iPad with cellular, Foreflight and personal hotspot

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pilotjwatson

New Member
I searched the forums but couldn't seem to find this information anywhere. I have the iPad 2 with Foreflight Pro but my iPad 2 doesn't have data service on it. Shortly, I'm going to be training for my commercial rating, multi-engine, CFI, etc., and I want to make good use of the iPad in the cockpit. Should I make the investment in the iPad with cellular data plan or keep what I have for awhile and utilize the personal hotspot function on my iPhone?

Any information is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
 
You do not need any data in the cockpit as any kind of student pilot.

All you need is some FBO free wifi for the preflight.
 
Disagree. Having the cellular data connection (if you choose to pay the monthly rate) is a great tool to have. Wait until you're at an airport in the middle of nowhere and the Mom and Pop FBO has internet slower than dial-up. Makes it super easy to pull up weather information, briefings, or even update charts in an absolute pinch. Also, unless something has changed, only the iPads with cellular data have a built in GPS chip. This makes it a lot easier versus paying for an external GPS box.

I will say it is important not to rely on your iPad during training, but I also think you should not ignore a great tool in the cockpit.

Edit: Saw afterwards you mentioned tethering to an iPhone. That should work fairly well, gives you the cellular data connection too.
 
Does the ipad have internal GPS? My girlfriends does not so we got a Garmin GLONAS receiver that works via bluetooth. We pick up the maps at home and the GPS works well. My Nexus has internal GPS.
 
The wifi only models do not have the internal GPS chip, only the cellular+wifi models. I have a 32GB Cellular+Wifi iPad mini and like @TOGA9 said, having cellular can be nice when the smaller FBO's internet is slow as snot. I only pay $10 extra a month on my cell phone bill to have access to that service. Is it absolutely needed? No, but its nice to have in certain situations and/or as a backup.
 
For best use in the cockpit, you do not need cellular data on you iPad. I'm on my second wifi-only iPad and, even on the ground, haven't missed it even once in the ~4 years I've been using an iPad with ForeFlight when it comes to aviation use (I have done tethering, but that' s been for other purposes). That said, you probably know that unless you pay for 3G capability (not necessarily a data plan, just the capability), Apple decided you shouldn't have a GPS either, so you will need an external one to take advantage of moving map and geo-referenced charts.
 
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I have a cellular+wifi on my iPad. Pay the $10 for the access fee and enjoy having internet on the road. The GPS position works pretty good too.
 
Sorry, I should have mentioned that I have an external GPS device that works very well. I have since learned, after speaking with Verizon, that I don't have the hotspot on my phone due to my plan. I would have to upgrade. Now I have to face the question of upgrading the iPad to the unit with the cellular plan or just upgrade my cell plan to have the hotspot.

TOGA9...I appreciate your mentioning not to rely on the iPad. I learned using paper charts and still continue to use them when necessary in the airplane. However, as you said, why not utilize the fantastic tool that is the iPad?
 
People have been landing and taking off from airports in the middle of nowhere for years with out data just fine. Just saying.

Use your ipad for charts, and if needed pull up some weather on your phone. The last thing you or I want (if I was your instructor) is the distraction of pulling up facebook or your email while holding short #3.

Unless you really feel like spending more money. I'm kinda cheap. You might not be. Thats cool.

This is coming from a guy with a company provided LTE iPad running Foreflight and Jeppsen. Half the time I forget its still on airplane mode.
 
I have to look up the regulations on this still, but is a pilot required to turn off cellular network (3G, 4G/LTE, etc.) ability like airplane mode does when flying, and is it different for General Aviation versus the Airlines?

I know as a passenger on airlines you are told to use airplane mode, which may have to do with potential radio interference, but not sure. I'll have to research that more. I would like to know if there is validity to it and to what extent. If it is valid, it would be best to be safe than sorry that's for sure.

I'm curious as to what you all know about this.
 
T/O w/FSII said:
People have been landing and taking off from airports in the middle of nowhere for years with out data just fine. Just saying.
Click to expand...
People been landing and taking off without DME, RNAV, Loran and now GPS too but I for one like to use the tools available to me.

Yes, you want a cell phone connection on your iPad. I was on the run-up pad when my destination went IFR. Changed my flight planning to IFR and hit file. About 3 minutes later; N4201B I have your clearance, advise ready to copy.
 
fholbert said:
Yes, you want a cell phone connection on your iPad. I was on the run-up pad when my destination went IFR. Changed my flight planning to IFR and hit file. About 3 minutes later; N4201B I have your clearance, advise ready to copy.
Click to expand...

If you already have a smartphone, you can use that instead. Then again I am cheap. I use my Nexus for maps/plates, and smartphone to file.
 
If you would like in flight weather and ForeFlight, I would recommend Stratus. Cellular service while flying can be inconsistent. While I don't own one, I have borrowed a friend's and used it. Worked very well for the services they advertised. WX, NEXRAD, ADS-B traffic, TAFs at destination, winds aloft, etc.... That was at 41,000 at 500 knots.

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