One of the new features included with iPadOS 15 is the ability for developers to create extra-large widgets for the iPad home screen. Widgets are displayed alongside the home screen icons, allowing you to view relevant data from apps that support this feature.

StationWeather, a popular graphical weather aviation app, added support for these new iPadOS 15 XL widgets in a recent update (requires a StationWeather Pro subscription. This enhanced capability allows you to view current METAR reports for up to 4 airports simultaneously on the iPad home screen.

After installing the free app and signing up for a Pro subscription (free to try for a week and then $4/yr), tap and hold anywhere on your iPad’s home screen to enter the “edit” mode. Then tap the gray “+” button at the top left of the home screen to view a list of your currently installed apps that support widgets. Select StationWeather from the list, and then choose your preferred layout from the 7 available options:

The customization options are nearly endless since you can add multiple widgets with different styles from the same app:

StationWeather is available for download here

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Apple traditionally holds its large media event each September, taking the wraps off the latest iPhone and iPad models and showcasing the latest new software features for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch. While the updates announced for the new iPhone 13 and Apple Watch 7 were relatively modest, the big news for pilots was the debut of an all-new iPad Mini featuring a larger screen while retaining the pilot-friendly smaller size.

The new iPhone and iPad models won’t start shipping until later this week, but pilots can now download and install the free iOS 15 update on existing iPad and iPhones starting today. Here’s an overview of device compatibility, updated consideration and how to use a few of the the new features.

Should I update to iOS 15 or iPadOS 15?

Pilots should always be cautious about updating to a brand new version of iOS right when it is released, due to the importance of the iPad and 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 and iPadOS 15 are compatible with the following devices:

• iPhone12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, iPhone X, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6S, iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone SE
• iPad Pro (12.9-inch), iPad Pro (11-inch), iPad Pro (10.5-inch), iPad Pro (9.7-inch), iPad (5th through 8th generation), iPad mini (5th generation), iPad mini 4, iPad Air (3rd and 4th generation), iPad Air 2

How to update

When you decide you’re ready to update, the first thing to do is back up your device using iTunes or iCloud, 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 iPad, eliminating the need to temporarily delete apps or aviation chart databases to make room for the update.

What’s new in iOS 15

Apple’s mobile operating system for iPhone and iPad is one of the most intuitive out there and the core of how it works on touchscreen devices hasn’t changed much since the debut of the original iOS over a decade ago. Yes, Apple has added many new capabilities, shortcuts, and display improvements, but it still relies on the same home screen with a grid of icons and basic touch controls to open or close an app. This is a good thing for pilots using an iPad in the cockpit, as the operating system should be mostly transparent and provide quick, reliable access to installed aviation apps.

iPadOS 15 stays the course in this regard and maintains the same overall look and feel as iPadOS 14. It includes hundreds of tweaks and subtle new features, but it won’t fundamentally change how you interact with your device. Here we’ll look at several of the new features found in the iPad version of the software and how pilots might be able to use some of these. For a detailed breakdown of all the new features, check out Apple’s detailed description of what’s new in iOS 15 for iPhone and iPadOS 15 for iPad.

Multitasking

iPad app multitasking has been around for several years now and is a great way to run and use two apps simultaneously on the iPad’s larger screen. Apple’s implementation has been pretty rough though and required you to use hidden gestures to get it going. iOS 15 attempts to improve that by adding new dedicated multitasking controls, eliminating several of the previous pain points. First, you’ll see a new 3-dot button at the top of every app window which activates a 3 button multitasking controller:

The left button sets an app to full screen, the middle button enables split-screen multitasking and the right button enables slide-over multitasking. After pressing either split-screen or slide-over multitasking buttons, the home screen is displayed front and center, allowing you to select any app from any screen, the dock or a folder, and instantly run it in the selected view:

You can then use the traditional slider control in the center of the screen to change window width, or change the layout using the new 3-dot multitasking controller at the top of the screen.

Quick Notes

The built-in Notes app is great for jotting down quick thoughts or ideas and stays in sync across all of your devices. iPad OS 15 includes a new Quick Notes feature, which allows you to open a small Notes window without leaving the app you’re currently using. To access this, swipe up from the bottom right of the screen and the Quick Note window will appear.

Quick Notes are saved in a dedicated section of the Notes app for later access.

App Library

Apple introduced the App Library concept last year with iOS 14, but it was oddly only available for iPhone. iPad OS 15 fixes that and brings the same feature to iPad. The App Library can be accessed from the dock, or by swiping from right to left past the last home screen window, and automatically organizes your apps into folders based on your usage trends and category.

Large app icons

There’s a new setting in the Home Screen and Dock section of the Settings app called “Use Large App Icons”, which increases the size of the icons on the home screen by about 20% without reducing the number of icons shown on the screen. This fills the space better and can make finding apps a bit easier, especially if you’re using a larger 12.9″ iPad.

Notify When Left Behind

The “Find My” app is great for tracking a lost or misplaced iPad, iPhone or Apple Watch. iOS 15 adds a new automated feature that makes this even more useful, called “Separation Alerts.”  These are designed for those with multiple Apple devices, like an iPhone and an iPad, and will alert you if you leave a location with one of these devices in your possession and the other left behind. For example, if you’re at an FBO and accidentally leave your iPad in the pilot lounge as you drive away with your iPhone in your possession, you’ll receive a notification that you left the iPad behind.

To enable this, open the “Find My” app, tap Devices at the bottom and then the device you’d like to set an alert for. Under the Notifications section, enable the option for “Notify When Left Behind.” There are options here too to turn off separation alerts for specified locations, like your home or office.

Focus

The final feature we’ll explore is called Focus. While it may not be too useful in the airplane, you’ll see new controls for it in both the Control Center and in the main Settings app, so it’s important to know how it works. Focus essentially allows you to create custom modes, like Personal, Work, Excercise, etc., and then customize a variety of settings and options. This can get pretty granular, allowing you to specify which apps can send notifications, who can call or text you, lock screen preferences and even the ability to only show certain app home screens in a selected Focus mode. It’s a great way to limit distractions during work, meetings or other selected times of the day.

You can schedule focus modes throughout the day, trigger them with automated rules or enable them manually from the Control Center.

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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.

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There’s finally a new iPad mini. Two and a half years after introducing the iPad mini 5, Apple unveiled the sixth generation 8″ tablet at their “California Streaming” event this week. Some had worried that the smallest iPad model, long the most popular option for pilots, might be going away but this update should ensure its survival for at least a few more years. Here’s a look at what’s new.

The iPad mini 6 is both a big update and a modest one. Unlike the iPad mini 4 to 5 update, this is more than just an internal component change—it looks different. The latest generation case features squared off edges, much like the latest iPad Pro and Air models, which feels solid and has been well-received by pilots. The screen is also larger (8.3″ compared to 7.9″) and is what Apple calls a Liquid Retina display. This edge-to-edge format is a step up but it’s worth noting that the screen brightness is the same (500 nits) and features the same antireflective coating, so we wouldn’t expect the in-airplane performance to be much different.

That’s not the case with the processing power. The iPad mini 6 uses the latest generation A15 Bionic chip, which is a major boost compared to the A12 Bionic chip on the mini 5. Quantifying performance upgrades is always tough, but it’s fair to say this is a significant step up in processing speed and should be noticeable for high end features like synthetic vision. If nothing else, buying the latest processor is good protection against the tablet becoming obsolete.

A few other details could matter for pilots, including the new USB-C power port. This matches the trend of the latest iPad Pro and Air models, but marks a break from the iPad mini 1-5, which included a lightning connector. The mini 6 has a Touch ID sensor on the power button, not Face ID as you’d find on an iPad Pro (and which some people expected to see). This isn’t a major tradeoff, and was likely done to keep the price down. There’s a new 5G modem on the cellular models for faster data connectivity, plus better front and rear cameras, and improved speakers. It also works with the second generation Apple Pencil, a stylus that magnetically clips on the side of the iPad. We’ve used this on iPad Pros over the last few years and it is a viable option for copying clearances in flight.

The overall dimensions are different from the iPad mini 5, but not by much: the iPad mini 6 is 0.3″ shorter, but width, depth, and weight are the same. That means most universal mounts and kneeboards will work with the new model quite well, but custom fit mounts (like the RAM EZ Roll’r) will need a new cradle. Pricing is a bit higher, at $499 for 64GB of storage and $649 for 256GB, or $649 and $799 if you want LTE. These are still very competitive prices, for the performance, and make the mini 6 a pretty good value. It’s essentially an iPad Air 4 in a smaller size. You can learn more at Apple’s website.

One thing that was quite noticeable during Apple’s presentation was the prominent role aviation played in it. Pilots are specifically mentioned in the company’s press release on the iPad mini 6, and the media kit includes a screenshot of ForeFlight. The livestream also showed pilots using the tablet in flight. Many have joked that aviation was the industry keeping the iPad mini around—maybe it’s true.

In addition to the iPad mini 6, the event also featured a new “basic iPad” (now on generation 9). This is a modest update, mostly featuring a processor upgrade—Apple claims the A13 Bionic chip inside is 20% faster. But most of the other features are the same: it still has a home button, it still has a lightning connector, and still works with the first generation Apple Pencil. The physical size is identical, so all existing cases and mounts should work with the iPad 9. Pricing is $329 for 64GB of storage—that’s double the storage for the same price as the iPad 8—making this a great starter iPad.

And of course there was a new iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 to show off. This was another minor update overall, with the same case as the iPhone 12 but with a brighter display (800 nits) on the 6.1″ and 5.4″ screens and the new A15 chip. Of course there are better cameras, as well as a boost to battery life (2.5 hours longer than 12). The iPhone 13 mini starts at $699, and the iPhone 13 starts $799. There’s also a new top-of-the-line iPhone 13 Pro with a brighter screen, faster graphics, better cameras, and 1.5 hours longer battery life than the iPhone 12 Pro. Prices start at $999 for the 13 Pro and $1099 for the large screen 13 Pro Max.

Rounding out the event was the Apple Watch Series 7. This features the same basic shape as previous generations, but with rounded corners and larger text. It also offers 18 hours of battery life, a more durable and crack-resistant screen, but there are no new health sensors as some suspected. The Watch Series 7 starts at $399, and the Series 3 stays around for $199.

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Apple recently released iOS and iPad OS 14.8, which includes an important security fix for iPads and iPhones. 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.

Click here to view the iOS 14.7.1 iOS Green Light guidance

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About a year ago, Garmin quietly released a new feature in their Pilot app which allows pilots to simulate and fly a planned flight while on the ground. Officially called “Demo Mode”, this powerful feature is perfect for pilots who want to practice in-flight procedures from the comfort of home in the app. It can be quickly configured to fly a specific ground track and altitude, fly the active flight plan or fly a flight from a saved logbook entry.

Setting up Demo Mode

Simulating a flight in most aviation applications requires you to connect to your iPad to a home flight simulator, like X-Plane or Microsoft Flight Simulator. While we think this is the best way to get familiar with your aviation app in a simulated environment while dividing your attention with flying tasks, it can be a bit time-consuming to set up and requires extra hardware. For those times you just want to practice loading an instrument approach, experiment with the terrain awareness features or learn more about Garmin’s signature Emergency Landing utility, we’d suggest using Demo Mode.

It takes just a few taps to get started. First, tap the Tools button from the top menu and select Demo Mode:

A window will then pop up with three options to set up the  flight:

1. Manual Mode: Enter a track, altitude, ground speed, vertical speed and starting waypoint
2. Flight Plan Mode: The app will follow the active flight plan, and then enter altitude, ground speed, vertical speed and a starting waypoint
3. Logbook Track: Select a previously saved Logbook Track (the flight will be flown based on all recorded flight parameters)

When you’re ready to start the flight, press the Start Demo button and the flight will begin. All of the flight data blocks, instruments and navlog fields will populate based on your pre-programmed flight data, the same as if you were in the air. You can access the demo controls at any time by pressing the blue Demo button at the top of the screen and quickly change the altitude, increase the simulation rate by up to 15x, pause the flight or end the flight.

Flight Procedures to Practice

Garmin Pilot is at the top of our list when it comes to in-flight capabilities and Demo Mode is a great way to practice some of the advanced features you may not use very often. Garmin also includes unique controls and configuration options on each screen, which might be overlooked when using the app in the airplane. Here are a few flight features to try out:

Split Screen Terrain

Navlog/Flight Instruments

Synthetic Vision

Flight Profile

Direct-To Navigation

Emergency Mode

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Screenshots are still one of those hidden iOS superpowers, useful for saving airport maps, passenger information, or aircraft data. On an iPad it’s fairly easy to take a screenshot and share it to your favorite aviation app, we’ve described before. But sometimes all you have is your phone, and getting all the information on a smaller screen is simply impossible. That’s where the Tailor app comes in.

To use it, take a screenshot as you normally would: position the information on screen that you want to save, then take a screenshot to save it to your Photos app (power and up volume on most newer phones), then scroll to display the next section of information and take another screenshot. Here’s an important tip: make sure you overlap the screens slightly, so it’s clear which screens go together.

For some longer web pages or text message threads, this could mean five or six screenshots. In the example below, we took three screenshots of an AirNav.com page.

Now open the Tailor app and watch it work. The app will automatically detect which screenshots go together and then stitch them together into a single file.

Tap the up arrow button at the bottom of the screen for a standard menu of sharing options. You can save the new image to your Photos app, save it to your Files app, or send it to another app on your phone.

Tailor is a simple app, but we’ve found it to be useful. The main feature it’s missing is the ability to manually stitch screenshots together. If the app can’t do it automatically, you’ll have to take the screenshots again. Tailor is free to download and use, and for $2.99 you can remove the ads.

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Most pilots are weather geeks, either by disposition or training, and that means a good weather app can be particularly helpful or even fun. The big electronic flight bag apps like ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot do a great job of consolidating the key weather maps and forecasts, but there is a role for non-aviation apps. A great example is Ventusky, a $3.99 app that beautifully displays maps of wind, clouds, and more.

Open the app and you’ll be greeted by an eye-catching map of wind and radar. This is great for getting an overview of the weather patterns. The radar option does allow you to slide forward in time (via the slider bar at the bottom of the screen), so you can get an estimated radar picture about an hour into the future. This won’t show full HRRR model data multiple days out, like some apps, but it is helpful for short-term planning. It also shows historical radar going back a multiple days—ideal for debriefing a flight and learning.

Tap on the weather product at the top right of the screen to access the full menu of weather maps. This features mostly non-aviation weather products, like wind and temperature, but there are some helpful options for pilots. For example, Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE), which measures instability and thus how much fuel there is to feed convection, is an excellent way to predict whether thunderstorms will be an issue for your afternoon flight. In the summertime, it could be clear skies at 10am but if the CAPE values are over 3000, you should be thinking about storms.

Wind shear is also presented in a beautiful map. This can help visualize where the roughest rides might be.

The cloud layer is divided into low, medium, and high layers. This isn’t an exact forecast, but it is helpful for an overview. For example, if you’re in an unpressurized airplane and you see solid clouds from low all the way to high, it’s a good guess you won’t be on top.

There are the typical non-aviation forecasts too. Set your current location and then slide up from the bottom to get a detailed view of temperatures, winds, precipitation, and more.

For the true weather geek, tap the settings button and choose your preferred weather model. If this all looks Greek to you, leave it alone and the app will work fine.

Ventusky is available online, for iOS devices, and for Android devices. For just $3.99 it’s a nice addition to your weather toolkit.

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There are a handful of full-featured aviation Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) apps available today for pilots, both free and paid, which provide just about every preflight and in-flight resource you’ll need for both VFR and IFR operations. If you’ve been flying for a while it’s likely you’ve already settled in on your favorite app and can nearly use it with your eyes closed. For those new to aviation or those making the leap from paper charts, there comes a point when a decision is necessary on which app to use in the cockpit.

The most common question we receive at iPad Pilot News after a pilot purchases an iPad is “which app is better, ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot?” There is a good reason that these two apps are at the top of most pilots’ list, as they have both been around since the iPad was introduced and have gained a strong following in the aviation community over the past ten years. Both are supported by large aviation companies and are continuously updated throughout the year with new features and improvements.

The mission of both apps has also grown from electronic chart display to an integrated avionics system, and now they can do more than most certified avionics. They also offer the most comprehensive collection of connectivity options, including ADS-B, SiriusXM, satellite messaging, flight plan syncing with panel-mount avionics and engine monitoring, to name a few.

When you break it down though, the real question you should be asking is which app is best for me. Both apps have all the features and capabilities to feel right at home in the cockpit of a student pilot learning to fly, while simultaneously meeting the needs of professional pilots flying turbine airplanes. They’ve also grown to offer international chart and trip support thanks to partnerships with Jeppesen and Eurocontrol.

The Rise of the iPad

Prior to the iPad’s introduction in 2010, pilots primarily relied on handheld GPS receivers to provide supplemental airport data and a moving map in the cockpit. Garmin dominated this segment with a variety hardware options and screen sizes, selling for as much as $2,500. These portable GPS systems were a nice-to-have accessory in the cockpit, but didn’t replace paper charts or provide much in the way of preflight weather or trip planning. It also took some work and expense to keep the databases current.

Then, when the iPad was announced in 2010, pilots instantly recognized it as the long-awaited consumer product that could transform how data was managed and consumed in the cockpit. It was almost too good to be true: a slim tablet with a bright, responsive, 10” color touchscreen and a battery life that would outlast a 4-hour flight. And on the software side, ForeFlight was just as responsive and released a single-solution iPad app, building on the popularity of its iPhone version of the app. The paperless cockpit era had officially begun.

While they didn’t get the early jump like ForeFlight, Garmin debuted their full-featured Pilot app for iPad, iPhone and Android two years later in the spring of 2012. Garmin may have been the largest general aviation avionics company at that time, but they found themselves in the position of playing catch up in the mobile app market.

Garmin responded with a steady-stream of innovative feature additions over the past six years, which has allowed it to meet, and on some fronts exceed, the capabilities of every other aviation iPad app available today. Combined with its extensive portable and certified avionics connectivity options, Garmin is making the decision tougher than ever when deciding on the best app for your needs.

More similar than different

While the layout and user interface of these apps couldn’t be more different, you’ll quickly find that after spending some time with both apps they offer the same core capabilities:

• Trip planning– airport data, FBOs details and fees, preflight weather briefing, aircraft performance profiles, electronic navlog, flight service weather briefing, weather imagery, ICAO flight plan support, pre-departure clearances (PDC)
• Charts– data-driven aeronautical charts, FAA VFR Sectionals and TACs, IFR high and low altitude enroute charts, terminal procedures, worldwide Jeppesen VFR/IFR enroute and terminal procedures
• In-Flight Navigation– digital flight instruments, synthetic vision, GPS-driven moving maps with geo-referenced charts and terrain awareness
• Connectivity– ADS-B weather, SiriusXM satellite weather and entertainment, integration with Garmin panel-mount avionics; compatible with home flight simulators
• Digital assistant– weight & balance, logbook, aircraft checklists, track logging and scratchpad
• Document Management – upload, view and edit flight-relevant documents like aircraft manuals, international paperwork and training documents

What you’ll find after using either app is that they really are a one stop shop for everything you need to both prepare for and execute a flight. The next step is to dig deeper into each app’s core capabilities and see which provider will deliver an edge for you based on what, where, and how you fly.

ForeFlight

ForeFlight’s design incorporates many of Apple’s standard iOS interface conventions, menus and controls, which eases the learning curve. It takes just a few taps to get to any location in the app which you’ll appreciate when you need to access information quickly, like finding an instrument approach chart or airspace information. ForeFlight uses the familiar iOS tab bar menu at the bottom of the screen to quickly switch between screens with one tap. Alternatively, the universal search function, accessible at the top of the Maps, Airports and Plates sections of the app, allows you to search for any type of data (airport info, chart, route, etc.) and jump to its location in the app.

After spending some time with ForeFlight, you’ll find many thoughtful features designed to make life easier for the GA pilot flying single-pilot. The app excels at taking routine data that we’ve been using for years and presenting it in a much more meaningful way. For example, when viewing an instrument approach chart or airport diagram, ForeFlight displays a shortcut on the screen to view all applicable NOTAMs about that procedure. And when an airport has a NOTAM for a closed runway, the app presents a bold red banner across the center of the airport info screen to make sure it doesn’t get overlooked. An automated chart pack option is available when planning a flight, allowing you to press one button to download all the VFR/IFR charts needed for the trip. Then, when new charts become available for download every 28 days, ForeFlight will automatically download them when you open the app, reducing the likelihood you’ll ever get stuck with old charts in flight.

When it comes time to plan a flight, the Flights section of the app guides you through each step of the process, eliminating the need to bounce around to gather and enter data. For IFR pilots, ForeFlight offers a Recommended Route feature to help choose the optimum IFR route. This routing engine analyzes thousands of possible options based on your detailed aircraft performance profile and time/fuel savings, while also accounting for your aircraft ceiling, preferred routes, and trending ATC cleared routes.

ForeFlight’s Alternate Advisor analyzes other similar filed flight plans, as well as time and fuel requirements, forecast weather conditions, available approach procedures to suggest IFR alternate airport to include in your flight plan.

Takeoff and landing performance planning is another unique capability within ForeFlight. This powerful feature will automatically calculate takeoff and landing performance data based on the aircraft profile selected for the flight. It factors in the current weather, runway variables and aircraft weight to automatically compute takeoff and landing distance (this does require a Performance Plus subscription).

There are just as many tools available in-flight when automation can really help. ForeFlight’s contextual alerts play the role of the digital copilot, and will alert you on the ground with both a visual and aural message as you approach and enter active runways. In the air, they’ll notify when approaching a TFR or the Washington, D.C. SFRA. From a flight safety standpoint, the app will alert you to cabin altitude concerns, nearby terrain/obstacles, high sink rates, descent through 500’ AGL, and nearby traffic when coupled with an ADS-B receiver.

There are also convenience alerts like displaying the ATIS frequency for the destination airport during the arrival, or displaying the nearby altimeter setting when descending through FL180. And the performance planning feature will warn you if computed takeoff or landing distances exceed available runway lengths.

Another standout ForeFlight feature is its dedication to providing a high-quality weather briefing experience. It includes all the essentials like text weather reports, forecasts and basic weather imagery, but then goes beyond with the inclusion of lesser-known forecast products. For example, on the airport weather screen, you’ll see a computer-generated text MOS Forecast next to the TAF that is available for over 2,000 airports in the U.S. and includes a 72 hour forecast period. You’ll also see a Forecast Discussion option that includes plain language notes from the forecaster who created the TAF describing the weather factors and confidence level that were considered.

ForeFlight includes a dedicated Weather Imagery section in the app that features a variety of forecast graphics and is by far the most comprehensive of any aviation app on the market. It aggregates data from a variety of sources, including the National Weather Service, Aviation Weather Center, Storm Prediction Center and Aviation Digital Data Service in one well-organized location. Here you can track long-range precipitation, thunderstorm, visibility and cloud coverage forecasts with easy-to-read graphics. If you don’t mind leaving your comfort zone and learning some new weather products, you’ll be rewarded with a better understanding of the weather before each flight.

For those who prefer the standard Flight Service weather briefing, ForeFlight is the only app to offer a graphical weather briefing option in the Flights section of the app, similar to what you’d find at 1800WXBRIEF.com, full of useful color graphics and images. This is a significant upgrade to traditional Flight Service briefings which were commonly referred to as the “wall of text” – useful information, but time-consuming to put into context.

ForeFlight seamlessly offers a subset of features designed for the turbine and professional pilot segment, offering an additional level of capability designed for the needs of high-performance operations. It includes custom aircraft performance profiles for hundreds of airplanes, ranging from piston-engine trainers to Citations and Boeing 737s, which makes long-range flight planning nearly effortless. They even offer full runway analysis and engine-out procedures for most of the modern business jets in production today.

These profiles were created using data collected directly the manufacturer’s performance tables, providing highly accurate ETE and fuel calculations when planning a flight. The app will monitor your structural weight limits for each phase of flight, and offers various fuel policy options to assist with fuel planning. And since JetFuelX is a ForeFlight company, this free fuel card management program is nicely integrated into the app, allowing you to view contract fuel prices and submit fuel releases directly from app.

For larger operators, ForeFlight’s optional Dispatch service allows pilots, dispatchers, management and other flight personnel to manage multiple flight plans for a fleet of aircraft. This collaborative flight planning feature makes flight planning much easier for corporate flight departments, and all the relevant details for each flight are sent right to the ForeFlight app on the assigned flight crew’s iPad or iPhone.

Garmin Pilot

Compared to ForeFlight’s start as a weather app, Garmin’s roots have always been in GPS navigation, and that’s where this app really excels. Pilots familiar with other Garmin navigation products, including the GTN 650/750 navigators, Aera portables and G1000 integrated flight deck, will feel right at home using Garmin’s data-driven moving map.

The app has a custom feel to it and doesn’t rely much on Apple’s standard iOS conventions and design. The icon-based main menu looks very similar to the home screen of the GTN 750 and FMS controllers used in Garmin’s OEM installations, again bringing an additional level of familiarity to those with previous Garmin experience. Similar to what you’d find on other Garmin navigation systems, there are nearly endless customization options for the moving map display, providing a high degree of control. The downside of this design is that it can lead you to overlook some key features and settings when first using the app, but nothing that can’t be sorted out with a little extra armchair flying.

The first major difference you’ll find on the map screen is the ability to launch a split-screen view with 13 different options to display alongside the map. Garmin’s implementation of these options is very well done and allows you to keep an eye on your position on the chart graphically while simultaneously showing important items like taxiway diagrams, instrument approach charts, a flight plan screen, dedicated traffic display or terrain.

Flight instruments can either be displayed with the modern glass-cockpit layout, or using Garmin’s unique round instrument display. The synthetic vision display is visually appealing and uses the same graphics as their certified PFDs.

Similar to their panel-mount navigation systems, the Garmin Pilot app offers dedicated Direct-To and Nearest functions, which are always in view in the top menu bar. Pilots have learned to love the dedicated Direct-To button on just about every other aviation GPS device, so it only makes sense that it should be front and center in the app too.

The Nearest function highlights the nearby airports on the moving map that meet your preset criteria for runway surface type and length. It will also display a list of the nearest airports across the top of the screen – tap one of the symbols, press the Direct-To key and follow the magenta line to that airport.

Then there’s Garmin Pilot’s Emergency Mode, which is arguably the most useful in flight when things go south. When you need to take action quickly (engine failure, instrument failure, medical issue), tapping this button will activate a modified version of the Nearest function, highlighting all the airports on the map within gliding distance of your current position. It also activates the split-screen view and displays the emergency checklist for your airplane. Well done, Garmin.

Pilots flying with ADS-B receivers will really appreciate the dedicated traffic screen, either in the full or split-screen view. This helps to keep the moving map screen decluttered and allows you to better identify nearby traffic when in busy airspace. This uses Garmin’s signature TargetTrend technology to show you where the aircraft will be in a user-configurable amount of time (say 2 minutes), depicted with a green trend line. You can easily filter targets based on relative altitude, and you can tap one to view its ground track, climb/descent rate, groundspeed and rate of closure.

Garmin Pilot has its share of smart features too, which provide contextual alerts. Start off with preflight planning – the app will constantly compare the weather reports for your planned departure and destination airports to the personal minimums you set in the app (maximum surface wind, minimum visibility and ceiling) and display a yellow triangle next to an airport ID on the Trip Planning screen when these will be exceeded, based on nearest TAF.

For IFR flights, it will display a similar caution symbol in the same location when the weather dictates an alternate airport is needed, and display a helpful Alternate Airport Selection Guide to help you find an option that meets the requirements of FAR 91.169. You will also be notified when your selected altitude is too low for terrain, when incomplete aircraft data is entered for filing a flight plan, and on the moving map when approaching controlled or special-use airspace.

In the air, Garmin provides pop-up and audio alerts for nearby traffic, terrain, nearby airspace and TFRs. If you’re connected to a Garmin engine monitoring system in the panel, you can even enable custom alerts for exceeding preset parameters like CHT on a piston engine or N1 on a jet airplane.

While Garmin Pilot doesn’t offer the same level of support for professional aviation as ForeFlight, it does offer full integration with FltPlan.com, a popular flight planning service used in corporate aviation. This allows you to create, edit and sync flight plans with fltplan.com and view all the relevant data right in the Garmin Pilot app. This also allows pilots to take advantage of FltPlan.com’s premium services in Garmin Pilot, like pre-departure clearances (PDCs) and Electronic Advance Passenger Information System (eAPIS) filing.

Connectivity

An important element to consider when choosing an app is connectivity. On the most basic level, you’ll want some type of GPS position source, and both apps are fully compatible with the internal GPS found on iPad models with the cellular data option and third-party GPS accessories from Bad Elf and Dual.

The next upgrade is adding a portable ADS-B receiver, which provides subscription-free weather and traffic. Both apps are only compatible with a few select ADS-B receivers which guarantees a reliable user experience and tight hardware/software integration. The Garmin GDL 50 (ADS-B only) and GDL 52 (ADS-B and SiriusXM) receivers work with both Garmin Pilot and ForeFlight, while the Sentry Mini, Sentry and Stratus receivers will only work with ForeFlight. The key takeaway here is to choose your app first, and then buy the compatible ADS-B receiver since they all offer excellent performance.

Both apps are also compatible with the same SiriusXM satellite weather options, which offers improved coverage over the ground-based ADS-B network. The Garmin GDL 51 is a dedicated SiriusXM receiver, while the Garmin GDL 52 is a hybrid device that delivers both ADS-B weather/traffic and SiriusXM weather from the same portable device. Both the GDL 51 and 52 work equally well with ForeFlight and Garmin Pilot.

The big advancement in recent years has been in connecting the iPad to the avionics in the panel, providing two-way flight plan transfers and an installed source of GPS, weather, AHRS and more. Garmin’s connected-panel system is called Connext and was initially designed to work exclusively with Garmin Pilot, but is now compatible with the ForeFlight app as well. Garmin avionics that offer this connectivity include the Flight Stream 110/210/510, GTX 345 ADS-B transponder, G3X experimental flight display and most of the new Garmin glass-cockpit systems installed in new aircraft.

There are a few Garmin connected-cockpit features that work exclusively with the Garmin Pilot app. First, you can only send SiriusXM satellite weather to Garmin Pilot using the Flight Stream system and an installed GDL 69 SiriusXM receiver (Flight Stream will send ADS-B weather to ForeFlight though). There’s also a time-saving feature, Database Concierge, that allows you to wirelessly update the databases on the GTN navigators from your iPad using the FlightStream 510. This can only be done with the Garmin Pilot app.

If your airplane is equipped with a Garmin Flight display with the Engine Indication System (EIS) and a Flight Stream 510, you can view data from all your engine sensors (CHT, EGT, oil pressure, etc.) in the app as well. This provides both in-flight monitoring and post-flight review capabilities and can be set up to display alerts in the app when limits are exceeded. This engine information can even be presented in split-screen view.

Garmin Pilot also interfaces with the Aera 660 portable GPS, D2 smartwatch collection, VIRB camera, inReach messenger and GSR 56 Iridium datalink for satellite calls and messaging. ForeFlight users, on the other hand, have the option to connect to additional avionics including the Avidyne 550/540/440 navigator, Dynon SkyView panel, and ADS-B transponders from L3, FreeFlight and uAvonix.

Making a decision

When choosing an app there’s more to consider than just how it looks and works on your iPad. Both apps include access to a version specifically designed for the iPhone’s smaller screen, which often serves a completely different purpose than the iPad. Many pilots prefer to use the iPhone version when away from the airport to look up airport and FBO info, weather maps, and for route planning, so spend time with this version while evaluating. It’s a great backup for charts in the cockpit too.

You may prefer an Android phone, but use an iPad in the airplane – Garmin has you covered since it works on Android and a subscription provides access to three separate devices. An additional consideration is whether you prefer to use a web browser on a computer for preflight planning. ForeFlight is unique in that it offers a full-featured web interface to view charts, weather, and plan a flight. This information syncs with the app on your iPhone and iPad.

You can’t go wrong with either app since both provide the core functionality to say goodbye to paper charts, but there are enough differences that it’s worth personally evaluating both applications to see which is a better fit for your preferences and type of flying. There is no risk in making the wrong choice, since you can try out both apps free for 30 days. Annual subscriptions start at less than $100 – which is the same amount you’d spend on paper charts for a 200 mile IFR cross-country flight.

Try both apps and you’ll likely find that one will ultimately feel right to you. Yes, you need to compare features, connectivity and pricing for premium features, but also spend some time thinking about which app you’ll feel comfortable with on your lap while flying a low-ILS approach in turbulence and driving rain. That’s what really matters.

Pricing

ForeFlight offers several levels of performance, based on features and your type of flying:

Basic Plus: Flight planning, weather, VFR/IFR charts, weight and balance, logbook. $99/yr

Pro Plus: Everything in Basic Plus, plus geo-referenced approach charts, hazard advisor, synthetic vision, icing/turbulence/surface analysis weather layers. $199/yr

Performance Plus: Everything in Pro Plus, plus aircraft performance profiles, advanced planning engine, AviationCloud routes, fuel policies/safety checks, JetFuelX prices. $299/yr

You can also add additional database and charts for Canada or Europe for an extra $100/yr., or Jeppesen worldwide charts.

Click here for a complete comparison of ForeFlight subscription options.

Purchase a ForeFlight subscription here.

Garmin Pilot offers two packages:

U.S Standard: Flight planning, weather, VFR/IFR charts and terrain. $79.99/yr

U.S Premium: Everything in the standard package, plus geo-referenced approach charts, icing forecasts, Garmin FliteCharts, terrain/obstacle alerts, synthetic vision and SafeTaxi airport diagrams. $159/yr

You can also add additional international regions and Jeppesen charts to Garmin Pilot for an additional subscription fee.

The post ForeFlight vs. Garmin Pilot: Which mobile app is best for you? appeared first on 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 the “Copy to ForeFlight” (or 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.

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.

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The performance planning capabilities of ForeFlight have come a long way since the app first hit the app store ten years ago. What started with basic cross-country flight planning has evolved into a sophisticated flight management system, capable of using airplane manufacturer performance data to help compute time en route within minutes and fuel burn within a gallon or two.

The latest update further refines the planning capabilities for Performance Plus subscribers when using one of ForeFlight’s detailed aircraft performance profiles, adding the ability to tweak the time and fuel burn calculations used for climb and descent. The update also adds Runway Analysis for 5 new jet aircraft models.

Climb and Descent Performance Profile Adjustments

ForeFlight offers two levels of performance planning for pilots based on subscription level. Basic and Pro Plus users are able to set up basic performance profiles for each stored aircraft, using pilot-entered speeds and fuel burn for 3 phases of flight: climb, cruise and descent. Performance Plus subscribers, on the other hand, have access to hundreds of custom performance profiles for the most popular GA airplanes, which are based on the manufacturer’s performance data. These custom profiles go a step further and account for multiple altitudes, weights, and temperatures to provide a more accurate fuel burn and ETE.

ForeFlight’s custom profiles include multiple cruise options based on operating preference. For example, the Cessna 182 includes 5 options based on your planned propeller speed setting, from 2000 to 2400 RPM. If you were to notice a consistent difference between ForeFlight’s calculated performance and the actual results on your flights, you can use the model bias settings to compensate for the discrepancy. This could result from airplane age, pilot operating preferences or external modifications, for example.

The latest update to ForeFlight extends the bias controls to the climb and descent rate as well. Tap either the Climb or Descent profile, and you’ll see new sliders to adjust the time in minutes or fuel in gallons. Your performance may vary from book numbers here based on preferred climb/descent speed or leaning techniques.

Expanded Runway Analysis Support

ForeFlight’s jet performance planning feature, officially called Runway Analysis, was also expanded in version 13.7 to include support for Gulfstream’s GV, GVII-G600 and G450, and Bombardier’s Learjet 60XR and 35A. Learn more about the Runway Analysis feature here.

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ForeFlight redesigned the Plates section of the app earlier this year with a new Flight Binders feature to help you better organize instrument procedures and charts for each flight. Our latest video tip explores how to make the most of this feature and quickly access approach charts and taxi diagrams for the airports in your flight plan.

This clip appears in Sporty’s Flying with ForeFlight training course, which features nearly 3 hours of in-depth training on how to use aviation’s most widely used EFB app.

The post ForeFlight tip: How to organize and view charts using Flight Binders appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

The iPad Pro 11″ has proven to be the top choice for pilots interested in peak tablet performance. While the iPad Mini seems to be the overall most popular size among pilots, the larger model offers blazing speed and a gorgeous screen—if your airplane and budget can accommodate it, you won’t be disappointed.

But once you have your fancy new iPad, the question naturally comes up: what mount or kneeboard works with it? We are big fans of the Robust Mounts, since their universal design accepts many different size tablets, but the story with kneeboards is more complicated. Let’s examine the options.

First, let’s be specific about the iPad models. There are now three generations of iPad Pro 11″ (plus various 12.9″ models and older 10.5″ and 9.7″ iPad Pro models). All three generations of iPad Pro 11″ share the exact same dimensions: 9.74″ high x 7.02″ wide x 0.23 inches deep. That means if you find a mounting solution that works with your iPad Pro 11″ gen 2, it will work with a newer gen 3 model as well.

So far, so good—but there are two other points to note. First, not all models have the exact same camera and key layout, so you may notice slight differences between models. This shouldn’t be an issue with more flexible kneeboard solutions (like the MyClip, Flight Gear, and MyGoFlight noted below), but it can be a problem with custom-fit cases (like the PIVOT). Secondly, the new 4th generation iPad Air also shares the same dimensions as the iPad Pro 11″ (technically it’s 0.2 mm thicker, but this doesn’t matter for practical purposes), so an iPad Pro 11″ kneeboard should work with the new Air in almost all cases.

With those details in mind, which kneeboards work? Here are some of the most popular options.

MyClip Multi

A simple, universal kneeboard that attaches your iPad to your leg—nothing more, nothing less. The clever design works with any size iPad, with or without a case. If it’s 0.85″ thick or less, it will fit. If you’re interested in a low profile, affordable option, this is our top pick. $34.95 – learn more

Flight Gear Bi-Fold

Moving up slightly in price and features, this model includes a universal iPad mounting bracket on the left side. The velcro iPad clips can be adjusted to fit any size tablet, with or without a case, and can be rotated for portrait or landscape orientation. The right side includes storage pockets, pen loops, and a velcro-friendly section for adding accessories. $39.95 – learn more

Flight Outfitters Slimline

This kneeboard offers two mesh pockets for storing small items like a cleaning cloth or charging cable, but it retains a low profile. The iPad can be easily rotated from portrait to landscape orientation, and while it fits an iPad Pro 11″ it is tight—definitely not a good option if you fly with a case on your iPad. $49.95 – learn more

MyGoFlight Folio C

This deluxe model features beautiful leather construction and even a removable clipboard for taking notes or securing a checklist. The iPad is held in place with elastic-mounted clips on the corners, so it can stretch to fit an iPad Pro 11″ but it will not work with cases. $159 – learn more

The best answer will depend on whether you fly with a case on your iPad and whether you prefer simple and slim or deluxe. The MyClip and Flight Gear kneeboards are the most universal, since they work with or without a case—in fact, they can probably accommodate your next iPad too. But the Flight Outfitters and MyGoFlight kneeboards offer solid construction and helpful features if you don’t use a case.

Shop all kneeboards here

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It seems just about every electronic device pilots buy these days includes a GPS, including your phone, watch, ADS-B receiver and personal locator beacon. When you go flying, the odds are good that all these devices are with you in the airplane, so does it really make sense to spend the money for an upgraded iPad that includes GPS? Here are some things to consider.

The Facts – Apple’s iPad GPS option

Google the phrase “does the iPad have a GPS” and prepare to be overwhelmed. More than ten years after the iPad was introduced, lots of people are still confused about whether the tablet actually has a GPS in it. And if it does have a GPS, is it a “real” one? Let’s bust some myths and settle the issue once and for all.

First, some simple facts. 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. It’ll allow you to browse the web while driving down the interstate, or check the weather and update your flight plan when WiFi isn’t available (but it won’t work in flight).

There’s more to the story, though. In addition to the cell data service, the cellular models of the iPad also include a built-in GPS receiver. But it’s important to note that the iPad does not require the cellular connection for the GPS to work. In fact, you can 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.

Should I upgrade to the model with GPS?

So now it’s decision time. Let’s assume you have no interest in using the cellular data component and are strictly weighing the pros/cons of paying the extra $130 for the GPS receiver in the upgraded iPad model. If cost is no object and you want the best of the best, we’d say go for it. Many prefer the peace of mind knowing their iPad is a fully self-contained navigation device which can provide backup navigation guidance if everything else in the panel goes dark.

On the other side of the equation, many pilots these days are flying with an ADS-B receiver, like a Sentry or Garmin GDL 50 for datalink weather and traffic, and these devices also include a GPS to show your location on the iPad’s moving maps. When you factor in that your iPhone or Android phone also includes a GPS (in addition to the GPS in the panel), many pilots find that it’s not worth the extra cost to add the GPS feature when buying a new iPad.

If you do end up making the decision to buy the WiFi only model without GPS, you can always add an inexpensive external GPS later. They start out at under $100 and wirelessly connect to your iPad (here are some tips for buying an external GPS).

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

Many students beginning their training often ask the question “is the iPad the right tool for me in my flight training?” To help with the decision, Dave Zitt, a senior flight instructor at Sporty’s Academy, shares his thoughts on best practices for incorporating the iPad as an EFB when learning to fly.

The post Video tip – How to incorporate the iPad into flight training appeared first on iPad Pilot News.

Tracking airplanes used to be something only airline passengers cared about (“why is my flight late?”). But over time, general aviation pilots have come to use flight tracking services on a daily basis: family members track trips, flight schools monitor their fleet, and pilots take cues from other pilots about weather or airport congestion. FlightAware is probably the most popular option among pilots, and with good reason—it offers powerful tracking features and an easy-to-use mix of apps and online tools.

FlightAware’s Aviator subscription enables customizable alerts and more detailed tracking tools.

At the 2021 EAA AirVenture show, the company introduced a new paid service, called Aviator, which offers premium tracking features specifically targeted at piston airplanes. FlightAware says the package was developed by their own team of pilots, in an effort to combine many of their favorite features into one product. We’ve been using it for a week now and while we wouldn’t call it a must-have, there are some nice features for active pilots and fleet managers.

When you sign up for Aviator, you can register up to five piston aircraft (10 for the Aviator+ subscription). These are aircraft you regularly fly or track, and you do not have to be the owner—it works well for renters or flying clubs. You can track any airplane you want, and even save five more airplanes as favorites on your home screen, but registered aircraft offer the most options for alerts and scheduling.

One of the main additions here is the ability to create “flight intents,” which is a way to notify friends, family, or flying club members of an upcoming flight that won’t have a flight plan (like a VFR flight). This makes it easy to track almost any flight, including local or low level ones. Friends and family can receive alerts even before the airplane takes off, with the taxi out option.

When tracking a flight, you’ll benefit from FlightAware’s predictive ETAs, which go beyond the basics of distance divided by groundspeed. In fact, many airlines are using this feature to plan gate arrivals because FlightAware uses their machine learning technology to predict arrival times based on thousands of previous flights. Subscribers also get access to five months of past flight activity and statistics, which show top airports or routes by month. Aviator+ subscribers also get automated monthly reports via email.

Another helpful feature is not yet available in the app, but is online: premium map layers, including weather. This allows pilots to overlay a flight on sectional or IFR en route charts, then layer on AIRMETs/SIGMETs, lightning, icing, turbulence, and more. We’ve found this to be a useful training tool, since you can evaluate an upcoming flight (with a Flight Intent) or review a previous flight, complete with weather and airspace information.

There are two important limitations to remember. First, Aviator is restricted to piston aircraft, so if you’re flying a Meridian or a Citation, your N-number will not be accepted as a stored airplane. Multi-engine airplanes are allowed, but non-US/Canada airplanes are not.

Second, while ADS-B Out isn’t technically required, it does makes this service much more valuable. FlightAware has a network of over 30,000 ADS-B receivers worldwide, so their tracking goes far beyond Air Traffic Control sources. If you don’t have ADS-B Out and you’re flying VFR, it’s likely your aircraft won’t show up.

There are two subscription levels available: Aviator is $100/year and Aviator+ is $200/year. The Aviator plan should be enough for most casual users, and includes five registered piston aircraft, flight intents, five months of past flight activity, and aeronautical charts. Aviator+ allows 10 registered aircraft, automated monthly reports, and premium weather layers (like turbulence and icing charts).

If you’re a casual user of FlightAware, just tracking the occasional flight, this new subscription probably isn’t worth it. But if you travel a lot and would like to share those flights more easily—or if you operate a flight school—there are some helpful features in Aviator. We’ve found all kinds of uses for it over the last week, and it makes pretty good hangar flying too.

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After returning from a busy week at Oshkosh, ForeFlight rolled out its latest update to the app this week. The standout feature in this release is the addition of obstacles in the various 3D views in the app. The update also includes several smaller updates focused on improving the performance and usability of download features in the app.

Here’s a quick summary of what’s new, sorted by subscription plan:

Basic – Optimized weather downloads in Pack, track log editing, new notification and background settings

Pro Plus – (same new features as the Basic plan)

Performance Plus – Obstacles in 3D

Obstacles in 3D

ForeFlight allows pilots to view both routes and terminal airport environments in a simulated 3D view, providing an additional perspective to help visualize airports, satellite imagery, weather and surrounding features when planning a flight. The latest visual addition to this 3D feature comes in the form of obstacles, which can now be shown in the 3D airport view, 3D route preview and 3D track log review.

After enabling one of these views, tap the layers button at the bottom left and verify the Obstacles later is turned on.

ForeFlight displays three types of obstacles: buildings (shaped like rectangles), towers (shaped like cylinders), and windmills. All other obstacle types use the tower model by default:

The 3D views automatically identify potentially hazardous obstacles within 1 nautical mile of your route by highlighting them with yellow or red stripes based on your current Hazard Altitude settings (1000’ vertically for yellow and 100’ vertically for red, by default).

When viewing the 3D airport display, the obstacle depictions include steady or flashing lights.

Track Log Editing

There may be times when you’d like to trim your recorded track logs by adjusting the start and end times, to save a more accurate representation of a flight. The new Track Log Edit feature allows you to do just that.

To try this out, go to the Track Logs section of ForeFlight and select one of your saved track logs. Tap the new “Edit” button at the bottom right of the graph and then tap and hold the start and end point arrows to reposition as needed. Press the Done button when finished and the track log will be updated.

The edits are non-destructive, meaning you can go back into Edit mode and fine-tune the start and stop point at any time.

Optimized Downloads in Pack

We love ForeFlight’s Pack feature and use it before every flight, to verify all charts and databases are downloaded for the current flight plan. This preflight function also saves the latest weather forecasts and reports for offline reference in the airplane. This is accessed from the small suitcase button at the bottom of the route editor, typically highlighted with a red exclamation icon whenever a new route is entered.

The latest update speeds up the process when using this feature by optimizing the data downloaded in the weather component. ForeFlight improved this by limiting the extent of the Icing, Turbulence, and Cloud Coverage layers downloaded to only areas that overlap with your route.

For comparison on our flight back from Oshkosh this past weekend, the Pack feature showed a download size of 200 MB for weather using the previous version of the app. After updating to version 13.6 today, the size of the weather download for the same route was only 8 MB.

What else is new

• Jeppesen Chart Index Number: View the chart index number along with a chart’s name for linked or purchased Jeppesen coverages to quickly find the right procedure. Chart index numbers are shown in Airport Procedures, the Maps Sidebar, and the Plates view.
• Background Downloads Setting: Optionally disable background downloads to prevent them from being interrupted and restarting due to a slow or spotty internet connection.
• Notification Preferences: Opt-in to receive notifications about new feature releases, special offers on subscriptions, events, training, and more by enabling Marketing Push Notifications in More > Account > Notifications.

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Sometimes the real magic of technology is when multiple features come together to make 2 + 2 = 5. So it is with electronic flight bag apps and datalink weather—both are useful, but when used together pilots can make smarter decisions and easily avoid bad weather. This was demonstrated on a recent trip with Garmin Pilot, where the app’s Freehand feature came in handy.

Freehand is a way to graphically edit the active flight plan, whether you’re avoiding airspace or finding cheap fuel. Instead of entering waypoints, you simply draw your preferred route. In this case, SiriusXM datalink weather showed several areas of thunderstorms along our route and we were working with Air Traffic Control (ATC) to find a safe deviation plan. That’s where this quick tip came in.

From the Map page, tap the Menu button at the top right, then tap Graphically Edit Flight Plan.

Then make sure you’re in Freehand mode (as opposed to Tap Waypoints mode).

From there, it’s simply a matter of dragging your current route around the weather.

When you release, the app will identify waypoints underneath your Freehand route and automatically add them to your current route. If you’re VFR you can start navigating; if you’re IFR it’s time to tell ATC your plan.

Obviously, you don’t have to follow this exact route, but it’s a great way to estimate how much this deviation will change your time en route and your fuel burn.

Here’s a screen recording showing each step in real time. As you can see, it’s quick and easy.

The post Using Garmin Pilot’s freehand feature to deviate around weather appeared first on 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).

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 iAds, Diagnostics 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.

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Apple recently released iOS and iPad OS 14.7, which adds support for merging two Apple Credit cards, new podcast organization features, support for MagSafe battery packs on iPhone, and several bug fixes (see the full list of updates in the release notes below).

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.

Click here to view the iOS 14.6 iOS Green Light guidance

What’s new in iOS 14.7 (released July 19, 2021)

• Apple Card family adds the option to combine credit limits and share one co-owned account with an existing Apple Card user
• Home app adds the ability to manage timers on HomePod
• Podcasts library allows you to choose to see all shows or only followed shows
• Share Playlist menu option missing in Apple Music
• Dolby Atmos and Apple Music lossless audio playback may unexpectedly stop
• Braille displays could show invalid information while composing Mail messages
• Audio may skip when using USB-C to 3.5 mm headphone jack adapters with iPad

The post iOS Update Green Light program: iOS and iPadOS 14.7 appeared first on iPad Pilot News.