I found it interesting when it was existent, so since I haven’t been able to find it I’d like to know what happened.

Thanks!

FIAT LUX!
C.C.C.

I found AOPA Airports a great tool for finding out airport information and contacting them. Using the optional headset connection, you can also call ahead for fuel if running a little late and still out of radio range. This sometimes requires slowing the airplane down and circling a town to maintain cell coverage. Sporty’s E6B is more versitile than the original mechanical device with about 23 easy-to-use calculations, most of which can be done in flight; the wind speed and direction calculation is particularly handy. Windsock is a must-have that easily calculates your cross-wind component when there is a question of exceeding it. I tried a couple of attitude indicators and found them too unstable.

AirWx is great for checking en route METARS, provided you run it while over a town or city with a strong signal. The same with My Radar Pro, for getting a good look at Nexrad. The NOAA website is good for Nexrad Clouds and METARS, provided you have a good signal, but unlike AirWx, the date is not stored for reference several minutes after losing the signal.

Skycharts are too complex for enroute use on the iPhone, even though parts of the data are stored in the phone. Perhaps the larger screen of the iPad will be better.

Many applications are similar to those on my charts or GPS, but having them on the iPhone enables me to keep the GPS on its primary task while searching for additional information on a separate screen. On the ground, having weather data always available keeps you on top of departure planning, even when a computer is not handy and you are not ready to call for a briefing.

Non pilot passengers love it. I pull up the VFR sectional and they can track exactly where we are. I was flying IMC last night, in the dark, and they really appreciated being able to see where we were. Most of my trips are conducted below 10,000 feet and last less than two hours, so I’ve experienced no overheating, lockups, or any other problems. Battery life has been execllent.

In addition to my aviation apps (Foreflight, AOPA airports, FltPlan, PilotWiz, Skycharts, X-Plane, Tracker Lite, AeroWeather, iHUD, Wing-X, etc), I have regular iPad apps that my PAX can use. They can read the paper (NY Times, USA Today), play games, slots, watch movies, and all the other 1,000′s of apps available to iPad.

There are some new bluetooth GPS units that are compatable with the iPad that’s going to address the GPS accuracy issues. I look forward to these apps as they develop and grow.

If you don’t use an iPad in your plane yet, you’re really missing out. Santa, please bring me a subscription to WingX Pro for my iPad.

See ForeFlight’s recommendations for external GPS’s:
http://blog.foreflight.com/2010/11/09/external-ipad-gps-receivers-for-foreflight-hd/

Craig

What I do not do is use the built in GPS for navigation. The fact is the GPS is just not that good. I often cannot receive a good indication of my position in my car on the ground from these devices, I would never trust them in the air. I am not surprised Apple provides lawyers to answer questions about aviation, but I think talking to the makers of the apps might prove more fruitful.

Inspired by the AOPA live “Cockpit Revolution: Apple iPad”, presentation I did investigate and then purchase the external GNS 5870 MFI Bluetooth GPS Receiver that supports ForeFlight and will test it with the moving map function for VFR flight very soon, but even if it works great I would not rely on it as my sole means of navigation, I would back it up with Radio aids, pilotage. etc. I am not aware of any GPS for the iPad that is WAAS capable, maybe Mitch could provide more info on that.

I think the iPad is great and will continue to use it in my flying, but it is important to recognize the capabilities and limitations of both the device and the apps. Here are few things that I learned from experience:

1) You have to ensure the charts/plates are up to date. On my apps you need to manually initiate the process to do this and if you keep charts for an area covering several states you will need to do it on the ground over WiFi prior to the flight. It looks like the regulations don’t require a paper back up, but I think that a smart pilot would have them.

2) Unless you have a means to charge it in the aircraft, you need to ensure you have a sufficient charge on the device to last through the flight. Apple claims 12 hours of battery life, but what you really get depends on your usage, if you have WiFi going and are actively using a lot of apps your available time on a full charge may be as little as 6 hours. There are devices available to provide a back up charge such as the Trent Super-pack IMP500 5000mAh External Battery pack, but I have not used any of these. On a full charge the iPad easily exceeds the endurance of the aircraft I fly.

3)As Bruce mentioned, you need to ensure you keep your iPad cool otherwise it will overheat and cease to operate until it cools down again. I learned this first hand. Do not leave the device on the right seat in the blazing sun. When not in active use keep the device out of the sun and away form other sources of heat. In the summer I also try to position a vent to blow cool air past it.

4) You need to put the iPad in a non-slip protective case, I just use the standard case available from Apple, but there are lots of other cases available and now there are kneeboard type cases and straps available too. Whatever works for you, but secure it. The iPad is a surprisingly slippery thing!

5) Learn to navigate your app on the ground before you take it flying. I can’t tell you how many times I have exited the entire app when I only wanted to exit a particular page in the app. During your turn to intercept the LOC is not the time to restart the app with your approach plate.

6) If you fly with kids, buy two they are going to want to watch movies and play games during the flight.

Thanks for your assistance.