Pro Tips for Garmin Pilot and ForeFlight Users

A view of Garmin Pilot widgets and NavTrack. [Courtesy: Garmin]

Using the widget tool and NavTrack slider bar in Garmin Pilot on iPad devices will simplify your flight planning process and give you a comprehensive overview of your entire flight before you even take off. Want to know the winds aloft 200 miles into your flight to pick a better cruising altitude? What about the TAF or MOS forecasts at all airports along your route to stay VFR? See all of this info in a more simple and dynamic way.

This Article First Appeared in FLYING Magazine

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To start, tap the chevron at the bottom of the map page to enter split-screen mode, and then select “Widgets.” You can choose from a list of widgets—including METARs, TAFs, MOS forecasts, PIREPs, NOTAMs, Frequencies, and more along your route—and swipe left and tap to add multiple widgets to the split-screen display. Then, use the NavTrack slider bar below the widgets to scroll along your route to see the nearest weather or information for the selected widgets. A blue diamond, displayed on the flight plan on the map, corresponds to the diamond in the NavTrack to reflect your position along the route.

Color-coded pins on the map correspond with the same-colored circle by the airport identifier on the widget to help you quickly reference the location of the data displayed. Unique to Garmin Pilot, the NavTrack and widgets help you to build a better picture of what you may encounter, plan for weather, and possibly even select better routing to reach your destination.

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Widgets and the NavTrack are also helpful beyond the planning process. When connected to the internet, or an ADS-B or SiriusXM connection once en route, you can use the NavTrack slider and widgets to see what weather or adverse conditions lie ahead. The widgets can help maintain situational awareness of the conditions out in front, keeping you ahead of the airplane and aiding in any decisions you need to make regarding weather, NOTAMs, or other conditions

[Courtesy: ForeFlight]

The Daily/Hourly Forecasts in ForeFlight provide a detailed look at the weather, showing how conditions are expected to change throughout the day. Whether you’re planning a flight or checking the forecast before heading to the airport, ForeFlight offers several easy ways to access the information you need to stay ahead of the weather.

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Need the forecast for your current location? Tap and hold the ForeFlight app icon on your home screen, then select Local Forecast to view the day’s hourly weather instantly including flight conditions.

Supplement official TAF and MOS forecasts with the Daily/Hourly Forecast for any airport in Airports > Weather > Daily. Access it in the dedicated Airports view or from any Airport pop-up on the Maps or Flights tabs.

Want to check the weather for any specific location? Tap and hold anywhere on the Map to open the Add to Route window, then tap the Wx button in the top-right corner to view the forecast for that exact spot.

This feature first appeared in the January Issue 954 of the FLYING print edition.