Ipad and Foreflight

bc2209

bc2209

Well-Known Member
First off let me say that I am currently in a zero to hero program finishing up my Private. I intend to try my best and get on as a CFI at said school. I've been kicking around the idea of an Ipad and Foreflight after seeing an instructor using one the other day. I was pretty amazed at the capabilities.

Having said all this is it worth the money? Does it significantly help? Are there better and less expensive apps other than Foreflight? Should I wait until after training and when I become a CFI? Buy it now and never look back?

All replies welcome!

Thanks guys
 
I enjoy using it. It's nice having all the information I need in one central location. I don't have to carry a bunch of charts, approach plates, etc.

It's free to try for a month I believe. Check it out and decide for yourself if it's worth the price tag.
 
ForeFlight gives you a world of information. Anyone that discounts its value in the airplane either hasn't used it, or simply doesn't understand all that it will do. With the new ADS-B capabilities, it is amazing. Weather, traffic, winds aloft, pireps, TFR's, MOA's, etc... fltplan.com is fine for preflight info, but of little or no use once you leave the ground.
 
Oh...but the fact that it only has FAA charts sucks. I would gladly pay to have Jepp charts on it, so I don't have to carry Jepp charts and the iPad. Moving map GPS over the approach plate is awesome and could certainly save a life (if it hasn't already).
 
I think there's a place for foreflight in aviation. I think a student should really earn their PPL and Instrument ticket at least before diving into foreflight. I've flown with pilots where foreflight has really disabled their navigating ability. Take away their ipad, and they'll get lost in less than 5 minutes...

I personally enjoy having the tool as an instructor. The best part is having all the current charts, and that is mainly what I use it for. So when I'm flying with a student doing IFR flying, I'll pull up the approach on my iPhone rather than fishing through a big binder full of charts. I make a personal point to not use the geo referencing feature for navigation on cross countries to keep my skills sharp, but sometimes I like to have it to see how close my students get to certain airspaces that they're not paying attention to...
 
Fltplan.com gives you all the same information including ADS-B and XM (providing you have a receiver of course). Current TFR, MOAs, fuel prices, georeferenced approach plates etc.
 
JustinS said:
I think there's a place for foreflight in aviation. I think a student should really earn their PPL and Instrument ticket at least before diving into foreflight. I've flown with pilots where foreflight has really disabled their navigating ability. Take away their ipad, and they'll get lost in less than 5 minutes...

I personally enjoy having the tool as an instructor. The best part is having all the current charts, and that is mainly what I use it for. So when I'm flying with a student doing IFR flying, I'll pull up the approach on my iPhone rather than fishing through a big binder full of charts. I make a personal point to not use the geo referencing feature for navigation on cross countries to keep my skills sharp, but sometimes I like to have it to see how close my students get to certain airspaces that they're not paying attention to...
Click to expand...
I agree with that, I'm likely not going to get any of these apps until I finish training.
 
Boyington said:
ForeFlight gives you a world of information. Anyone that discounts its value in the airplane either hasn't used it, or simply doesn't understand all that it will do. With the new ADS-B capabilities, it is amazing. Weather, traffic, winds aloft, pireps, TFR's, MOA's, etc... fltplan.com is fine for preflight info, but of little or no use once you leave the ground.
Click to expand...
Too bad foreflight is locked into the Appareo for ADS-B. Once 2020 compliant transceivers with wifi connectivity hit the market (like the Freeflight Ranger) Foreflight is going to see people bailing to platforms like Wing-X. That is the sole reason we will likely be using Wing-X at my shop.
 
ChasenSFO said:
I agree with that, I'm likely not going to get any of these apps until I finish training.
Click to expand...

That's a good plan. I don't even let my commercial students use foreflight, but at a minimum get your PPL and Instrument before starting to use it.
 
ChasenSFO said:
Even if you watch them die inside as they power down the ipad?
Click to expand...

Meh, foreflight doesn't fly an airplane, they do. Our school gives our students plenty of preflight planning resources. A plotter, E6B and a sectional is all you need VFR. IFR it's too easy with the G1000 even when you take away their huge moving map. The feeling of being old school and learning the right way in the end is more rewarding. That and they're more likely to pass their stage check if they know the "old school ways," because thats exactly what they're tested on.
 
bc2209 said:
First off let me say that I am currently in a zero to hero program finishing up my Private. I intend to try my best and get on as a CFI at said school. I've been kicking around the idea of an Ipad and Foreflight after seeing an instructor using one the other day. I was pretty amazed at the capabilities.

Having said all this is it worth the money? Does it significantly help? Are there better and less expensive apps other than Foreflight? Should I wait until after training and when I become a CFI? Buy it now and never look back?

All replies welcome!

Thanks guys
Click to expand...
Foreflight is excellent. However, IMO you need to learn and do all the navigation up through commercial without using it. After commercial/instrument, IMO it's fair game... especially as a CFI candidate... but just like learning on a glass panel, it's too easy to -not- build the habit of keeping situational awareness in your head, and instead entrust it to the bright flashy screen.

-Fox
 
JustinS said:
I think there's a place for foreflight in aviation. I think a student should really earn their PPL and Instrument ticket at least before diving into foreflight. I've flown with pilots where foreflight has really disabled their navigating ability. Take away their ipad, and they'll get lost in less than 5 minutes...
Click to expand...

This is my style of instruction. No shiny objects until you've learned how to do what the shiny objects do by yourself... because SA exists in your head, not as state on a display somewhere.

I personally enjoy having the tool as an instructor. The best part is having all the current charts, and that is mainly what I use it for. So when I'm flying with a student doing IFR flying, I'll pull up the approach on my iPhone rather than fishing through a big binder full of charts. I make a personal point to not use the geo referencing feature for navigation on cross countries to keep my skills sharp, but sometimes I like to have it to see how close my students get to certain airspaces that they're not paying attention to...
Click to expand...

Yuuuuuuuuuup.

-Fox
 
Acrofox said:
Foreflight is excellent. However, IMO you need to learn and do all the navigation up through commercial without using it. After commercial/instrument, IMO it's fair game... especially as a CFI candidate... but just like learning on a glass panel, it's too easy to -not- build the habit of keeping situational awareness in your head, and instead entrust it to the bright flashy screen.

-Fox
Click to expand...

Agreed, I don't let my commercial students use it either.
 
Boyington said:
Oh...but the fact that it only has FAA charts sucks. I would gladly pay to have Jepp charts on it, so I don't have to carry Jepp charts and the iPad. Moving map GPS over the approach plate is awesome and could certainly save a life (if it hasn't already).
Click to expand...
Have you tried the JeppFD-Pro app?
 
Foreflight lover here. I am a CFI and a contract jet guy. Being able to have everything I need no matter what state I wake up in or plane I am flying has been invaluable. I simply don't have time to deal with paper anything anymore, EVERY plate, DP, STAR, taxiway diagram, FBO information, AFD, VFR, IFR here and all the way to Asia, weather, flight planing, filing, imagery, airplane documents, GPS and more. Not to mention everyone I know has it, so it is pretty much considered the "standard" now.

If you make your living operating airplanes then foreflight is priceless. (l use an ipad2). If you are a student pilot, its worth it, but can wait. Do you hate apple? Get over it.

The Jepp app sucks.
 
Once I point out some of the holes in Foreflight, my students agree to use the paper charts some. ...I do make it obvious that they'll only be plotting courses or using the scale on the IFR low chart while they're in training.

Questions like "What's the top of that restricted area?" or "What does this symbol on the approach plate mean?" or "Is there a preferred routing?" all drive students back to paper products.
 
I love it. I didn't use it until I became an instructor, though. I agree with the other people on here that you should only use it after at least your private. Learn and master pilotage and don't rely on the GPS as a student
 
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