iPad for flying

I haven't owned an Apple product since the 80’s Apple IIe/c. I’m a huge PC fan. However, I went to fly-in and all the pilots had iPads. They all had software loaded called ForeFlight (also available for iPhones and desktop). This software is absolutely amazing! ForeFlight has VFR charts, IFR charts, approaches, and airport info all in one - no more paper! They reload after they expire, they are clear on the screen, you can zoom in and out, and it is easy to navigate quickly between airport info, charts, and approaches. In addition with the GPS and 3G you get moving map and updated weather even at 14,000 feet! The battery life is simply amazing, 8-10 hours with full usage in a flight. Many pilots were suspicious that in daytime you wouldn’t be able to see, especially the approach charts are perfectly clear even in the Texas sun as white background and black text. Here are some quick pics of mine. I’ve only had it a couple weeks, but will use it for flight planning and have already uploaded X Plane simulator which is so cool and precise moving the iPad like it’s a yoke.
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I've only tested to 4k.

Specs for device are 14k.

I've heard as long as you get connected before airborne then it will stay connected most of flight.

Only thing the connection will give you is updated weather. All the charts you download on the ground.

 

u know, I didn't know if the GPS or 3G did that?

 

ohh, GPS accurate as heck! we were flying along and speed was only 1 kt off, alt was 200 feet off, but that's expected as it didn't know local pressure. actually the GPS was prob more accurate on the exact alt we were, not the local setting. flew over a small feeder creek and the detail was on the map.

I have most of that stuff on the glass cockpit, but good cross reference and the approaches beat jumbled paper all over your lap!

 

My first 340 hours of flying have been "old school". I have seen the light now though. No more making sure you have bought the right AFD, VFR charts, IFR charts, and approach books. Making sure yours aren't expired. No more cutting out and putting the 8-10 approaches you are most likely to use on your knee board. Each one of my flights would start off organized. 3-5 different VFR/IFR charts neatly folded to the area I needed and in order how the flight would go. AFD ear marked for each airport I would need. All my approach plates organized Departure, Arrival, Destination, and Alternate. Of course by the end of the flight all those neatly organized papers were spread out left of my seat, left pocket, dash, between the seats, some still on the knee board, passenger holding some, and then others in the back seat!

Imagine, all of those are now in that one 8 by 10" device with the easiest navigation between each. I mean bring up the IFR low enroute quickly to double check and as soon as you close it goes right back to the approach you had up, 1 click. I have yet to see anyone that has tried it and not fallen in love with it. There are many $2-10k aviation solutions out there that don't do 50% of what this $800 device does (64/WiFi/2G).

 

I could see problem if you are a yoke guy, but I've always been a kneeboard guy. I still use kneeboard with just blank paper and pen for clearances and weather now (use to have my charts). I put iPad right in my lap on kneeboard for approaches, all other times it fits perfectly between door and seat.

I don't fly at night, but the light off the iPad won't be more of an issue than light off the G1000.

Flying an approach at night do you use a flashlight or is your overhead light enough?

 

I have Jepp charts too on the G1000, but talk about a pain reading blurry plates on the MFD! I can't stand that, but is approved. Don't know the details, but ForeFlight is approved for FAA, they get the data directly from FAA. Any good conservative pilot would have some paper backups too.

The risk of losing your MFD and iPad is about equal to dropping your printed approach plate out the window or under the seat blowing back to the cargo area.

 

tell him the flying world loves him now, but hurry up and do a more robust flight planning piece (like fltplan.com or AOPA)!

that's really the only thing its missing to get rid of everything but ForeFlight.

 

great question.

for the US you basically tell it which AFD, VFR, IFR, and approaches you want to download. when each expires it turns red and you hit update to get newest. if you go somewhere new, then you can add to your list or remove others to track. I have 40 different download packages right now including everything. that covers me from Texas to Kansas and Rockies to Arkansas. Later this month going to Oshkosh I will have to add some just for that trip.

 

I used it today for 700 nm total of flying. worked great, I was almost able to use it for 100% of everything, but I couldn't get it to take my W&B spreadsheet this morning, I know it can, I just have to figure it out. I filed, departure, VFR charts, IFR charts, and AFD info all from it. At 7k I tried to get 3G and it didn't work, I didn't really need to, I just wanted to post on this thread. Once I also had it in passenger seat in direct sun and it has a heat level shut off, a couple minutes in the back seat and it came back on.