Ipad and Foreflight

[msmspilot]

I appreciate everyone's replies.

I think the idea of learning on paper is a great idea up until maybe just shy of my CFI stuff. At that point I'm going to reevaluate the usefulness it will bring me in my future employment.

CFI is where you need to know the paper stuff again. So you can teach it!

 

[IndianaPilot]

Here's a foreflight question .......don't you need a data connection to use it?? I have an iPad but it's not a sprint /verizon/ t mobile capable .....just a basic wifi iPad

 

[elmetal]

Here's a foreflight question .......don't you need a data connection to use it?? I have an iPad but it's not a sprint /verizon/ t mobile capable .....just a basic wifi iPad

Absolutely not. You need to connect to a WiFi to download all the charts you may want to use. Once they're downloaded, you don't need WiFi. Unless you wanna lookup weather, tfrs etc.

But also keep in mind the WiFi version doesn't have a built in GPS so your location will be unusable unless you get an external GPS.

 

[Dugie8]

Here's a foreflight question .......don't you need a data connection to use it?? I have an iPad but it's not a sprint /verizon/ t mobile capable .....just a basic wifi iPad

No data connection required. All the info (that you select) is stored on the iPad. The cellular version of the iPad will give you GPS position on the charts.

 

[IndianaPilot]

Gotcha thanks!

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

Gotcha thanks!

BTW, that is true of all of the EFB apps. Consider: if they did need cellular service, they'd be useless since Cellular service is not at all reliable above a certain altitude.

But, as the others said, with a wifi-only iPad - I use one also - you will need an external GPS for your aircraft's position information on the maps and charts.

 

[KatanaHawk]

IMO, even with a cellular-enabled iPad, it's still advisable to have an external GPS. I have a cell iPad Air with ForeFlight that works just fine by itself, but it has to re-aquire the GPS signal each time you let the iPad sleep for longer than a few minutes. I also use a Bad Elf Pro, which will maintain a constant GPS lock and bluetooth connection with the iPad, so no matter how long I leave the iPad asleep I can get immediate position feedback.

That being said, I normally don't "need" the aircraft position right away anyway, so the Bad Elf normally sits in my bag without use.

 

[Roger Roger]

IMO, even with a cellular-enabled iPad, it's still advisable to have an external GPS. I have a cell iPad Air with ForeFlight that works just fine by itself, but it has to re-aquire the GPS signal each time you let the iPad sleep for longer than a few minutes. I also use a Bad Elf Pro, which will maintain a constant GPS lock and bluetooth connection with the iPad, so no matter how long I leave the iPad asleep I can get immediate position feedback.

That being said, I normally don't "need" the aircraft position right away anyway, so the Bad Elf normally sits in my bag without use.

Or when your aircraft gets upgraded for the 2020 ADS-B requirement, put a FreeFlight Systems Ranger transceiver in with the wifi module. Then you'll have ADS-B in (including own ship WAAS GPS location) display able on your iPad.

 

[alaskadrifter]

ForeFlight is great for SHTF situations, especially if you have it on your tablet and phone. You have your redundancy right there. It is one subscription for all of your devices. My wife can use it too, we have it on four different phones/ tablets total. At $10-13 for a sectional $75/year doesn't seem so bad.