AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - May 2012 - 95

Stratus provides big capability in a small package. Free ADS-B weather is delivered wirelessly to the iPad through ForeFlight’s app.

data was received, brightness, and satellite coverage. Connection to the unit is done through Wi-Fi, which means that multiple devices can connect and receive the information at one time. Stratus is available for purchase through Sporty’s or Appareo Systems for $799. Shipments are expected April 23. —Ian J. Twombly New from Garmin Garmin has “Garminized” its iPad application. Garmin Pilot replaces the Pilot My-Cast application the GPS maker had come to the tablet market with just a few years ago. The interface and features of Pilot are all new. The opening map page is not unlike a 696 or 796. In landscape, the full map page is displayed, but turn the iPad to portrait, and the map can be split in half with an HSI display that Garmin users will immediately recognize. Navigation is through a main menu button on the top left. Tap it and selections for map, weather, charts, airport information, and two flight plan choices

Another feature frequently found only on high-end autopilots is the ability to climb and descend at a selected indicated airspeed, useful for fitting in well with other high-performance traffic in busy airspace. The DFC90 is already certified for installation in early Cirrus models that don’t have the Garmin G1000 cockpit. Certification efforts on the Cessna 182 are well under way. Avidyne officials report that a V-tail Bonanza was to arrive at their facility on April 2 to begin testing that will lead to certification in that model over the next few months. Other models will follow. —TBH iPad apps Sporty’s Pilot Shop (www.sportys.com) and ForeFlight (www.foreflight.com) are making life with your iPad a little sweeter. The two companies worked with Appareo Systems (www.appareo. com) to develop a small, wireless, portable ADS-B weather receiver and WAAS GPS for the iPad. Called Stratus, the new box is smaller than most handheld GPS units, runs off battery for eight hours, and allows users to get cockpit weather, TFRs, and more on an iPad with no weather subscription. Stratus works off the ADS-B network, which is available in a majority of the country today, and is expected to be fully operational by 2013. The box was built by Appareo Systems, and works only with ForeFlight. Company chief Tyson Weihs says the weather integrates seamlessly with the app, providing menus for the time the

come up. Jumping to and between these pages is quick and easy. Flight plans can be created or altered graphically on the map page, or through text on the flight planning page. This way users can have their preference of touching to add waypoints, or adding them via text. Pilot also enables full route planning with airways. Charting is another of the app’s strong points. Individual approach plates are categorized into “books” by airport. Every chart is georeferenced (additional fee), and the plates will automatically switch to the airport diagram upon landing, assuming one is available. Garmin calls its georeferenced airport diagrams SafeTaxi, and the increase in situational awareness is palpable. Creative and useful tricks are scattered throughout the app, including a “bagel” menu that comes up when a waypoint is selected on the map page. Tap and hold, and a round menu pops up around the waypoint with options to add to the route, get more information, and more. The ability to get live weather with the Baron Mobile Link further enhances functionality and safety. With this update, Garmin has placed itself with other top aviation application developers. The application is free to download and try, $99.99 for a year, and additional for SafeTaxi and georeferencing. It’s available now in the Apple App Store. —IJT

Garmin’s new Pilot iPad app is a big step up from the company’s previous offering.

AOPA PILOT • 95 • MAY 2012

http://www.sportys.com http://www.foreflight.com http://www.appareo.com http://www.appareo.com

AOPA Turbine Pilot Magazine - May 2012

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