Shopping For an EFB? Less Might Be More

As we begin the huge task of evaluating cockpit EFB apps, I started thinking about how I use a tablet program and how others might approach the decision—especially those who don’t have a lot of experience with them. Turns out, less could be more, but don’t underestimate the program’s value when supplementing even the best panel avionics and as a flight planning tool.

Chart Readers on Steroids

To help with some shopping advice, I jumped in the virtual studio with John Zimmerman at Sporty’s. I can’t think of anyone else who’s up on the latest buying trends—and the latest products—better than him; this includes EFB programs and the pilots who buy them. You can watch the video podcast in the window below. First, I asked Zimmerman how the heck we got to where we are today—you know, this obsession with aviation tablet apps even in cockpits that are decked out with wall-to-wall avionics that cost as much as a luxury vehicle. He reminded me that the craze started somewhere around 2006 when pilots had the bright idea of viewing approach charts on early-gen Kindles. Utilitarian, yes, but the black and white grainy presentation might have been better than dealing with those heavy leather binders of Jeppesen charts, plus the time-consuming chore of keeping all the paper current. When the first iPad came out, warts and all it turned out to be a decent chart reader and much better than the Kindle. When the compact iPad mini came along, we never looked back. “We sometimes take for granted that EFBs really started as chart viewers and they’ve expanded to advanced preflight planning tools,” he said. As for the inflating prices for app subscriptions, the yearly buy-in is still less than the multiple binders of paper Jepp charts of the day.

But Zimmerman had a good counterargument when I questioned that with all the gee-whiz panel avionics we load in our airplanes, why are we so attached to portable tablets and the programs we run on them? It’s mostly about preflight planning, of course. Keep that in mind if you’re shopping for your first program—and think in terms of simplicity if you’re considering switching to a different app than what you use now. What do you want to see when you’re doing the flight planning homework? Keep it simple, but thorough.

When I plan a flight at my kitchen table, I want to know the basics and I want the information quickly and in a format that’s easy to digest with limited caffeine. I don’t want to sift through deep menus and I want minimal button pushes. While I’ve used other apps, years ago I settled on Garmin Pilot for the iPad for no other reason than as a visual guy, the app has a look and feel that’s reassuringly similar to the Garmin GPS avionics I’ve grown up using—from the GNS 430/530 to the current GTN navigators to the big Garmin flight display that’s in the panel of my airplane. If you’re an Avidyne or Dynon user, the visual feature set might not matter much, and you’ll probably click with some other programs. Or not. The point is, when you try a new app or a different one than you’re accustomed to, you’ll know pretty quickly if you’ll get along with the feature set. Trust your instincts, and make it a point of flying with a buddy who uses the app so you can get a real-world demo.

When I plan a flight on the iPad using Garmin Pilot, I enter the flight plan with alternates and fuel stops, and then review the route on the maps—usually the VFR sectional and IFR maps. I’m looking for TFRs, restricted airspace, and a general bird’s-eye view of the flight. I want to easily compare cruising altitudes for headwind components and fuel efficiency, and look at various power settings for a better idea of what I’m in for when it comes to fuel burn and time enroute. Weather graphics, of course, is important so using the internet source for eyeballing winds aloft and Nexrad graphics is a must-have. So is sourcing TAFs, METARs, and airfield information including NOTAMs and runway data. I want a no-nonsense pictorial of the unfamiliar field and a quick way to call up the approach charts. Last, I want to easily access a weather briefing pertinent to my flight plan. I’ll often phone a briefer if the forecast seems tricky simply because I like the human engagement, but on Garmin Pilot it’s a single button push of the Brief tab to access Leidos for a certified Flight Service Briefing.

Last, I want an app that has an easy-to-use weight and balance utility that’s accurate for the stored aircraft profile and has a straightforward graphical presentation of the loading. I want to type in the passenger weights for each seat, and any weight I’ll load in the baggage area, and I want to quickly see if I’m within limits.

In the Airplane

When folks often ask my advice about major avionics upgrades, one of my first questions is what EFB app do they use or plan to use. My reasoning is that today’s avionics generally have a wireless interface with tablets, and there are capabilities built in for syncing flight plans and database updates. When we evaluate the various apps, we’ll look hard at third-party compatibility. But as a counterpoint, Zimmerman isn’t so sure the equipment matters as much as I think. Regardless, Sporty’s sees value in using an iPad or Android tablet in the cockpit even with the latest suite of panel gear, or even more so when there’s a federated arrangement of old and new equipment. Not everyone has the bucks to equip with the latest gear and an EFB is a good way to fill the gaps.

“At Sporty’s, at least half our customers don’t own an airplane but instead rent them or belong to flying clubs. For them, the EFB has become their portable digital cockpit, and the EFB app you choose provides consistency and similarity when jumping from airplane to airplane,” he told me. And even for aircraft owners, he sees value in a tablet to supplement even the best avionics simply because the right app makes it easier to access data in a hurry—maybe it’s pinch zooming the map for finding a way to get around weather, evaluating tricky airspace, and looking at different routing options without changing the current route in the panel avionics. For sure, flying with a tablet will change your workflow, hopefully for the better.

iPad or Android?

We’ve already heard from a handful of readers who are sold on Android tablets over Apple’s iPad. We’ll look at both platforms in our app review, but Zimmerman echoed what I’ve heard for years and it’s that the iPad dominates among users. Some apps, like ForeFlight to name one, only run on the iPad. Some run on both platforms with limitations. Is the iPad a better piece of hardware for the cockpit? I’m not sure it is, and the Android tablets I’ve used had great screen graphics, good battery life, and speedy processors.

“We’re agnostic at Sporty’s and we’re happy to support any app and any hardware. But we also look at the numbers and who is shopping on our site. The iPad has become dominant,” he said. He made a good point in that when you choose the hardware, you’re also buying into the ecosystem. Think about supported accessories. Worth mentioning is that ForeFlight has been in the news for a future revision that won’t be compatible with some older iPads.

Smart Shopper: Self-Analysis, Flight Planning First

When shopping for an EFB, take a good look at how you fly rather than chasing an app’s feature list. Like many panel avionics, accept that you might only use a small percentage of a program’s capabilities. Again, start with preflighting capabilities. I think it’s hands-down the best way to get started. If you’re a new user, downloading the app and starting out by using it in the airplane under workload is a setup for frustration. Do some couch flying, first. Think about how you plan and complete a flight now (VFR or IFR and what kind of aircraft?), and then think about how an app might make your life easier. If you fly a Cherokee, you shouldn’t be concerned with an app’s capability for turbine airplane runway performance calculations, as an example.

My idea for using an EFB program for preflight planning is to help make a better go/no-go decision and for being better informed once underway. And you don’t even have to start with an iPad. Consider first using a smartphone version of the app where you can digest the capabilities in small bites on your phone. Use it for preflight briefings, checking weather forecasts, and other basic functions. Baby steps. Moreover, most of the EFB apps have a free trial period—take advantage of them instead of jumping in with a full-price subscription. Expect a lot of capability. Zimmerman at Sporty’s made a good point that just about all of the top apps are beyond feature rich and it’s pretty tough to be disappointed for lack of functions … “like choosing between a Lamborghini and a Ferrari,” he said. I agree.

Last, keep your comments coming about what you want to see in our EFB reviews, and tell us what you like and don’t like about a certain program. We’re already digging in and our first program to cover is 8Flight Aviator, an app that seems to go toe-to-toe with the popular ForeFlight program. Stay tuned.