Apple has sold about 250 million iPads since their introduction in 2010. That’s one for every adult in the United States. By some estimates, half of all pilots fly with a tablet, making them more prevalent than panel-mounted GPS. Everyone from the military and American Airlines to major corporate flight departments and Piper Cub pilots use them. The iPad is one of the very few devices that crosses all sectors of aviation. It only makes sense that we start training with them.
What is it? The iPad—or any tablet—is a computer. It has similar advantages and limitations, including a reliance on battery, decent software, and sometimes finicky electrons. Tablets have advantages in aviation that make them more appealing than a PC. They are smaller; easier to boot up and turn off; the batteries last longer; and touchscreen inputs mean you don’t have to fight with a mouse or touchpad.
What really makes tablets useful is the software that’s available specifically for aviation purposes. With a tablet you can take training courses; keep a logbook; calculate weight and balance; maintain an aviation library; keep aircraft documents in one place; and plan and execute flights. That’s why so many pilots across so many different facets of aviation use them—a tool that provids such incredible capability in such a small package. That may seem obvious if you’re a digital native, but to old and crusty pilots, it’s a revelation.
What do I need? If you’re sold on the idea of using a tablet in your flying, there are must-haves, mission-maximizers, and cool toys. In the must-have category the list is short. To get in the game you simply need a tablet and some software. Tablet choices come down to the iPad—and everything else. iPads generally are more expensive, but you’ll find more software choices in the store. Whether to go for an iPad or iPad mini is a personal preference based mainly on cockpit space. If you are anti-Apple and opt for an Android-based platform, there are dozens of choices in all sorts of colors, sizes, and prices.
For software, you’ll want an all-you-can-eat flight planning and navigation app, such as ForeFlight, Garmin Pilot, or WingX. Each has plusses and minuses. Many offer 30-day free trials—pick one and then stick with what feels best to you. If you’re in training, check out Sporty’s or King Schools app-based training courses.
The mission-maximizer comes down to two basic add-ons. The first is an external GPS. If you go iPad and opt for the Wi-Fi-only version, you will need to buy an external GPS in order to use the all-in navigation apps. Buying a 3G or LTE model gets you the necessary hardware, and a service subscription isn’t required. Either way, you’re better off with an external unit.
Or you could skip that step and buy a portable ADS-B receiver. These incredible little boxes grab subscription-free traffic and weather from the FAA’s ADS-B network, and most include a GPS position source. They are easy to use. Charge it up, turn it on, pair it to your device, and you will see radar, aviation routine meteorological reports (METARs), terminal aerodrome forecasts (TAFs), certain types of traffic, and other mind-blowing things while you’re flying. Stratus is the market leader, but there are many choices.
Finally, there are lots of cool toys, from unique and creative mounting options to anti-glare screen covers (the iPad can be hard to read in direct sunlight), flight bags made to fit, and chargers and extended battery packs. MyGoFlight, Sporty’s, and other aviation retailers sell lots of fun toys to go along with your new iPad.
Now what? There is no right or wrong way to utilize an iPad. Everyone has a different style or trick. Some people go so far as to use it as a panel-mounted GPS, while others only occasionally reference instrument approach charts or frequencies. What you end up using it for largely depends on the software you buy and where you are in your training. That said, there are a few key ways an iPad can make flying easier and more fun.
1. Training. From basic knowledge test question apps to full training courses, there is a training resource to fit your need in the Apple app stores. Many offer the ability to download content for offline use. There often are videos and animations, and some include detailed training syllabi to keep you on the path to success.
2. Flight planning. All preflight planning tasks—including route planning, weather checks, and weight and balance—can be completed on an iPad. There is no FAA requirement that a weight and balance calculation involve pencil and paper, nor will most examiners require you to draw a line on a chart. Some apps, such as ForeFlight, offer an all-in experience, while others offer one part of the planning puzzle.
3. In-flight reference. How much you use the iPad in flight will depend on what sort of equipment you have on the panel. Absent a GPS, the iPad may serve as your primary navigator. But if your panel looks like a wall of TVs in Best Buy, you’ll most likely only use it for a sectional or an approach chart or two. Paired with an ADS-B box or with synthetic vision, the iPad becomes an active tool to be referenced often. It’s ideal to circumnavigate weather. Tapping on airports for current conditions, rerouting around radar returns, and other on-the-go tasks make it an indispensable tool.
4. Post flight. The iPad can be a great way to keep a logbook. Many provide currency reminders, and enable quick addition of different types of flight time. It’s also a great place to keep backups of documents. Video and flight track debriefs are helpful in training, and you can’t claim to be a true modern pilot without sharing your photos on social media.
Of course, the greatest thing about the iPad is that you can take it home, pass it to your kids, and continue to get use out of it outside the airplane. Trying doing that with any other piece of aviation gear.
Related Articles
