iPad

I know Avidyne isn't providing much information yet, but perhaps I can get an answer to a question.

A pilot recently passed her instrument checkride.  Very recently - like, this morning.  Up until now she has not used an iPad in the plane.  This is about to change.

The plane she flys has a KLN-89B which is going to be replaced with an IFD540 as soon as possible.  (I could make the case that all KLN-89 owners should be placed on the early adopters list on humanitarian grounds.)

She's going to have to learn an aviation app for the iPad.  She'd prefer to not have to switch programs in a few months.  Are there better or worse choices for flying in an IFD540 aircraft?  I'm assuming Garmin Pilot is not the answer, but beyond that I don't know.

I understand that things may change but any guidance would be appreciated.

I'm intrigued, what sort of "support" for devices might be coming down the pike?

Edited by oskrypuch - 06 May 2013 at 5:44pm

Rog.

Edited by oskrypuch - 06 May 2013 at 8:50pm

Just friendly competitive ribbing - no malice intended. I have the app as well and have used it a bunch and agree it's a capable system.

I use the Ipad version of the tablet trainer every day.  It's a full IFD540 (we compiled the code in the apple development environment and added the required tweaks for optimization) that runs on an Ipad.  It needs to be an Ipad2 or later.  My preferred device is an Ipad mini - I just like the form factor better and even fly with it every day.   It behaves exactly like the 540 because it's the identical code.  We've added some tools that are arranged around the perimeter of the IFD540 image to allow you to set altitude and speed and a few other parameters.   I actually even use the device for pre-flight flight planning to help me file a preferred flight plan route.

My apologies for leaving off Android devices.  We definitely recognize how popular the platform has become and intend to support it but I don't have a firm position on when that will happen.   We just haven't spent any effort yet on Android platforms and are focused now on finishing the actual product.  The way we've structured the nightly automatic code builds are such that the Windows and Ipad platforms now just automatically build as well so they stay current with any code changes that may happen on any given day.   We haven't taken the time to add Android to that auto-nightly build process yet.  We will but I just don't know "when" we'll get to that.

is the iPad ifd540 simulator available ?

Will the emulator require an expensive subscription for charts?

How awesome it would be if the IFD 540 worked this way too.....