any available database updates.

Next, tap Go to Downloads, which will take you to the Downloads page. This will look familiar, since it’s the same place you download chart and obstacle update for the Garmin Pilot app itself. Now you’ll have the option to download panel mount databases as well, which are completely separate. Select the aircraft (if multiple are attached to your account) and you’ll see a list of available updates below. If the downloads don’t start automatically, tap Download Updates. Notice that each download is labeled either Garmin Pilot (the app) or Database Concierge (the airplane).

Once all the databases are downloaded to your iPad, it’s time to go to the airport. Connect the airplane to the ground power unit (if you’re using one) and turn on the master and avionics. When the GTN with the Flight Stream 510 starts up, do not tap continue—you’ll do the updates right from the first page.

On your iPad, go to the main iOS Settings and choose the Flight Stream’s WiFi network. There may be a password; tap the WiFi Info button at the bottom of the GTN to see this. Once your iPad is connected to the GTN, open Garmin Pilot and go back to the Database Concierge screen.

You should see the GTN screen display the available databases. Tap the Start button at the bottom of the screen to begin the update process. This will take a few minutes, then it will start installing the databases on the GTN. This will take another 5-7 minutes.

When that is complete, the GTN is fully updated. Now you can sync those databases to the second GTN, a backup GI 275, or the G500 TXi (if installed). This will take a few minutes, but is automatic and you don’t need your iPad anymore. If it doesn’t work, go to Settings on the GTN menu, then System Status, then push the menu button and make sure “Database Sync” is on. If you don’t see this button as an option, you may need to get your avionics shop to enable it.

If you’re ever unsure of your database status, it’s easy to check right on the GTN. Go to Settings, System Status, then Active to see what your current databases are. White means current and yellow means expired. You can see the exact expiration dates as well.

To review, here’s a typical flow when updating an entire panel:

1. Download new avionics databases to your iPad, using Garmin Pilot (can be done at home).
2. Transfer those databases to your GTN navigator, using the Flight Stream 510 (GPU recommended).
3. Push those new databases to your other avionics using the Database Sync setting.

The post How to wirelessly update panel avionics with Garmin Database Concierge appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Pilot Report: Flying with the iPad’s 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 is more than capable of running even the most demanding aviation app with ease. 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 2022 buyer’s guide for a review of the pros/cons of each option).

What many may not realize is 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 we go further, here are some simple facts related to the cellular data option. Every iPad ever made has both 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, and just 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, a dedicated Bad Elf GPS 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 new 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 meters, but from a practical standpoint that doesn’t really matter.

Switching Apps

One of our previous gripes with the GPS found in older iPads is that it the GPS often took a while to get a good satellite fix and display position again 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.

Battery Life

To compare iPad battery life between flying solely with the iPad’s internal GPS vs. using the GPS from an ADS-B receiver, we flew each of the 2-hour legs using each source independently. The first leg was flown with the iPad connected to Sentry, with WiFi and Bluetooth both turn ON and the screen set to full bright and left on the entire time. At the end of that first two-hour leg, the iPad showed 50% battery life remaining.

For the second leg, we turned WiFi and Bluetooth OFF (Sentry disconnected), confirmed the screen brightness was set to full, and used the internal GPS for location services in ForeFlight. After refueling, we then launched on the second 2-hour leg, starting with 50% battery life. The iPad had 2% battery life remaining at touchdown, indicating that battery usage was nearly identical to when connected to an ADS-B receiver.

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 Pilot Report: Flying with the iPad’s built-in GPS appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Video: ForeFlight advanced tips webinar
iPad Pilot News

ForeFlight, aviation’s most popular app, has come a long way from the days of basic weather maps and digital charts. Now a full-featured preflight and in-flight app, it can help you plan a route, compute weight and balance data, file a flight plan, navigate en route, and even log your flight. In this fast-paced webinar, ForeFlight product expert Josh Berman shows off some of the latest enhancements to the app and shares some advanced tips for getting the most out of the app. You’ll learn about the new downloads view, enhanced weight and balance, terrain advisor changes, weather forecast tools, and much more.

Learn more about ForeFlight with this course.

The post Video: ForeFlight advanced tips webinar appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

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

Pilots tend to focus more on optimizing the iPad’s battery life than the average iPad user, since this is critical to keeping the device functioning in the airplane over the course of a flight. Sometimes this can feel like guessing, though—how long has it really been since you last charged it, and what is using the most battery? You don’t have to guess, because there’s a dedicated utility in the main iPad settings to help shed some light on which apps are using the most power, possibly while running in the background.

Go to the main iPad settings app and scroll down to the “Battery” option from the list on the left side of the screen. Here you’ll see a breakdown of activity and battery usage by app, with the option to view it either over the last 24 hours or 10 days. The bar graph towards the top of the screen gives a big picture view of usage and activity, comparing screen “on” vs. screen “off” time.

Next, tap the list of apps under the graph to display additional information about each app’s usage, including stats on whether the usage activity occurred with the screen on or while the app was running in the background. You’ll likely see the note “background activity” listed along with the screen time for each app. This means a portion of the battery drain came during times when the app was updating content in the background while you weren’t actively using it.

If you don’t use this app often and want to disable that capability, go the main page of the Settings app -> General -> Background App Refresh. Here you can disable background updates for the iPad altogether, or choose to disable it for individual apps.

While you’re performing iPad housecleaning, we’d also recommend you go to iPad Settings -> Privacy -> Location Services and review the settings for each app’s ability to track your location in the background, which can significantly reduce battery life. Check out this article for more information on how to optimize the Locations Services settings.

The post Get more out of your iPad’s battery with Apple’s built-in utility appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

All the places you’ll find NOTAMs in ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot
iPad Pilot News

The preflight briefing process has transitioned over the last decade from a Flight Service assisted process to a self-service briefing, thanks to the modern weather and airport status data available online and in mobile apps. It’s even come to the point where the FAA agrees that a self-briefing is the best option for most pilots, which is outlined well in the recently released Advisory Circular 91-92 “Pilot’s Guide to a Preflight Briefing.”

The best way to transition to a self-weather briefing is to first use the Briefing feature available in both ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot. This will provide a comprehensive weather briefing presented in a similar flow as you’d receive from a call to Flight Service (Adverse Conditions, Current Weather, Forecasts, etc.). In ForeFlight you can access this from the top of the Flights section of the app, and in Garmin Pilot a full briefing can be retrieved from the Trip Planning section:

Each briefing will also include a list of all the NOTAMs pertinent to the flight, organized by the Departure, Enroute and Destination phases:

Another self-briefing option, for those that are comfortable, is to go directly to the various sections of the app and find the same weather and NOTAM data. Most of this can be done right on the Maps screen by overlaying various weather layers, and then supplemented by the weather charts in the Weather Imagery section. This interactive map approach to the briefing can be much more helpful on challenging weather days when you need to experiment with potential routing options.

You can also use this same self-briefing approach when reviewing NOTAMs before a flight. You’ll find the intelligent features in both ForeFlight and Garmin help to make sure you never miss an important NOTAM when going through the normal flight planning flow.

NOTAMs in ForeFlight

Let’s start with the most direct way to view NOTAMs for the departure and destination airport in ForeFlight. Head to the Airports screen and select the NOTAM tab. Here you’ll see all the NOTAMs for that airport grouped by Airport, Obstacle and TFR/ARTCC:

If there is a runway or airport closure NOTAM, ForeFlight will display a prominent red banner across the top of the Airports view to get your attention. Tap on the banner to view the NOTAM details:

If the runway is open but has NOTAM’d restrictions, the banner will be a dark gray color:

Another important part of the preflight process is researching FBO details from the FBO button on the Airports screen. If there is a NOTAM related to fuel availability, you’ll see this highlighted with a red banner at the top of the FBO list. Tap the banner to view the details:

Next, we’ll continue the preflight planning process and review the Airport Diagram in the plates section of the app. Here you’ll see a red alert button at the top of the screen, which can be tapped to view all NOTAMs related to surface operations at that airport:

This NOTAM alert button will also appear at the top of instrument procedures when applicable on the Plates screen:

ForeFlight’s mission is to make sure never miss an important NOTAM, so you’ll see many of the same alerting features incorporated on the maps screen. When viewing the flight plan in the Route Editor window, you’ll see a red alert symbol on an airport if it or a runway is closed:

These runway closure alert NOTAMs will also appear when adding an instrument approach to your flight plan in the Procedure Advisor:

To view en route NOTAMs, select the NOTAMs layer from the Maps layer menu. This displays en route NOTAMs right on the chart, for purposes like active MOAs, parachute jumping, UAS flights and low-level high-speed exercises. The graphical NOTAMs are displayed using red, yellow and gray coloring.

Yellow > the most restrictive airspace NOTAMs, such as activated MOA or Restricted areas, are presented in yellow for the period up to 2 hours before the time they become active (and turn red when active). Areas with “scheduled exercises”, like high-speed operations below 10,000′, remain yellow when they are active.

Red > a defined sector of airspace, or charted special-use airspace, with restrictions that are currently active.

Gray > all other en route NOTAMs are shown in gray when they are active, like UAS/drone operations or parachute jumping.

You can toggle which types of NOTAMs are displayed on the map from the map settings dropdown.

Final Tip: Use the “Pack” feature in the route editor before every flight. Not only will this make sure all the charts and aeronautical data are saved on your iPad for later offline reference, but it will also download all the latest NOTAMs data.  This can really come in handy when researching alternate airport options if a diversion becomes necessary.

NOTAMs in Garmin Pilot

Garmin Pilot includes many of the same NOTAM alerts as ForeFlight, but also includes some unique dynamic NOTAM displays in different parts of the app. First, we’ll start with the main NOTAM list for departure and destination airports, which can be viewed in the NOTAMs tab on the Airports screen:

Similarly, runway and airport closures are highlighted with a red banner at the top of the airports screen:

Fuel Availability NOTAMs are treated the same as runway closures and are displayed prominently at the top:

Fuel availability will also be noted on the map when the fuel price layer is enabled. You’ll see a red warning triangle and a strikethrough across the reported price:

When viewing an instrument approach chart or airport diagram, you’ll see a NOTAMs button at the bottom right of the screen. Tap on this to display applicable to NOTAMs to that particular procedure or chart:

To view airspace NOTAMs on the map, like in ForeFlight, first enable the NOTAMs option from the map layer controls:

NOTAMs that are scheduled to become active in the next 24 hours are displayed in yellow to help alert pilots in advance and aid with flight planning, with a brighter contrast for areas showing upcoming restricted airspace. Active airspace NOTAMs are color-coded depending on the following classifications:

• Red: Restricted and Danger NOTAMs, such as Prohibited Areas
• Orange: Alert and Warning NOTAMs, including Military Operation Areas (MOA)
• Gray: Flight Data Center (FDC) NOTAMS such as Instrument Approach Procedure changes
• Purple: Other NOTAMs such as Parachute Jumping areas

You can view NOTAMs in both decoded and raw text by selecting the NOTAM segment in the radial menu.

Additionally, NOTAMs may also be viewed by selecting the NOTAMs widget in spilt-screen mode.

Obstacle NOTAMs can also be displayed on the map. These will be displayed when the same NOTAM layer or Obstacle layer is enabled. NOTAM’d obstacles will be displayed in pink to help differentiate them from regular obstacles, which are depicted in white. Tap one of the pink obstacles to view raw and decoded details.

To assist with the runway condition checks, Garmin will display FICON NOTAMs right on the map, which are issued by airport operators when braking action is reduced due to liquid or frozen precipitation present on the runway surface. You’ll see a yellow badge on the map at the end of each runway with a numeric value, from 0 to 6, representing the braking action for each third of the runway: touchdown, midpoint and rollout:

A value of 0 represents nearly non-existent braking action due to contamination, while 6 represents a dry runway (learn more about the FICON codes here). If you’re like us and don’t have all the intermediate values memorized, you can tap the yellow badge to display a NOTAM pop-up window, and then the “i” button at the end of the report to view the decoded description of the FICON value(s):

The post All the places you’ll find NOTAMs in ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Understanding pressure and GPS altitude in aviation apps
iPad Pilot News

Eight years ago, ForeFlight introduced synthetic vision and gave pilots a new way to view the world on their iPads. 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 in case of panel 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 ETA, 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 match the GPS, 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+15 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 pressure, 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?

One last tip: you can display actual airspeed and indicated altitude on your iPad, but only if you have the right equipment. 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.

The post Understanding pressure and GPS altitude in aviation apps 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 is 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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Read the print version of iPad Pilot News—online
iPad Pilot News

Each year we publish a print edition of iPad Pilot News, packed with our latest product reviews and our most popular tips. For those who didn’t receive an issue in the mail, we now have an online version so you can flip the pages. You can read about the new Sentry Plus ADS-B Receiver, how to use ForeFlight with your home simulator, the top 10 apps for pilots, and much more. Read it here>>

The post Read the print version of iPad Pilot News—online appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Optimize your iPad’s location services setting options
iPad Pilot News

Your iPhone and iPad are constantly working behind the scenes to provide the best user experience possible based on available data. One of the main data feeds they use is your physical location, determined from a combination of cellular, Wi-Fi, GPS, and Bluetooth. This allows them to provide you with location-based data like the weather at your current location, a map with the nearest coffee shop or traffic conditions for nearby highways.

While there’s no question these are useful features, they require additional power, which can lead to decreased battery life. This isn’t a big deal when actively using an app to provide location-based data, but it’s not necessary to have all your apps using location services while the screen is turned off or when using other apps.

The first time you open an app that uses location services you’ll see a pop-up alert asking if it’s ok for the app to track your location. Due to the large number of pop-ups that appear on the iPhone and iPad many just blindly acknowledge these to quickly start up app. It’s worth taking the time though to read these, as the notification will tell you if the app plans to use your location in the background (meaning when the app is not running), and a quick explanation of how it will use your location to improve the user experience.

A small arrow will appear to the left of the battery symbol whenever an app is actively using your location. It’s normal to see this when using a navigation app in the air and relying on an external GPS or the iPad’s internal GPS. It’s also common to see this on weather apps, for example, when on the ground to display nearby weather conditions.

You should take note though if you’re seeing this symbol continually on the home screen or when using an app that doesn’t require location services since your battery life is most likely taking a hit from this.

Fortunately, Apple allows you to control how and when each app uses your current location from the main settings app. Go to Settings -> Privacy -> Location Services. At the top, you’ll see a master switch to completely disable all location services, followed by a list of every app that is designed to make use of your location. Tap one of these and you can select when you want to allow the app to use your location: never, ask next time, always, or while using the app (some apps may only offer 3 of these 4 options). You’ll also see an option to use “Precise Location.” This is essential for aviation apps like ForeFlight to show your exact position and speed, but for a weather app the city may be close enough and you can turn this off.

When viewing the list of apps you may also see the location services arrow towards the right of the screen next to the app’s location preference. A gray arrow indicates the app has used your location within the past 24 hours, a solid purple arrow tells you that an app has recently used your location, and a hollow arrow indicates that an app or service may receive your location under certain conditions. These are helpful to look at when you want to track down which apps are using your location most often and potentially decreasing battery life.

The last hidden setting to check while in location services is at the very bottom, called System Services. Tap this button and you’ll see another handful of location-based preference settings. Turning off unneeded features, like Location-Based Suggestions, Apple Pay, or Product Improvement services can further reduce your device’s use of location services and improve battery life.

For more information on iOS privacy and location service settings, check out Apple’s in-depth overview of the topic.

The post Optimize your iPad’s location services setting options appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Updated Flight Gear battery pack adds features, cuts size
iPad Pilot News

Keeping all your portable devices charged in the cockpit isn’t easy. Most pilots fly with an iPad, a smartphone, and an ADS-B receiver. Some carry much more, like a backup iPad, a GoPro camera, or an Iridium communicator. There are hundreds of options for keeping all those batteries charged, from cheap to very expensive (and we’ve flown with many of them), but most simply aren’t cut out for the cabin of a light airplane.

Flight Gear Battery Pack

The new battery pack (right) is 20% shorter than the previous generation (left).

Our favorite option for the last few years has been a sleek white battery brick from Flight Gear, and now an updated version is available. The Flight Gear Battery Pack is 20% smaller than the preceding generation and still just half an inch thick, but it still packs 20,000 mAh of power. That’s enough to charge an iPad multiple times, but that’s not what makes it unique. The reason we’ve made it a permanent addition to our flight bag is because it’s so flexible.

Our number one complaint about most backup batteries is the proprietary cables that are used to keep them charged. When you need to charge your battery before a big trip, there’s usually a mad scramble to find some odd-shaped plug buried in a kitchen drawer. With the Flight Gear battery pack, you have plenty of options. It will charge with a micro-USB cable (common on thousands of devices, including many Android smartphones), a USB-C cable (found on Sentry and Stratus ADS-B receivers as well as MacBooks), or a Lightning cable (which works with iPads and iPhones). That means you’ll almost always have the right cable to keep this battery pack charged, because you already own one.

Another frustration with cheaper battery packs is that they lack the high amp ports that pilots need. While 1 amp is enough for a phone, higher power devices like iPads and ADS-B receivers need 2.1 or 2.4 amps. This battery pack has even more of those than the previous version, and one of them is a Power Delivery port:

• One 3 amp USB-A port
• Two 2.4 amp USB-A port
• One 3 amp USB-C port (supports PD charging)

While the battery pack will eventually max out if you plug too many devices in, we have successfully charged two iPads and a Sentry (all of which require 2+ amps) at the same time. You can also charge the battery pack while you charge another device (pass-through charging), and a four-light status indicator on the side lets you know how much power is left.

The back of the battery pack features helpful reference information.

The Flight Gear Battery Pack is at home in the cockpit. We’ve flown many flights with it in a variety of aircraft and have had no radio interference, a common problem with some battery packs (although the charging cable is usually the weak link). It’s also white so it stays cool in the sun. There’s even some helpful reference information printed on the back.

Safety is another concern in the tight confines of a general aviation airplane, and this battery has a lot of built in monitoring features. It is continually protecting against:

• Temperature fluctuation
• Over-charge
• Over-discharge
• Over-voltage
• Over-current
• Short-circuit protection

The Flight Gear battery pack is available now for the same price as the one it replaces ($79.99), which is a pretty good deal compared to some higher end battery packs we’ve tested at over $200. The smaller size, pass-through charging support, and Power Delivery port are all meaningful upgrades. It’s essential equipment in the cockpit, but it’s also very useful other places too. We’ve used it in the car, on camping trips (it is invaluable at Oshkosh), and around the house.

Organizer case also available

The new battery pack fits perfectly into the organizer case.

Sporty’s also introduced a custom-made organizer pack that is made for the Flight Gear Battery Pack. This semi-hard shell case has room for the battery, plus elastic straps to organize your charging cables. There’s also room on the right side for additional accessories like a cleaning cloth or a small wall plug. This is just the right size to hold all your essential charging gear but it remains small enough to easily slide into your flight bag. At $14.95, it’s a no-brainer addition.

There are also two handy pass-through ports that allow you to use the battery pack while it stays protected inside. For example, we left the battery in the mesh pocket, then pulled a Lightning cable through the front port and a USB-C cable through the back port (we are big fans of the smart charging cables with built-in screens for ensuring your device is getting the proper amount of watts).

Since the organizer pack has a handle at the top, it’s easy to hang it in the cockpit. In the picture below, we used the RAM suction cup arm to hang the pack, then quickly plugged the cables into our iPad and Sentry Plus. This might be overkill for a flight in the pattern, but in an airplane with no cigarette lighter this is the way to fly on a long cross-country.

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