Apple iPhone apps - navigation

[Pittsextra]

Hello not sure if covered before but anyone got any experience of good iPhone apps for navigation?

Then would you be happy to use instead of a regular GPS? Thanks Phil.

[Dave Gittins]

I only use Sportys E6B app to avoid the dreadful whiz wheel (on my iTouch V 4). Also have a free TAF / METAR app called Aeroplus.

I'd suggest that the screen is too small to use an iPhone for serious GPS.

I've flown in the US with a guy who has sectionals (and everything else) an an iPad and I don't think anything smaller is a runner if you have to look at all the other things at the same time.

[aerofoil1]

Hi have airnav pro on my iPhone with the latest half mill vfr map it's pretty good although I've only used it once as I was only flying locally also for quick calculations on the ground I use pre flight it's on the app store then I have aeroweather which is useful
Again the screen is a bit too small for using it as a gps
Im thinking about using sky demon with a normal gps unit
There are loads on eBay for less than 60quid
Don't get me wrong the iPhone apps are good it's just the screen size is an issue

[Humaround]

iPhone screen is about the same size as most cheap chinese GPS units, and a lot clearer and brighter.

AirNav Pro is very usable on iPhone, though better on iPad.

I wonder if Tim will do Sky Demon for iPhone as well as iPad?

[Pittsextra]

So maybe the iPhone not the best then? Do any of the apps work on any other tablet outside of an iPad?

Any views on the effectiveness of using these apps on an iPad (or style) v a bespoke GPS?

[BackPacker]

Here's the list of what I've got on the iPad. I have no experience how well they work on the iPhone though:

AeroWeather (brilliant for its simplicity. I particularly like that it only syncs when you hit the button, but then pulls in everything you need in one go. Saves a lot of cost when on an expensive 3G connection.)
iAIP (not all that good, but I paid two euros for it so I'm not getting rid of it. Before a flight, make sure to save the relevant pages locally.)
Flight Instruments (gimmick)
Air Nav Pro (very good although it does have its quirks)
WeatherProHD
iE6B

Furthermore my "aviation" page has bookmark icons for the METAR/TAF pages at OrbiFly and the NOTAM pages at metutil.appspot.com for my home base.

[oldspool]

I saw a demo of AWARE on the iPad earlier this week; if I had an iPad then I'd be very tempted by it.

[Ellemeet]

Notams!! is also a must have!
really easy ...

pre-flight is basically the same and includes the weight and balance.

For continental europe i prefer skymap (www.sky-map.de (http://www.sky-map.de)) over air nav pro

and "can i fly there" is great for finding airfields!

[AdamFrisch]

AeroWeather is great, gives you all the worldwide Metars and TAFs in decoded format. I also use the E6B app.

[Louibs]

do not miss ForeFlight

[trident3A]

Another vote for Aeroweather - so useful

[stickandrudderman]

I have airnavpro on my iphone4 and I don't find it particularly reliable. The screen often freezes and it's not particularly intuitive to use. I guess it might be better on an ipad.

[F4TCT]

As for Skydemon on the Ipad,

It was apparently published in some pilot mag where Tim said the software was in development for the Ipad.

Theres not been a formal press release yet that i know of but everyone lives in hope Tim will make the decision to do so.

In my opinion, he's daft if doesn't as thats all people are asking him.

Dan

[SEP Flyer]

My main GPS is the Airbox Clarity, and I love it. :ok:

On my iPhone for nav I've got the 'Runway' app (also by Airbox by co-incidence) which is a very simple and basic GPS - no maps, but does have a 'nearest airfield button' which lists the 10 or so nearest airfields with their bearings and distance - a nice back up!

Personally, I prefer to have a dedicated GPS unit rather than rely on the Swiss Army knife that is my iPhone....

[lordhedges]

Airbox are working on some really nice Ipad/Iphone apps at the moment which would be a great back-up to your Clarity unit.

[Pittsextra]

one thing - isn't the iPad + nav app just the same as a pre-pack GPS device?

I mean all a Garmin sat nav is some software packaged, so if you take the software and package it in an Ipad or iPhone then isn't it the same thing.

Obviously I take the point that an iPhone has a small screen but surely an iPad screen is just right?

[tmmorris]

No; look at other threads on this. It's to do with the accuracy of the GPS receiver, aerial quality, position of aerial, what happens if it loses signal, &c. All of these are handled 'properly' on a 'proper' aviation GPS, even a handheld; not so much on the iPad. Better if you add an external GPS receiver, but still some way off as yet.

Tim

[what next]

Hello!

No; look at other threads on this. It's to do with the accuracy of the GPS receiver, aerial quality, position of aerial, what happens if it loses signal, &c. All of these are handled 'properly' on a 'proper' aviation GPS, even a handheld; not so much on the iPad. Better if you add an external GPS receiver, but still some way off as yet.

Does that conclusion result from your own experience or from contributions you read on aviation forums? Because after experimenting with the iPad for the last couple of months, my experience is the exact contrary. I have been using aviation GPS units since 1992 (when I borrowed a Garmin 100 for an Atlantic crossing in a piston twin). Anything from handheld to FMS integrated. The iPad so far is the most accurate, reliable and fast acquring device I have tried (in the bizjet and in the PA28). We now have one installed in the cabin of my boss's Citation as an inexpensive passenger information system. It displays an accurate position (+/- 10m) within seconds after powering-up inside the aircraft inside the hangar (and the passenger windows of a Citation are rather small compared to any SEP!). Our GPS and VOR/DME based FMS only displays "no GPS position" inside the hangar! And the way the iPad handles a loss of signal or uncertain position only depends on the software installed, not on the device itself.

Happy landings
Max

[peterh337]

I concur with the excellent ground performance of the Ipad2 GPS, but that is GSM assisted.

IME the airborne performance is rubbish and about the worst I have ever seen for any handheld device.

I am on my 2nd Ipad2 (the 1st one stopped working) so it isn't a duff unit - unless they have a bad batch.

Many things can affect GPS reception on a self contained handheld.

[what next]

I concur with the excellent ground performance of the Ipad2 GPS, but that is GSM assisted.

Mine isn't GSM assisted because I don't have a SIMcard installed... GPS and magnetic compass only, from ground to FL360 (haven't flown higher than that with the iPad on board). Not a single second without a good GPS position!

[Pilot.Lyons]

I have the iphone 5 and i use air nav pro (i would use sky demon but it doesnt work on iphone 5)

I also use pilot wizz pro for everything else and i have never had a problem

[Shoestring Flyer]

'Then would you be happy to use instead of a regular GPS? '
No definitely not...
Whenever I have bought anything other than a proper aviation Garmin unit I have invaribly been disappointed.
The main thing is though not to fly totally reliant on any one GPS navigation system, whatever the variant, always have a backup,even if it is only a chart with line on it and navplog and stopwatch.
Skydemon is good but only IMHO for use as a backup system.

[Citationcj2]

I have Air nav Standard edition on my iPhone, which is great and works excellent.
I always fly using my map and don't really use gps as i don't want to get used it too much, but anytime i used it, it never let me down and i find it very very accurate. It comes on instantly and the calculations are spot on.

It comes very hand if you are uncertain of your position or just out and about ;)

[Pilot.Lyons]

Shoestring.... I take my charts, iPad 2 with separate gns and then i have my iPhone with airnav pro as a backup, so i whole heartedly agree.

Neither the iPad or iPhone have let me down but i always, always have my charts with me, especially as im the sort of guy that mother luck picks on!

[modelman]

but i always, always have my charts with me. Believe that is a legal requirement

[Pilot.Lyons]

Good job i do then eh

[stevelup]

Believe that is a legal requirement

I don't believe it is...

The ANO says:-

Maps, charts, codes and other documents and navigational equipment necessary, in addition to any other equipment required under this Order, for the intended flight of the aircraft including any diversion which may reasonably be expected.

No mention of paper!