Garmin Improves Pilot App Features

Garmin has added a number of new features to its Pilot app, which is available for both iOS and Android devices. The latest version for iOS is 8.4.4, and includes Flight Stream 510 integration, Jeppesen chart display, chart overlays, glide range rings and other enhancements.

The Flight Stream 510 is an SD-size MultiMediaCard that installs in the card slot of a Garmin GTN series GPS/com/navigator with no wiring changes. Available for $1,495, the 510 contains Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless capability, enabling communication between the GTN 650/750 and two Apple or Android devices running Garmin Pilot.

The Flight Stream 510 is the newest addition to Garmin’s Connext family and it enables Garmin’s Database Concierge, which uses the 510’s Wi-Fi capability to automatically transfer databases from Garmin Pilot to the GTN series. This eliminates the need to remove, update and reinsert a database card. Pilots can create a flight plan on Garmin Pilot or ForeFlight Mobile then use the Flight Stream 510’s Bluetooth capability to transfer the flight plan to the GTN in the cockpit, or move a flight plan from a GTN to Pilot or ForeFlight.

In aircraft equipped with Garmin’s GSR 56 datalink/Iridium satcom, the Flight Stream 510 allows pairing of an Apple iPhone or iPad to a GTN for access to texting and voice calling. This means that pilots can use their own mobile device for texting or calling from within Garmin Pilot, including making phone calls over a headset.

Display of Jeppesen charts is enabled in Version 8.4.4, and this allows users to view approach charts and arrival and departure procedures. The user must have a Jeppesen electronic charting license, which can be assigned to Garmin Pilot. The Jeppesen approach charts and airport diagrams can also be overlaid on the Garmin Pilot map, which is another new feature in the app and also works with Garmin’s FliteCharts.

An interesting new feature of Pilot is the glide range ring, which displays a cyan ring on the moving map to show an estimated area where the aircraft can glide using best glide configuration. Users can configure the ring as a simple circle or to show how nearby terrain affects the glide range. Inputs that affect glide range include best glide speed, glide ratio and winds aloft either provided by ADS-B in or forecast data.

Other enhancements in the latest version of Garmin pilot include the ability to access flight planning features directly from the map page, instead of having to leave the map and open the flight-planning page. Garmin has also updated graphical route editing, adding filtering by airports, navaids or waypoints.