Over the weekend, I flew from Seattle to Fresno and back with an iPad on my lap using ForeFlight HD version 3.6 and was very happy with the results.
Saved on the flash memory of my iPad is every VFR and IFR (high and low) chart in the country, all Airport Facilities Directories, and all approach plates and procedures for every airport in the US.
The moving map functionality works as advertised. It is simple to zoom in and out, and move the map as the little blue airplane (representing your current position) moves along the magenta line. For me, it is pretty handy to keep tabs on near by airports in the event of an emergency divert (this in conjunction with the Chelton capability provides enhanced situational awareness as there is more detail on the moving VFR chart than the Cheltons).
The latest version of ForeFlight has been enhanced with what they call "Tap and Hold" functionality. You key in a flight plan -- say from Seattle to Fresno, and ForeFlight draws a magenta line on your map (I used the VFR sectionals). If you want to alter the route, you do the Tap and Hold. You hold your finger on the magenta route line and it turns blue. While it is blue, you can move it around the map -- like to fly to the east over Reno to provide a 20 mile buffer between your original flight path and a massive cumulo-bumpas-tear-your-wings-off thunderstorm that has lightening bolts exploding out of the bottom, visible in clear day light.
You can't get weather information on the iPad in flight. For that I rely on my WSI subscription that beams thunderstorm information to the Cheltons. You can, however, get radar and satellite and winds and etc., on the ground before takeoff for one last comparison between what you heard on your FAA briefing and what's really going on out there.
Disclaimer -- I don't work for ForeFlight. I just got their product for my iPhone a while back and now that it works on the iPad, I have found it a pretty slick addition to my other avionics that I won't leave home without. And I've turned off my Jeppeson approach plate subscription.
Cheers,
John Hafen IVP 413AJ 250 hours
Just wanted to alert those that have an iPad that I've been using Flight Guide iEFB for the past couple days and it's not worth buying yet. After seeing the demo at SNF and all the features that were promised, I thought it would probably be great since it was delayed in being released for so long. Well, I was wrong. The only thing the app does is display scanned maps and charts which is ok for some users, but the problem I have is that my iPad won't synch properly when the program is installed and a lot of maps are downloaded. When I remove the app everything works fine. Foreflight HD is a far superior app.
Ron
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