One of the crucial broadly mentioned matters amongst iPad pilots facilities round which mannequin is finest to make use of within the airplane to show digital charts and navigation information. The quick reply is that each iPad obtainable from Apple at the moment can simply run even essentially the most demanding aviation app. The choice in the end comes down to non-public choice, particularly relating to display screen measurement, efficiency, inner storage and the choice so as to add mobile information connectivity (take a look at our 2025 purchaser’s information for a evaluation of the professionals/cons of every possibility).
Many could not understand that the mannequin with mobile information features a bonus {hardware} function within the type of a devoted inner GPS receiver. This offers an apparent profit to pilots within the airplane when utilizing aviation apps, offering location and navigation information with out the necessity for an exterior GPS accent.
Going again over a decade to the primary a number of generations of iPads, the mobile mannequin’s inner GPS efficiency was fairly disappointing. It took a very long time for it to get an preliminary satellite tv for pc repair, place accuracy was subpar, and placing your iPad’s display screen to sleep brought about a lack of reception.
The Details – Apple’s iPad GPS Possibility
Earlier than going additional, listed here are some easy information concerning the mobile information possibility. Each iPad ever made has WiFi and Bluetooth, two wi-fi applied sciences for connecting to close by gadgets (within the case of Bluetooth) and the web (within the case of WiFi). The one extra possibility is so as to add mobile service, which permits the iPad to hook up with the web anyplace your mobile phone works.
This comes at a premium, although, costing an additional $130 to improve to the WiFi + Mobile mannequin. However as beforehand talked about, the upgraded mobile mannequin additionally features a built-in GPS/GNSS receiver, which operates utterly independently from the mobile antenna and doesn’t require a mobile information plan or connection for the GPS to work. For that reason, many pilots buy an iPad with mobile information, by no means join service with Verizon or AT&T, solely to reap the benefits of the built-in GPS for dependable navigation in any aviation app.
Flight testing the interior GPS
Whereas nearly each digital gadget you should buy at the moment features a GPS chip, efficiency, pace and accuracy can fluctuate enormously. For instance, the devoted GPS receiver in a Sentry ADS-B receiver will present a a lot better expertise when related to an iOS gadget, in comparison with the GPS chip in a smartwatch. Variations outcome from antenna placement, sensitivity, energy necessities, and the standard of the firmware within the gadget itself.
To check out the efficiency of the iPad’s inner GPS, we introduced an iPad mini 6 alongside on each an airline flight (as a passenger) after which within the cockpit of a Cessna for a flight throughout the U.S. For the checks, we disabled Bluetooth and WiFi to assist measure battery life and guarantee it was disconnected from the ADS-B receiver within the airplane.
The airline check was purely unintended. We had been sitting within the aisle seat of an Airbus A320 once we selected a whim to check out the GPS reception. After disabling WiFi and Bluetooth from the primary settings apps, we set the iPad on the tray desk, opened up ForeFlight and waited. A lot to our shock, it solely took about 30 seconds, and ForeFlight was displaying 5-meter accuracy from a spot over 4 ft away from the closest window!
The subsequent check was a bit extra formal and designed to see how the iPad’s GPS carried out when used within the cockpit. The journey included two 2-hour legs, between Las Vegas and Cincinnati. Listed below are some key takeaways.
GPS Reception
We positioned the iPad on our lap within the entrance seat of the airplane, opened ForeFlight and it displayed our place on the chart in lower than a second. ForeFlight confirmed an accuracy of 4 meters, which is excellent (for comparability, a Sentry ADS-B receiver usually offers 1-meter accuracy). We then positioned the iPad on the ground of the airplane to check an obstructed view of the sky; whereas the accuracy dropped to 22 meters, it labored simply advantageous.
GPS efficiency labored equally as nicely in Garmin Pilot. The accuracy displayed on this app was 15 ft, which is about the identical because the 4-meter accuracy reported in ForeFlight.
Switching Apps
One in every of our earlier gripes with the GPS present in older iPads is that the GPS typically took some time to lock in a superb satellite tv for pc repair and show our place on the chart when both switching between apps or placing the iPad display screen to sleep and waking it again up. That is now not a problem, as ForeFlight confirmed our location immediately every time the app was opened.
Backup GPS
Many pilots desire to attach their iPad to a transportable ADS-B receiver, like Sentry, to obtain climate and visitors updates within the cockpit (these equipment embody a GPS receiver as nicely). In case your iPad additionally has a built-in GPS, ForeFlight will routinely use the extra correct place supply for location providers, which generally would be the GPS from the ADS-B receiver. We ran a check to simulate the ADS-B receiver going offline by turning off the Sentry at altitude. We discovered that the iPad routinely switched to utilizing the interior GPS after about 5 seconds.
Artificial Imaginative and prescient
Whereas many assume the artificial imaginative and prescient function in aviation apps requires an AHRS (perspective) supply to perform, this isn’t solely true. When relying solely on the iPad’s inner GPS, the artificial imaginative and prescient will show the identical floor options, terrain and digital flight devices, however is not going to present pitch or financial institution data.
Remaining ideas
There’s a lot to contemplate when shopping for an iPad for aviation use, and many of the selections come down to non-public choice. The entry-level iPad for $349 will show aviation charts and information simply in addition to a decked-out iPad Professional for $2,399. Primarily based on our expertise flying with nearly each iPad mannequin over the previous decade, crucial premium function to contemplate is the addition of an ADS-B receiver. This can present datalink climate and visitors in your aviation app, enhance your decision-making, and enhance the security of the flight.
Including an ADS-B receiver will fulfill the GPS requirement on your aviation apps, however when you have room to spare in your funds, selecting the mobile mannequin with an inner GPS stands out as the subsequent finest improve. It offers dependable and quick place information, serves as an instantaneous backup to your major GPS supply and might add extra utility to your iPad when away out of your airplane.
Bret is a senior vp at Sporty’s and senior flight teacher for Sporty’s Academy. Along with Bret’s instructing duties, Bret leads Sporty’s video manufacturing and app growth group and serves as editor of iPad Pilot Information. As an airline transport pilot, Bret is a senior captain in Sporty’s company flight division.
