iPad for Aviation

I was published in the March 2011 Cloudstreet Journal (page 16) for my post on how to make an iPad kneeboard.

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I decided to evaluate the new iPro Aviator iPad Kneeboard. As delivered, the straps are attached around the front. This is a good way to store the kneeboard since it keeps the straps from hanging loose and keeps the front cover closed. The device is made of glass-filled polymer making it seemingly very strong.

The cover works as a flip-over writing surface (including a sturdy metal paper clip). Combined with a small loop in the strap for keeping an ink pen; this works as a great backup in the event you need to keep a paper chart or pad. The cover is shorter than the actual height of the iPad (apparently for yoke clearance while in flight — not really an issue for me). You can also pop off the cover completely with an open hinge (I think I’ll leave it on).

The rear of the kneeboard has a molded curved surface for your leg and also includes a flush-mounted “kickstand”. You can swing it out for desktop use and I was able to stand it up in portrait or landscape orientation.

Overall, the iPro Aviator kneeboard is very well designed, sturdy and full of great features like the pen loop and backup paper writing surface. I would sacrifice the kickstand and curved back for a lower profile, but overall this is a high quality kneeboard and I recommend this to other pilots looking for a professionally made quality kneeboard for your iPad. ForPilotsOnly.com shipped the device very quickly and it came well packaged and included  simple instructions for use.

Purchase an iPro Aviator online at http://www.forpilotsonly.com.

I decided to make a kneeboard that was similar to my single strap board that I have used for years.

I found the Belkin Grip Clear Vue case at Target for $23.99.  The clear rubber is firm enough not to tear and soft enough to cut with an X-Acto knife (barely.) I used 2″ wide adhesive Velcro strips (stuck back-to-back) and cut to size.

1. Measure proper length for Velcro straps and stick back-to-back to make the strap (You could get a regular 2″ double sided Velcro strap and eliminate this step)
2. Lay out the new strap behind the clear case and mark two slits ~2″ apart with a Sharpie marker
3. Cut around the Sharpie guide lines using an X-Acto knife (it was easier to make the longer cuts first)
4. Insert the Velcro strap loops down as shown

Total investment: ~$30.00.

After months using the iPad on flights, I decided to try using the iPad full-time. The November release of iOS 4.2 brought multitasking which allowed me to launch apps (like AvCharts and Penultimate) and switch between the 2 without worry of losing where I left off.

Penultimate is perfect for clearance and in-flight notes.  You can add new pages, clear pages instantly, undo/redo, erase, etc… There is wrist protection built in and you can even send a page (or entire notebook) to email.  This is perfect for me since I usually write all of my flight details on scrap paper and have to transfer the detail in my logbook. Now, I just send to email which logs the date and all of my flight detail like destinations, landings, flight time, etc…

AvCharts has been out a while, but the ability to save and update hi-res charts is perfect for the iPad.

ForeFlight released their moving map and heads-up display today.

New in ForeFlight Mobile HD 3.5.1

• Moving-map, heads up display for iPad with groundspeed, track, altitude, and GPS accuracy
• Locator icon changes to an aircraft when track available
• Navlog overlaid on map with ETE, fuel, distance, and headwind component
• One tap to file a flight plan, look up ATC routes, or reverse the route
• Favorite routes and recent routes
• Animated radar and satellite for iPad
• Visible+infrared composite satellite
• Airport-level radar and satellite (see cells on or around the airport)
• Flight plan filing and briefing on the iPad
• Enter lat/lon values on routes like 32.3N/82.2W
• Full iPhone OS 4 compatability

Great beta test by ForeFlight co-founder/developer Jason Miller.  Good to see the iPad doesn’t implode over 10,000ft.



As a private pilot, I’ve been using an iPod Touch to run apps for flying starting in 2009.  I have been extremely pleased with the performance and functionality of the iPod Touch, but for me there was only one problem; the display is too small.

As soon as I heard about iPad, I knew that I could not wait to get one just to run ForeFlight.  I pre-ordered a 16GB WiFi Apple iPad which arrived April 7, 2010.  I’ve been using the iPad now for a couple months and have found it to function as promised (in fact, just like a big iPod Touch.)

ForeFlight Mobile 3 HD is the most comprehensive aviation app available right now.  Get aviation weather, AF/D & flight plan filing with maps, TFRs, TAFs and METARs.  At $74.99/year (the most expensive app I have purchased)… it is well worth it.

You can save AF/D and plates/procedures based on location and ForeFlight will notify you when they have expired.  This is an important for me since I have the WiFi version of the iPad which can only be updated when connected to a WiFi internet connection.

With the launch of the iPad 3G, you can now access real-time data when connected to AT&T 3G data network.  I think this would be very helpful for sitting in the plane to check weather, otherwise ForeFlight will let you download entire states to your iPad in the event you cannot connect.

ForeFlight on iTunes

For only $2.99, AvCharts is a newer app that will let you save US approach plates, airport diagrams, STARs, and SIDs.  AvCharts even has a “draw mode” so you can take notes on charts.  AvCharts claims to update 1 day before their expiration.

AvCharts on iTunes