ForeFlight and iPad instability
Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2016 1:01 pm
I know there's already been a thread on ForeFlight and iGadgets.
This one's more of a public service announcement.
Not having done much flying last year, I missed the whole communication break down hat iOS developed with blue tooth gps units that feed position info to wi fi-only iPads.
While My reading this weekend would suggest thats a thing of the past, I can tell you the issue is not dead, but it won't be long before some trusting pilot is. Dead, that is.
My iPad mini is on iOS 9.3.2, and Im using a Dual xgps160 with Fore Flight. It all works well til I'm in the air for 20 minutes or so. Then without warning, no position info. All I have is a static electronic map.
This has happened on all of my last 4 flights. I've tried "fixes" published on the web. I've tried testing it out by driving around in my car with foreflight and the Dual gps running... Thought it was fine til yesterday, and, bam, it's screwed again.
At least with paper map navigation, we have a way of knowing where we are by checking off way points. I'm concerned with how much confidence we've been encouraged to place in Foreflight, and the dangerously false sense of security it's apparent functionality invites.
One "solution" is an iPad model with 3G (cell phone data plan) capability. These models have a so-called built in GPS. It took some digging to find this is not strictly true. These models, even if you dont buy a data plan, use cell tower signals (not satellites) for position info-- I like to call it pGPS (pseudo GPS).
"pGPS" apparently works well with Foreflight, but surely flying in the mountains is an issue.
I've written to Dual today to ask if there is a remedy that actually works.
At this point, my inclination is to relegate foreflight to flight planning duties, and use a dedicated aviation GPS for positional awareness.
While using Foreflight, I think it might be prudent on cross countries to create way points every 10 or 15 minutes, and track these with paper and pencil.
Just a few thoughts from a disillusioned ForeFlight user.
This one's more of a public service announcement.
Not having done much flying last year, I missed the whole communication break down hat iOS developed with blue tooth gps units that feed position info to wi fi-only iPads.
While My reading this weekend would suggest thats a thing of the past, I can tell you the issue is not dead, but it won't be long before some trusting pilot is. Dead, that is.
My iPad mini is on iOS 9.3.2, and Im using a Dual xgps160 with Fore Flight. It all works well til I'm in the air for 20 minutes or so. Then without warning, no position info. All I have is a static electronic map.
This has happened on all of my last 4 flights. I've tried "fixes" published on the web. I've tried testing it out by driving around in my car with foreflight and the Dual gps running... Thought it was fine til yesterday, and, bam, it's screwed again.
At least with paper map navigation, we have a way of knowing where we are by checking off way points. I'm concerned with how much confidence we've been encouraged to place in Foreflight, and the dangerously false sense of security it's apparent functionality invites.
One "solution" is an iPad model with 3G (cell phone data plan) capability. These models have a so-called built in GPS. It took some digging to find this is not strictly true. These models, even if you dont buy a data plan, use cell tower signals (not satellites) for position info-- I like to call it pGPS (pseudo GPS).
"pGPS" apparently works well with Foreflight, but surely flying in the mountains is an issue.
I've written to Dual today to ask if there is a remedy that actually works.
At this point, my inclination is to relegate foreflight to flight planning duties, and use a dedicated aviation GPS for positional awareness.
While using Foreflight, I think it might be prudent on cross countries to create way points every 10 or 15 minutes, and track these with paper and pencil.
Just a few thoughts from a disillusioned ForeFlight user.