Garmin Pilot iPad app

[FlyDave]

I have used WingX Pro for 2-3 year but have been frustrated with their implementation of ADS-B with the SkyRadar receiver (Skyradar box always work with the SkyRadar app but only works with WingX sometimes), their lack of attention to fix things that NEED to be fixed and their generally amateurish development practices (slapping new features into an app that desperately needs bug fixes and updating).

I just downloaded the "Garmin Pilot" app and I'm pretty impressed with it. It's easy to use, fairly intuitive and begins to feel like a Garmin handheld GPS. The app is $50/year for the usual basic stuff and additional $ for add on's. Also, it supports the Garmin GLD-39 ADS-B receiver for weather, etc. For $800 I may just spring for that and sell my SkyRadar ADS-B receiver.

Has anyone used Garmin PIlot? If so, how long have you used it and what do you like/dislike about it?

Thanks,

Dave

[Marauder]

Dave,

Here is a link to my comments on both the Garmin and ForeFlight. I have been going back and forth between the two of them on the same iPad. The Garmin is starting to edge out the ForeFlight mainly because of the ease of use. The menu is very similar to the GTN 650 in my plane. Garmin has been making improvements lately and one I wish they would make is the route determination feature. ForeFlight has a distinct advantage there. Enough of me babbling on, here is the link to the PoA thread where I commented (page 40). Funny how all the antenna for ADS-B cost $799...

http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?t=51526

[Riq]

All ads-b 799. soundsl like all the gas in my town.

Ive been bummed about this myself. FF says I should support local ND stuff, ie stratus, and I tell them to make a more elegant soln first.

I shall wait.

[Marauder]

All ads-b 799. soundsl like all the gas in my town.

Ive been bummed about this myself. FF says I should support local ND stuff, ie stratus, and I tell them to make a more elegant soln first.

I shall wait.

As we get closer to the mandated date, I suspect we will see a lot more players entering the market and hopefully driving the prices down.

[M016576]

As we get closer to the mandated date, I suspect we will see a lot more players entering the market and hopefully driving the prices down.

Unlikely... The handheld ads-b receivers are a "niche" item. What we need for the mandated compliance date is basically a new transponder. Unless garmin or sky radar builds an outlet from the panel mount to your handheld, I doubt we'll see any more entrants into the handheld ADSB antenna arena. Best bet is ebay- I've seen a couple gdl-39's go for ~650, but they are few and far between. Still way over priced, but so is XM weather... I think that's what is the key driver of the ADSB antenna price being so high... After paying their subscription fees, 800 looks downright reasonable.

[scottfromiowa]

I used the Garmin Pilot flight AP on my wifes I-Pad yesterday. She went and bought me a 16 GB I-Pad II for X-Mas. We said "no presents" which I took literally and she feeling guilty for constantly being on her I-Pad bought me one That is my story. I downloaded the temporary Pilot AP on her I-Pad as she has GPS. I also downloaded the airport info, but FAILED to download the charts...oops. Worked great in setting up my Direct flight from CID (Cedar Rapids, IA) to Kansas City Downtown. In practice (I had I-pad) yoke mounted on Co-Pilot yoke...I WAS the co-pilot as my Co-Owner asked if I wanted to tag along for a $200 barbeque...Good day to fly and he was funding the go-go juice so off we went. Great/easy to check freqs, but I had put the international airport in and changing the airport was NOT intuitive, but I figured it out. I used VFR sectional and worked great until we were almost there and...lost the sectional. (because I had forgotten to actually download the sectional info.)

Buying the Garmin antenna is a NO BRAINER for us as the pay back is 1.5 years of XM subscription AND we have a 696 (panel dock) in addition to the I-Pad. Pilot has NO obstructed view of instruments with I-Pad II on the RAM yoke mount and front seat passenger/co-pilot has his/her own personal big screen schart showing speed time to destination and position on chart so they KNOW what town/lake that is...and with a little practice they will be a good assistant to pull up freqs/safe taxi etc...as they are USED to an I-Pad.

Weather in plane is important to us. Having it be "free" in 1.5 years is a dealmaker. The plus of traffic is just a bonus...even if spotty.

[flyboy0681]

I loaded the Pilot last week for a trial flight down to the Florida Keys. Overall it's an impressive package and I felt right at home with its menu system. I think it's neck 'n neck with ForeFlight in terms of features and functionality.

My ForeFlight subscription just ended so I'm not sure which one I'm going to go with at this point. I'm in no rush as it would be difficult for me to get lost (but not impossible )with the GTN and Aera that reside in the panel.

[scottfromiowa]

I loaded the Pilot last week for a trial flight down to the Florida Keys. Overall it's an impressive package and I felt right at home with its menu system. I think it's neck 'n neck with ForeFlight in terms of features and functionality.

My ForeFlight subscription just ended so I'm not sure which one I'm going to go with at this point. I'm in no rush as it would be difficult for me to get lost (but not impossible )with the GTN and Aera that reside in the panel.

How about flying into a thunderstorm? Would that be difficult?

[flyboy0681]

How about flying into a thunderstorm? Would that be difficult?

The GTN has weather.

[FlyDave]

I installed Garmin Pilot on my Android phone (Samsung Galaxy S3) and am equally impressed with it on the phone as I am on the iPad Mini.

Is anyone running on an Android tablet? If so, what do you think of it and what tablet are you running it on?

 

Thanks,

 

Dave

[Marauder]

I loaded the Pilot last week for a trial flight down to the Florida Keys. Overall it's an impressive package and I felt right at home with its menu system. I think it's neck 'n neck with ForeFlight in terms of features and functionality. My ForeFlight subscription just ended so I'm not sure which one I'm going to go with at this point. I'm in no rush as it would be difficult for me to get lost (but not impossible )with the GTN and Aera that reside in the panel.

I have gone back and forth with both the ForeFlight and the Garmin Pilot. With both installed on my iPad and able to use them both interchangeably, I have seen first hand the good and bad for both. Garmin's split screen stuff is pretty good and I really like how you can set up a flight plan and use the widgets for checking the weather along your route. The biggest drawback on the Garmin Pilot is that the routing is all manual. As you know with ForeFlight's last major update, they included a route search feature. Being able to have it calculate it for me or give me previously provided ATC routes as an option is nice. I suspect Garmin will catch up. I am waiting to see what happens with Aspen's Connected Pilot product before I do anything. With a Garmin 650 in the plane, manually loading long routes with ForeFlight and Connected Pilot would be nice.