This article was written by Michal Orlita, one of our customers from Czech Republic, you may read the original here.

For over 10 years we have had the luxury of using some sort of touch badge even in small flying. While handheld computers began to enter airplanes before the first iPad was introduced in 2010, it was the iPad that kicked off their mass use in cockpits of perhaps every size of aircraft. There are several considerations to take into account when choosing which device to use, and it is certainly not true that one given device is the ideal choice for every pilot and all uses, nor is it true that the more expensive the better.

 

Size

A larger display gives you more information - unless, of course, it's an extra-large display with an extra-small resolution. You can't even buy such devices anymore, you get more than 200 PPI (pixels per inch) everywhere nowadays. At the same time, you need to consider what kind of plane you'll be flying in and how much space you'll have for your new touchscreen darling. It makes quite a difference if you're flying in Cirrus→, where you can't hang a stick or yoke, or in Coach→ - where you really have nowhere to put that big iPad.

The largest of the iPads has a 12.9-inch diagonal. That's very close to A4 size, and so that's a device you don't have a chance of having on your knee on planes that don't have a sidestick. Similarly, mounting it with a ram mount is not a good idea either - you'll cover half your instruments and limit the control deflection. Samsung even makes a 14.6-inch, but that's not even worth discussing anymore.

For airplane use, smaller sizes are ideal - 11 inches or less.

Diagonal sizes around 10 inches are the most affordable, and it's not true that the smaller the display, the less it costs. The iPad also comes in 8.3 inches - and I think that's the ideal size for an airplane. It's small enough not to hang up too much in the cabin, and large enough to display essential information. Unfortunately, this size is not made by other manufacturers, and the 7-inch tablets have disappeared as well - because that's almost the size of a phone.

 

Do I even need a tablet, can't I use my phone instead?

This is of course also an option. There's less information displayed, it's a bit harder to hit the menu on the fly when you're looking for something, but it's definitely possible. At the same time, it's also a good backup option if you're flying with a glass deck or other in-dash navigation. And there are some planes where a lap phone is the only reasonable option.

See the attached pictures for a comparison of the tablet and phone views. The phone is an iPhone 13 (6.06-inch diagonal), the tablet is an iPad mini 6 (8.3-inch diagonal, 7th generation iPad is the same size). The difference between the Ipad Mini and the classic ten-inch Ipad is already quite small.

In September 2024, the iPhone16 Pro - which has grown to 6.3 inches - was introduced. That's not bad news for us aviatics, it brings it even closer to the iPad mini and makes it even more usable for navigation - but at the same time it's not as big as the Pro Max version again. So we have the option of using one device in and outside of the plane. That is, assuming you're prepared to invest in the Pro version, which again costs extra compared to a normal iPhone

 

Android or iOS

This is an eternal question that will never be satisfactorily resolved - and presumably you've already made up your mind about which mobile phone you use, and you'll want a tablet on the same system. So take the following lines as an informative matter or an opportunity to change.

There were so many Android devices on the market after the iPad was launched (or perhaps even before) that it was almost impossible to keep track. At the time, the clear message was to avoid cheap Android devices. Today, the market has cleared up quite a bit, the cheapest ones are thankfully not even made anymore, and so even among cheaper Android devices you can find decent devices that will work long enough. Brands like Samsung, Asus or Lenovo are usually a good choice - although it's still a good idea to skip the cheapest bits.

 

But the benchmark touchpad for the plane is the iPad. And like with phones, this tablet brand has its diehard fans and fundamental detractors. It's not the point of this article to blow the whistle on this perennial controversy or to put links here to articles that unequivocally and uncompromisingly recommend one or the other, but my perspective is clear - I prefer Apple's devices. After years on Android (and before that the Sony Ericsson P990 and the self-dialing HTC), I was forced to switch to the iPhone for work reasons. My options for a planned upgrade of a Samsung tablet (8.9-inch size, by the way) were thus narrowed down to the iPad - in the end, I'm glad and certainly don't regret it. Likewise, I have a friend to whom I once lent an Ipad with Skydemon.

When he saw how snappy it ran, he ditched his (far from low-end) Samsung tablet and bought an iPad mini.

A common argument against Apple is the closed nature of the system and the inability to upload your own files to the phone. But that hasn't been the case for a few years now, you can get your own text or other files on your iPhone or iPad.

The second common argument against Apple devices is the price - and there's no arguing here, these devices are usually more money. The difference shrinks a bit when you consider that the cheapest iPad can't be compared in performance to the cheapest Android, but in principle, Apple is simply more expensive. Plus, don't forget that basic iPads (without a SIM card slot) don't have GPS - see below.

Perhaps a small patch for the higher purchase price is then that a used device sells for more than a comparably old Android device.

Windows tablets

Yes, they exist too, and I'm sure someone is using them. But personally, I wouldn't consider it at all. The app selection is minimal and the popular Windows fix "get-off-get-on" method is not what you want to do on the fly.

iPads and GPS

The GPS module in a tablet is quite essential for air navigation. Unlike most (or perhaps all) Android tablets, not every iPad has a GPS module - or rather, it's the case that only iPads that have a sim card slot have GPS.

The other ones only show the location approximately, which is not enough for aviation purposes. Every now and then, there's a guaranteed tutorial on how to do it - and sometimes you can successfully try it (once). Yes, I've been through it too, and I've spent a lot of time with it too. But it just doesn't work reliably, and you can't even help yourself by making your iPhone a hotspot; location (as opposed to data) can't be shared. If you do have a reliable method, send it to me, I'll be happy to post it here. Maybe you can also jailbreak it , but I'm not really going to try that.

External GPS

So the only reliable method to get location to iPad without sim card slot is external GPS. But beware, not every external GPS works with the iPad. For many years the only usable option was Bad Elf, then the XGPS150 appeared - but it's disappearing from pilot shops.

ADS-B or SiriusXM receivers have taken their place. They can do considerably more (some, for example, provide data to a backup artificial horizon on a tablet), but cost many times more. So from a financial point of view, it pays to buy an iPad with a SIM card slot - yes, I know, the distance from Android tablets continues to grow....

In the past, there was sometimes a signal problem in aircraft with a roof (like the Piper 28) - which is why this external GPS on the dashboard was good. I haven't encountered this for a long time though, I guess the sensitivity of integrated GPS receivers is better now. Just for the record - the GPS in the iPad works even if you don't have a sim card inserted in that sim card slot.

Memory size

As I've mentioned before, even the basic iPad has plenty of power, so I think it's better to save money on the latest processor (more expensive iPads even have the same processors as macbooks) and buy more memory - although the basic 64GB is enough with a little care. Too bad the next memory size is up to 256GB on most models, and that tends to be a lot more expensive. Another drawback of iPads is that memory can't be expanded with an SD card like Android.

The 64/256 situation has changed for the iPad Mini as well with the arrival of the 7th generation in October 2024 - 64GB is no longer on offer, 128GB has become the baseline for the same price. And that's plenty enough for our aviation purposes, no need to pay extra for 256GB.

Connect your tablet/iPad to the internet

Having your iPad connected to WIFI at home is probably a given, but it's also handy to have it connected at the airport before your flight and ideally on the flight too. Not all airports have WIFI, not everywhere it reaches to the front of the hangar. So it's a good idea to have a data sim on your iPad or alternatively to have a hotspot on your phone. But it's a bit of an inconvenient solution.

 

In-flight connectivity

If you are flying at 2,000 ft you often have a signal, on the other hand at FL 80 you are usually without a signal. And is it even possible to fly without having an up to date radar image from Windy? Yes, absolutely. Studying the current meteosituation, including radar reflections, is something you must do before you fly. Certainly don't have the idea that afterwards, in flight, you'll be squinting through an advancing cold front or band of thunderstorms based on a cell phone picture. Really don't do that, it can be a road to hell. In fact, there may be more hidden behind a strong precipitation band that you won't see on radar. Likewise, the data may be delayed and if you are zigzagging at 500 ft between showers you have no way of studying your phone to see if it is still connected. It could simply be that you're making a path on the display between precipitation that's half an hour away. Such zigzagging has to be done according to what you can see from the cockpit, and you can't rely on Skydemon to say it's not raining. We experienced what this can look like in practice on a flight from Egenfelden to Kladno, full article here→.

 

Do I need a stylus or Apple Pencil?

This is a matter of personal choice. I flew with one pilot who took notes using just something like this on the display. Why not, it works, it's handy in Skydemon, although many pilots don't even know about it, it's called Scratchpad

Whether to use an Apple Pencil or something from alternative manufacturers or even a regular stylus is probably irrelevant, the only thing I would make sure is that this gadget doesn't somehow get stuck in flight. With the pencil I have it solved with a string, on the Apple Pencil it probably won't work.

Beware - there are more variants of the Apple Pencil, and far from everything works with everything. So be careful when choosing.

 

 

So what iPad would I choose in September 2024:

For use on a small plane I would choose iPad mini 128GB Wifi Cellular - the price on Apple.cz is 19 990 CZK. It's 7th generation, but it doesn't say that everywhere.It has a USB-C connector.

 

A cheaper (but bigger) alternative is the iPad 64GB Wifi Cellular (it used to be called 10th generation, now there's only one generation), which costs 15 490 CZK.

For even more money is then the iPad Air, 22 490 Kč - you have 128 GB of memory there, which seems just right to me. But as I wrote above, in terms of the performance we need for aviation apps there's no need to go for the Air or Pro models.

Second-hand iPad

A few paragraphs up, I mentioned that the advantage of an apple device is that it retains its price even after some time of use.

But an iPad from a good family is a good choice if you can't (or don't want to) afford a new device. You'll get a better price if you buy "used" from a store, and they often offer a 12 month warranty. But beware of the condition of the battery, this is usually not covered by the warranty and is probably the most common problem.

 

But it's not something that can't be solved - either by replacing the battery (a more expensive solution) or by a power bank. The other thing to watch out for is that the original owner has logged out of their Apple account on that device. Just giving a "factory reset" won't help, that's one of the protections against thieves.

Smart watches

In the previous lines, I revealed that I belong to the camp of Apple product fans - and so I should have an Apple Watch.

I don't have one and don't plan to have one yet. Somehow I haven't figured out why I should buy one, what it would do for me - apart from having to regularly recharge another piece of electronics. But I know a few people who are happy to use smartwatches in flight, especially the aviation ones from Garmin that have a database.

Where are you putting it?

There are 4 basic locations - kneeboard, dashboard mount, glass mount, yoke mount.

It's impossible to say which is best, something different suits everyone and of course it also depends on the type of aircraft.

 

Kneeboard

The basic placement, logically following on from the decades of use of kneeboards. The choice is wide, just make sure you get the right size to fit with the tablet you have.

As well as basic kneepads, you can also buy various tilting monsters, and then at the other end of the spectrum there's the simple Dream Pilot MAGIC - which can be used on tablets as well as phones. More about it in my review.

Another option is, of course, a home-made kneepad - if none of the ones sold suits you.

Glass holder - suction cup

Again, there are a number of options and some are good ones too.

But even with the good suction cups, be prepared for the fact that they can fall off from time to time in turbulence. When figuring out the position, take good care to position you flat little darling so that it obstructs the view minimally, if at all.

I once saw about 1/3 of the windshield area so occupied that I almost stopped behind the pilot in question and said something to him. Today I would probably do that.

Dashboard mounts

Here the choice is not very wide, but there is room for your own creativity.

If you only fly one plane, this may be the best solution.

Yoke holder

One of the most widespread options, there are also modular systems, often a very versatile solution - for moving between aircraft. Check out RAM Mounts for example - of course choose according to the size of your tablet. If your device is at the upper end of the published (weight or weight) range of the mount, then don't be afraid to go for a slightly larger and more festive mount.

Alternative method - right seat

This alternative method uses the right seat and can be used if you are flying from the left seat.

It is a good method if you are flying primarily by the navigation built into the dashboard or in your head. You simply have the iPad thrown on the right seat and pick it up when you need to look at it.

If the right seat is occupied by a live and cooperative person, you even get it served up to your hand. At the same time, it's also good entertainment for that live person - they can keep track of where you are and not get bored (i.e. less chance of getting sick).

What to add - other accessories

Anti-reflective film

There are a range of anti-reflective and other films for tablets and iPads. Experiences vary, again no universal recommendation can be made.

Power banks, cables

Yes, this is needed, although most tablets can reliably navigate for several hours. But it's always handy to be able to recharge them, not every plane has a USB socket. Sometimes cables can be quite a burden in the cabin, so it's not a bad option to fly without them and recharge the tablet from the power bank during the layover. But of course, be sure to test how long the tablet will really last. Be careful with cables too, a USB-C/USB-C cable is useless on a plane that has USB-A. Having an extra cable is always handy.

Apps you need (or want) to have

There are many apps, some free, some for money. The ones for money usually do this more, of course, but sometimes the free stuff does a good service. In that case, it's a good idea to reward the authors of the app, they often have a "Donate" button, or buy a subscription for a few euros, even if you don't necessarily need it. You will help the creator to keep working on it.

Read the description or reviews before you download a great app from the Apps Store or Google play. Also, check how often and when the app was last updated. That will tell you a lot about whether you're buying a product that's been dead for 3 years.

 

I don't get a chance to personally test and review each of the apps that pop up - even assuming I learn about them, they grow like mushrooms after rain. If you know of something interesting, send it to me, I'll check it out and possibly add to it.

Not all apps have comparable map bases, some places even had raster maps at one time. These did match the printed maps, but it's pretty useless and doesn't take advantage of the possibilities the apps offer me.

Most apps work on both iOS/iPadOs and Android, but there are exceptions. Not all navigation apps can do everything, not everywhere flight plan filing is free or included. It takes some trying and research. Similarly, some apps have free national AIPs, some don't.

Can I use the tablet in flight at all, isn't that forbidden?

At one time, it was said in airports that I could have a tablet on board, but that its use was only allowed outside of "critical flight phases" and other creative rules. The use of tablets (and other gadgets) for NCO operations is described in NCO.GEN.125 and it is very strict. It is then spelled out in Easy Access/GM, but there is nothing surprising and no prohibitions as mentioned at the beginning of the paragraph. Just normal caution, must not obstruct vision, cables must not get tangled in steering etc.

If you don't know if your operation falls under NCO, then it probably does, anyone who flies SPO or NCC usually has an understanding of these abbreviations.

It applies to certificated aircraft, the UL-1 ultralight regulation says nothing about tablets, but there is no reason to behave any differently than in certificated aircraft.

Navigation applications

Skydemon

A permanent fixture among navigation programs in Europe.The first year costs less than 4,000 CZK, the next renewal is already under 3,000 CZK.For that price, you get 2 mobile device licenses (ideally a tablet and a phone as a backup) and 2 PC licenses (both Macs with M1 processors and newer are now supported in addition to PCs). You can also buy other, improved data - for example Austrian or Airport Database for the Czech Republic.

 

Foreflight

Very widespread in the USA, in Europe Skydemon leads so far. From the little experience I have, it seems to me more suitable for IFR than VFR. As of 2019 it is owned by Jeppesen (i.e. Boeing) so there is quite a wide and useful range of what you can buy - including IFR approach plates from Jeppesen.

EasyVFR

Used to be called PocketFMS, unlike Skydemon they also have a free version - albeit with limited features. More info here.

AIRMATE

Free app, but you can buy the Pro version or just support the creator. Link.

I compared the older version to Skydemon in this article→ and it certainly wasn't as bad as one might expect from a free app

Garmin Pilot

Annual subscription cheaper than Skydemon, options to buy VFR maps.

AIRNAVIGATIONPRO

In the past it was a lot cheaper than Skydemon, but now it's catching up. Link.

FLY is FUN

Czech navigation, but only works on Android. Link.

VFR Navigation - FLYLOG.io

Another Czech app and they have more than navigation, like a notebook.I haven't tried it personally yet though. Link.

iAIP.CZ

It's not a navigation, but it definitely needs to be mentioned. Admittedly over 10 years old, but still well maintained. Can download full Czech AIP and VFR manual for offline use. Other navigation apps can do the same, but here you have it without subscriptions and other bullshit. Link.

Weather app

It may surprise some people, but there is something other than Windy. As was once posted on Facebook "which app do you think is the best and why Windy?". Yes, Windy is a great thing, thanks for that, but it's good to complement it with something else. And it's also good to know what the weather does in general, what the meteosituation is. And the Significant Weather Map is useful for that.

Windy.com

Skydemon probably has quite a few pilots on mobile or tablet, but Windy has even more. And more why. Link.

AeroWeather (Pro)

Great app for displaying METARs and TAFs - and other stuff too - maps, notams, etc. Link.

What I really like about this app is the ability to make a group of METARs. That way I can put together METARs that are relevant to the planned route ahead of time and just glance at them before I fly, I don't have to search for them one by one.The attached picture shows the METARs for the flight over the Alps to Vilshofen, Germany - I had the group saved there since the summer we flew it.Well, we wouldn't fly it today.

The most common mistakes when flying with a tablet

Flying with only one tablet/phone without backup

"You think I'm going to buy a second expensive iPad because of this stupid article?" No, I really don't think so. But it's stupid to fly halfway across Europe and have one and only one tablet, no matter how many apples it has on the back, maybe three. You always need to have a backup. Skydemon on your phone, Mapy.cz on this phone or even just a paper map.

Basically, a bulletproof combination is a built-in avionics system that has VOR and ideally DME (and I can operate all that, of course), a tablet or phone with Skydemon and a paper map - preferably 1:1,000,000. This is the combination that will solve the vast majority of emergencies - worldwide GPS failure, complete avionics failure in the aircraft and pulling a paper chart out the window. And if all three circumstances occur, there's really nothing more you can do, you land in the field and go ask where you are.

Not turning off automatic app updates

The default setting on most systems is that updates are downloaded whenever they're available and you're on WIFI. This is nice and convenient. But sooner or later, you'll find yourself needing to find something in the menu while in flight and it's not there. On the ground, at rest, you'd find it quickly, but in flight, when you're zigzagging between showers, it can be quite an impossible task.

 

 

So update manually from time to time and read the app authors' notes to see what they've changed.

Not familiar with the app when on the ground

If you install a new app, you'll probably do it. But sometimes new versions of an existing app are quite different and it's better to find out on the ground.Quite often apps also have a simulator - which, by the way, I used for screenshots of Skydemon.

Switching to a new version of the operating system on the first day after release

No need to rush, the old system will work and if there was some minor bug in the new one, why be a tester....

 

Missing check for downloaded air data update

Here's the scenario - you download the new data on Thursday and go flying on Saturday. You turn on the nav and it crashes because there was an error in the Thursday data. It was corrected right away Thursday night, but you don't know that anymore. Otherwise, why did I download it on Thursday? Because AIRAC dates are always on Thursday - more info on the Eurocontrol website for example . But beware, these are planned changes, i.e. there will very likely be changes on these dates. Then there are changes and bug fixes that can be released at any time.

Not setting engine-out glide distance

This is a very handy feature, so why not use it, it can help a lot in case of engine shutdown. Of course you need to have the right aircraft configured.

Wrong charger

I'm leaving for the airport, missing my charger so I grab one on the way to the door. Well, you might get the wrong one. The connector may fit, but not all cables are the same inside and not all chargers give enough juice. The situation is better than it was years ago, especially USB-C devices often behave in an exemplary manner, but even the "slow charging" message can get quite annoying when you want to recharge your tablet during your lunch break to make it last the trip home.

Not using external GPS

We've already mentioned that today's GPS receivers in tablets (and iPads - if there is one) are pretty decent and sensitive. But if you don't have a tablet with GPS, really get the external one, you can't do without it. The location determined is somehow not sufficient for aerial navigation purposes.

 

Heating up in the case

A fancy tablet case is a must for some, but for airplane use it's good to have a loose one, or not have one at all. Navigation apps, GPS, and charging on some devices make quite a bit of heat and it's good to have somewhere to dissipate that.

But if you put your tablet on the dashboard on a sunny day, then it's a matter of time before it overheats.

Got a tip on what a paper map is good for too - if you're only carrying it as a backup, it can serve well to shade the tablet from the sun. Simple, effective.

Another idea that came to me via email is using power saving mode - I haven't tried it personally, but it should work.

Less speed, less load on the processor and therefore less heat.

And the last tip I got via email to reduce heating or overheating is to place it vertically, in the shade of the dash and in front of the A/C exhaust. It's not always feasible to do it this way, but every element helps.

Bluetooth headphones don't pair with your tablet

You (like me) may have ignored the Bluetooth feature on your headphones until now, thinking that you won't be listening to music or (heaven forbid) making phone calls on the fly. But it's a good idea to do so - you'll get audio announcements from your navigation (or the Safe Sky app) to your headphones. Like Traffic, Traffic is really handy.

 

Not downloading data for the entire scheduled flight, including possible alternate airports

This is a situation that happens more often than we'd like. But navigation apps are already pretty smart and try to avoid this, but it doesn't always work. For example, with Skydemon it is therefore a good idea to simply download the entire AIP (or VFR Manual if it exists for that country). It's a bit hidden in the menu, but it's there.

Does the tablet need to be in "Airplane" mode while in flight?

In transport aircraft this was strictly required, but for our flying it is different, it is at the discretion of the aircraft commander. But "Airplane" mode has one advantage - it will drain the battery less. Just make sure that the GPS works in this mode as well.