I Pad and Foreflight

[shamrock104]

Any suggestions or advice on carriers for the best cellular plans to run Foreflight?
How much memory will be required to run these apps if using on a daily basis?

[CpnCrunch]

Any suggestions or advice on carriers for the best cellular plans to run Foreflight?
How much memory will be required to run these apps if using on a daily basis?

What is it you want to do with it? With FltPlan Go you don't need any data plan, as you can download everything beforehand. I imagine Foreflight is the same. You only need a data plan if you want weather, NOTAMs, etc.

[SuperchargedRS]

You don't need a data plan for foreflight, the only reason folks tell you to get a cellular iPad is because Apple to too cheap to put the GPS chip in the non cellular models.

[Chris M]

The iPad GPS works all the time, you don't even need a sim card in it to get location services. Download charts at home over wifi (you don't want to count on your cell service working in the air) and you'll never need any data for the app.

Memory use depends how many charts you store. If you go and download all of Canada at once it takes up a lots of space. If you're only keeping a few VNCs and VTAs up to date it should only be a couple GB. I think 16 GB is generally the bare minimum for Foreflight, considering you'll have other apps, pictures, videos, etc on the thing as well.

[lazyeight]

I had a 16gig cellular mini that worked well... until I started using it for more than just foreflight. Ended up getting pretty slow. I'd say 16 is OK so long as forflight is it's only purpose and keep it clear of photos and other apps. The cellular model is all you need, I never had a plan with it. Just update on wifi.

[lhalliday]

You don't need a data plan to make the iPad GPS work. Just make sure you get one with a 3G modem. I've used the internal GPS and an external one (Bad Elf), both with good results. Data in Canada is crazy expensive anyway. I have a basic tablet plan so I can check weather data and stuff if I don't have wifi.

Storage? Lots. And then some. Depends on how much data you want to store. I use a 128 GB iPad mini and it's more than comfortable. My old 16 GB iPad was inadequate, but it had other stuff on it, not just ForeFlight.

Have you read ForeFlight's notes on the subject? https://www.foreflight.com/support/buying-guide/

...laura

[Broken Slinky]

The only time I really wished I had cellular data was to file and activate flight plans. My way of getting around that is to make my cell phone a hotspot and content my iPad to it. Bit of a hassle but saves me from paying another monthly sim fee.

[SuperchargedRS]

that, I tether my iPad to my iPhone for data, however nowadays, outside of backcountry, normally there is always wifi access from somewhere when I need to file.

Also FltPlan is way better when it comes to filing and also fuel burns and times enroute, foreflight SV Pro for everything else

[CpnCrunch]

The only time I really wished I had cellular data was to file and activate flight plans. My way of getting around that is to make my cell phone a hotspot and content my iPad to it. Bit of a hassle but saves me from paying another monthly sim fee.

Why not just file on your phone? I usually get the flight plan ready to go on fltplan.com or navcanada beforehand, then just edit the departure time on my phone and file it from there.

[Broken Slinky]

Why not just file on your phone?

Because I'm a fat fingered lump and mush the iPhone screen like the apes in 2001: A Space Odyssey.

[lazyeight]

I can file a flight plan by phone in less than 20 seconds. I've never tried online, am I missing something here?

[photofly]

20 seconds if you start the clock when the briefer answers the telephone. 8 minutes and 20 seconds sometimes if you start the clock when you finish dialling 1-866-WXBRIEF.