Robert T. McDaniel, a member of the elite black aviators known as Tuskegee Airmen, died March 19 at age 96, in Fort Worth, Texas.
Source: aopaTuskegee Airman depicted in ‘Red Tails’ remembered
Tuskegee Airman depicted in ‘Red Tails’ remembered
What the crystal ball has in store for aviation
A George Jetson-like flying car may still be a few decades away, but nonetheless, an eVTOL future is imminent. And so are unmanned aircraft integration, emerging aerospace technologies, and endless workforce opportunities.
Source: aopaWhat the crystal ball has in store for aviation
Cirrus introduces all-new training app
Almost from the beginning, Cirrus has been deeply involved in training the pilots who fly their airplanes. Instead of leaving this up to flight schools and independent instructors, the compnay has developed detailed training syllabi and online video courses that focus on key areas of SR20/22 operation. There’s even the option of learning in the airplane with Cirrus-approved instructors. Over time, this safety focus has paid off with a steadily improving accident record.
Until recently, taking a Cirrus online course was a little clunky. Pilots had to use an online learning management system that was separate from the main Cirrus website and not very mobile-friendly. Now there’s a better way to access some of this factory-direct training, with the release of a new Cirrus Approach app.
This app consolidates all your Cirrus courses in one place, and is an easy-to-use training platform. Sign into your Cirrus Approach account and you’ll see all of your purchased courses. You can sort them by airplane model or avionics:
Tap on a course to bring up the overview:
From there you can move through the workbook of lessons, which includes text, graphics, and videos:
Some courses include flight lesson outlines, which are a good way to organize your training with a flight instructor:
Progress can be synced with the online course portal, so it’s fairly easy to move back and forth between laptop and iPad while you’re training. The Cirrus Approach app is free to download on the iTunes App Store but does not include any courses. To unlock those, purchase specific courses online from the Cirrus training portal. These range from about $35 to $250.
The post Cirrus introduces all-new training app appeared first on iPad Pilot News.
Source: Ipad appsCirrus introduces all-new training app
FAA ADS-B mandate approaching quickly
Eight months and 10 days remain, as of March 21, before the FAA’s Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast Out mandate takes effect on Jan. 2, 2020. ADS-B uses satellites instead of ground-based radar to determine aircraft location, and is a key technology behind the FAA’s Next Generation Air Traffic Control System. The FAA has mandated ADS-B Out for flights after Jan. 1, 2020, in airspace where a transponder is required today.
Source: aopaFAA ADS-B mandate approaching quickly
The Colt is out of the bag
A brand-new light sport aircraft being built in Texas by a startup with Brazilian roots sports clean lines and state-of-the-art safety features including an airframe parachute and a passenger safety cell similar to a modern race car cockpit.
Source: aopaThe Colt is out of the bag
Aviation legend Clay Lacy awarded Hoover Trophy
Cheers and applause greeted aviation legend Clay Lacy as he was presented the 2019 Hoover Trophy by actor and general aviation advocate Harrison Ford on March 20.
Source: aopaAviation legend Clay Lacy awarded Hoover Trophy
GA stories spotlighted in Massachusetts economic study
Economic growth of the 39 airports of the Massachusetts public-use airport system and the three Boston-area airports run by the Massachusetts Port Authority has had “a very positive impact” on surrounding communities in the last five years, according to a new economic impact report.
Source: aopaGA stories spotlighted in Massachusetts economic study
'Why didn’t they … fly the airplane?'
Two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes prompted international grounding, but Rep. Sam Graves, a longtime pilot and Missouri congressman, said foreign pilot training and standards should be scrutinized as much as the aircraft.
Source: aopa'Why didn’t they … fly the airplane?'
Top iPad accessories for pilots – 2019 gear roundup
The iPad makes a great, all-in-one cockpit tool, combining maps, flight planning, weather, documents and so much more. That doesn’t mean it stands on its own, though. A few carefully chosen accessories can make it so much more powerful and easy-to-use. Here’s our list of the accessories you should consider, and our top recommendations.
ADS-B
Practically an essential for iPad pilots who fly cross country or IFR, these all-in-one portable receivers deliver a wealth of data to your iPad: subscription-free weather, traffic, GPS, backup attitude, flight data recording and pressure altitude sensor. Best of all, they’re battery-powered and require just a single button push to operate. Like a good ANR headset, an ADS-B receiver quickly pays back the initial investment.
Top Choice: Stratus 3 ADS-B receiver
Why it’s the best: The Stratus line of ADS-B receivers were designed from the ground up to work with ForeFlight, aviation’s most widely use iPad app. The top-of-the-line Stratus 3 model contains all the bells and whistles, including ADS-B weather replay, dual-band traffic, remote-mount capability, pressure altitude monitoring, flight data recorder and a built-in AHRS to drive ForeFlight’s synthetic vision. It also works with other apps using the GDL 90 protocol.
On a budget: ForeFlight Sentry
GPS
If you don’t need all the bells and whistles of an ADS-B receiver, a standalone GPS is a great value. It will drive the moving maps in your aviation app and give you essential navigation data like groundspeed, track across the ground and time to destination.
Top Choice: Bad Elf Pro+
Why it’s the best: Bad Elf’s flagship GPS is very well made and has a number of great features: an incredible 35 hour battery life, handy built-in screen, altimeter and connection to multiple devices.
On a budget: Dual XGPS150A
Want to learn more? Check out our iPad GPS buyer’s guide
Flight Bag
Flight bags have evolved considerably over the past 10 years, featuring a smaller footprint with well-thought out pockets to keep your electronic gadgets organized and secure. They’re also more stylish. A good one can protect and organize your iPad, mount/kneeboard, charging cords, headset and more.
Top Choice: Flight Outfitters Lift
Why it’s the best: This compact, square-shaped bag features a padded center pocket for your iPad, surrounded by additional side pockets for a headset or smaller iPad accessories. The fold-out style is handy in the airplane, especially if you’re flying single pilot and have the flight bag on the right seat – you can open only the pocket you need, and grab your gear with one hand.
On a budget: Flight Gear HP iPad Bag
Kneeboard
Securing your iPad in the cockpit is important for safety and for ease of use. There are two main options for this: a kneeboard or a mounting system. Kneeboards are generally more affordable, and offer additional storage pockets. They’re ideal for renters or flying club members.
Top Choice: Flight Gear HP Kneeboard
Why it’s the best: The latest generation of this popular kneeboard is just the right size, with enough room for your iPad, some cords, and a cleaning cloth, but without being too big or cumbersome. The iPad panel can tilt and rotate so you find just the right position for your airplane. For smaller cockpits, we like how the kneeboard can fold in half so it’s only a single panel.
On a budget: iPad Rotating Kneeboard
Mount
If a kneeboard doesn’t work in your airplane, a mount is a great alternative. There are lots of options here, from suction cup mounts for side windows to yoke mounts. There are plenty of brands offering mounts, and most of them are quite good, but there are significant differences between them to consider.
Top Choice: RAM Suction Cup Mount
Why it’s the best: RAM Mounts have a great reputation for quality and flexibility, allowing pilots to mount an iPad almost anywhere. The EZ-Roll’r cradle holds the tablet tight, and the mount features a lifetime warranty. We’ve been flying with them for over a decade.
On a budget: Robust Suction Cup Mount
Backup Power
Most of the (very rare) issues we’ve had with the iPad have been due to running out of battery. So it’s only smart to have a backup for those days when you fly longer than expected or forget to charge your iPad. Fortunately, there are more options than ever. Just be sure to get something with a 2 amp charging port.
Top Choice: Flight Gear Battery Pack
Why it’s the best: The first backup battery that checks all the boxes. It features four high amp charging ports so it can power an iPad and an ADS-B receiver at the same time. Its 20,000 mAh capacity will last the whole flight, and it can be recharged with a Lightning, USB-C, or micro-USB cable. It’s like a Swiss Army Knife for your electronic devices.
On a budget: Flight Gear dual USB cigarette lighter charger
Screen Protector
Not everyone likes screen protectors, since they can distort the screen slightly. But for pilots who use their iPads hard, it makes sense to give that big chunk of glass a little extra protection from scratches, drops and fingerprints. Some will cut down on screen glare too.
Top Choice: MyGoFlight ArmorGlas
Why it’s the best: These screen protectors aren’t flimsy sheets of plastic that are impossible to put on; instead, they’re made from tempered glass. They are much easier to apply, they don’t affect the touchscreen performance and they even reduce screen glare by a bit.
What else is on your list for iPad accessories? Add a comment below.
The post Top iPad accessories for pilots – 2019 gear roundup appeared first on iPad Pilot News.
Source: Ipad appsTop iPad accessories for pilots – 2019 gear roundup
Former Delta executive nominated to head FAA
Former longtime Delta Air Lines executive Steve Dickson was announced as the White House’s nominee to lead the FAA as administrator on March 19.
Source: aopaFormer Delta executive nominated to head FAA