Pilots are on the forefront when it comes to adapting to the possibilities of the digital age. Like no other group, they’ve shaped smartphones and tablets to serve their specific needs in aviation. Surely some gift ideas can be gleaned from the vast array of offerings? Here’s a sample of what AOPA Pilot editors would love to give or receive this holiday.
BluLink
Want to listen to music wirelessly in the cockpit, using your smartphone or iPod? Make phone calls for weather, fuel, or transportation without taking off your headset or clamping your phone uncomfortably to your cheek? Then BluLink is for you. It works with most panel-mount aviation headsets and with any cell phone with Bluetooth. “It’s the difference between hearing and not hearing a call,” says Senior Editor Al Marsh.
www.pilotblulink.com
Digital not your thing? We’re going retro with our gift ideas in next month’s Pilot Briefing.
Email [email protected]
Iridium GO!
This is a satellite WiFi hotspot no connected pilot can do without. Essentially a satellite phone, it lets you make phone calls and sends texts and emails through your smartphone and tablet, and also boasts an integrated GPS with tracking capabilities. It’s small, shock-resistant, and dust proof. A must have for the backcountry pilot and the jet jockey alike. “Finally a sat phone that is practical for pilots, especially those who fly backcountry, hunt and fish,” says Editor in Chief Tom Haines.
www.globalmarinenet.com/iridium_go.php or www.sportys.com
D2
This item topped several editors’ lists. It might look like a watch, but there’s so much more to it. Garmin describes its product as “portable avionics in a wrist-worn package” and considering that among other things it’s GPS-enabled, sports a high-sensitivity WAAS GPS receiver, an altimeter, and a three-axis compass, you better believe it.
www.garmin.com
GoPro App
GoPros make taking videos in or around the airplane a lot easier and now they’ve gone one step further. Tired of fussing with the camera, especially when it’s mounted over your head? There’s an app for that. The GoPro App lets you control all camera functions from your smartphone. It also offers live preview, plays back videos, and lets you share them. You can even update your camera software. The app is free, so the camera that goes with it is the real gift.
https://gopro.com/software-app/gopro-app
Vavuud Wind Meter
Turn your smartphone into a weather station. Well, not quite. But attach the plastic gadget to your smartphone and you can view wind speeds and wind direction, allowing the accompanying (free) app to detect even the slightest variations in wind speed. The wind meter is offered in two models: blades (Vavuud Sleipnir) and cup anemometers (Mjolnir). It’s currently Senior Editor Ian Twombly’s favorite toy.
www.vaavud.com
D2
This item topped several editors’ lists. It might look like a watch, but there’s so much more to it. Garmin describes its product as “portable avionics in a wrist-worn package” and considering that among other things it’s GPS-enabled, sports a high-sensitivity WAAS GPS receiver, an altimeter, and a three-axis compass, you better believe it.
www.garmin.com
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