Why I believe it's better to have a tablet PC

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HomeHomeDiscussionsDiscussionsiFly General Di...iFly General Di...Why I believe itWhy I believe it's better to have a tablet PC
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3/15/2011 1:19 PM
 
I have been flying for almost 50 years and have somewhere around 30,000 hours,I have never seen anything that even comes close to equaling the value of the I fly, you are way off base here.
 
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3/16/2011 12:17 AM
 

I am a new private pilot with only 140 hours of flight time and I have been so impressed by the IFly 700 that I have already decided to buy one. My wife and I just bought our first aircraft and I already have a Lowrance Airmap 500 that I use. I intend to buy the IFly 700 within the next few months as I learn more about the airplane. The $69 annual subscription is peanuts when it comes to having up-to-date charts to view right on the unit and not shifting around in the cockpit. I am glad that Walter announced that the subscription will no longer be required but I assure you I will pay it faithfully. That may allow Walter to continue improving the product even more while, as one person put it, making a little profit also. No harm in that.

 
New Post
7/17/2011 1:27 AM
 
Hi Rich,

There is no FAR that requires a current chart in your airplane during your flight. The pilot only has to be familiar with all information required for the flight. FAR 91.103.

For some people, this will include a sectional chart.
 
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7/17/2011 4:46 PM
 

My understanding, if you are ever ramp checked and have old out of date charts in your aircraft, you better have a very good explanation or you may be found to be flying illegal. You can't buy enough charts for less than Ifly costs per year not to update! !!!,....... especially if you fly through multiple chart areas! Not only are you legal with Ifly but your situational awareness is greatly enhanced!

 
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7/26/2011 11:30 AM
 

I must agree with those who feel the iFly is an excellent product at an excellent price. In particular, because of the depth/breadth and reasonable cost of the chart update subscription. There are certainly other options that work and those who feel compelled to use them should.

I guess an old chart is better than no chart. However, at this price point for updates I cannot imagine that anyone would could be so cavalier as to fly with out of date charts when the up date process is brain-dead simple and available.

Having investigated a number of small plane crashes it has always troubled me to find out of date materials (charts, plates, manuals) in the wreckage. Holding up the prospect that insurance may not cover an accident if out of date materials are found may not be too important to most. I can't say that an out of date chart has ever been the cause of any accident I investigated either. But, I can categorically say that the attitude that the accident pilots had to preflight planning and preparation was usually evident in the care they took with having current charts, plates, manuals, inspections and so on.

It would seem common-sense to address every reasonable eventuality (and even some not so reasonable) while still safely on the ground. Once in the air it becomes more difficult. For a day vfr flight in clear, cloudless conditions over very familiar local terrain it may not make a lot of difference. However, trying to pick one's way through or past a line of thunderstorms in unfamiliar territory and remaining as certain as possible of one's situation above the ground in relation to airports should one need to get on the ground or refueling stops should the deviations or winds require an unscheduled fuel stop or remain over night, I find current chart/plate information one of the best insurance policies I can buy. And at this price it is a no-brainer. Add low ceilings, night or an inflight maintenance problem and it becomes quickly clear that one wouldn't want to have doubts about where one is or what frequencies were needed for navaids or radios. Flying single pilot IFR in IMC with turbulence over the Appalachians while trying to unfold and refold maps, communicate, navigate and aviate without an autopilot is a challenge I have met. It was not particularly fun. I did that with Loran and later with early GPS as well as VOR/DME. I must say that the prospect of having all the information that the iFly has literally in the palm of my hand and readable both day and night makes the prospect significantly less challenging (scary). Today, with limited real estate in the cockpit of my RV4 I am even more pleased with the small size and great power of the device.

I work with many business jet operators who are moving to an electronic flight bag (yes, often based on the ipad.) I am type rated in several jets and would like to point out that one of them, Bombardier's Challenger 605, has two small screens, one on each side of the cockpit and about the same size as the iFly that provides charts, plates, checklists and such to supplement the Proline 21 with its 4-screen EFIS and Collins FMS. it's great to have.

 
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