iPad, changing aviation one app at a time

After months of deliberating over spending the absurd amount of money on an Apple iPad, I finally took the plunge and bought one. I had been eyeing these since they first came out and I have tried several Sony e-readers and even a Kindle, but none of them showed approach plates very well and were just too cumbersome to use. My wife bought the first iPad when it came out and I downloaded some plates just to see how it worked and it was simply amazing. My experience with her iPad was limited though since she loved it so much, she wouldn't let me use it all that much. It was only a Wi-Fi only version, so it had limited aviation applications since it had no GPS.

So for aviation purposes, you really need to get a 3G version from either AT&T or Verizon. This provides you with the ability to use it anywhere you need to, which is extremely helpful if you ever fly into a small airport with limited facilities. The 3G version also has the built in GPS with allows for the use of numerous aviation programs. Although I have yet to try it, I'm told that you can track your flight while in the air as well. If you purchase the Georeference package from Foreflight, you can even have georeferenced instrument approach plates that will show you where you are at, as you fly an instrument approach.

There are numerous applications out there for the iPad now, but so far here are the ones that I have/use. Some of these are iPhone applications, but others have been "upgraded" to iPad versions:

Aeroweather - This is by far one of the best weather apps out there! It is easy to use and a great reference tool for pilots.

CirrusPerform - This is a must have app if you own/rent/fly a Cirrus aircraft

FlightPlanForm - Although this app has a few glitches, it is good to help guide a briefer when calling in a flight plan

AOPA Airports - A great source for airport data

ForeFlight - This is an AMAZING application! It has more functions than you can ever imagine!

JeppTC - This app is only good if you have already paid the outrageous subscription for digital approach plates for your CMAX or other digital chart programs. If already have CMAX, then you really don't need an iPad unless it's to be used as a back-up.

AirCheck - This is a handy app for making digital checklists.

FlightPlan - This app is decent and has some good conversion tools

FltPlan - Another airport data app.

DUAT - an ok, but bland app for flight planning. You can link into DUAT using ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot My-Cast and have a better tool.

Garmin Pilot My-Cast - This is another very good flight planning/all purpose aviation tool.

PilotWiz - This is a pretty good flight planning tool. I especially like the weight and balance functions since it allows me to create my own.

LogTen Pro - This is an ok app, but as a professional pilot it might be a very handy tool. As a PP it doesn't fit the bill for me.

MyRadar Pro - This is a great radar tool!

myE6B - Another flight planning tool.

These are only a few of the applications available to use for aviation. The iPad in my opinion is a game changer just like XM - NEXRAD Radar and GPS. It provides pilots with lots of information for flight planning and also allows a pilot to have all the necessary tools like IFR approach plates, enroute charts, and sectionals, all without having to lug around 20lbs of books, or having to find a place that actually has those products for sale. Oh and if you get stranded due to bad weather, you can watch movies, listen to music, surf the internet, play games, or check your e-mail. Other than the price, the iPad is a perfect tool for pilots at any level of aviation.