ForeFlight Standard or Pro?

DrewG

DrewG

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Nov 26, 2013
Messages
313
Location
Stillwater, OK
Display Name
Display name:
DrewG
I'm still early into the training process and don't have a true NEED for ForeFlight just yet, nor do I foresee making a massive amount of long cross country flights outside of my general area (OK) immediately upon obtaining my PPL. Would it be recommended that I only purchase a standard subscription to ForeFlight, or is it worth it to have the added features of the "pro" subscription?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
DrewG said:
I'm still early into the training process and don't have a true NEED for ForeFlight just yet, nor do I foresee making a massive amount of long cross country flights outside of my general area (OK) immediately upon obtaining my PPL. Would it be recommended that I only purchase a standard subscription to ForeFlight, or is it worth it to have the added features of the "pro" subscription?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

If you are just doing Private, the Standard is fine. Heck, even if you are doing the IR, Standard is fine.

I had the Standard for years and only went to the Pro for geo-referenced charts after a massive panel upgrade in a completely different plane -- and used the Pro version as an additional cross-check in IMC while I got fully acquainted to all the changed items in a faster plane.

I could take or leave just about all the features except one. It's the geo-referenced taxi diagrams. Have received many like "turn right Mike 6, to Mike, follow Kilo, hold short Charlie, Bravo to Alpha, hold short 31, taxi to parking...." -- I write it down, then draw the path on the plate with the mark-up feature of the Pro version.... At complicated airports, it's so easy to see exactly where you are, how far to the next turn, etc...

...and being able to place the Approach Plate on the Sectional or Low-Route is nice is well... but not at all necessary.

But for training and to hit your question squarely: Go Standard vs Pro.
 
Out of the two choices I'd probably get the standard. The major advantage of the pro is the GPS airplane on the approach plates, you won't be flying approaches for a while so you don't have a need for that. The other advantage of the pro is the GPS airplane on the taxi diagrams, it's a nice feature, but is it really worth the money?

Consider a third option. You do not yet have a PPL, you need to learn how to do everything yourself and not have the computer (ipad with foreflight) do the job for you. I've had the ipad overheat and stop working at least twice when I actually needed it (well...planned to use it), you can not rely on it. I highly recommend you wait until you at least get your PPL. That way when it does stop working, you won't be completely screwed.
 
I figured the geo-reference features would be a little more than I'd need, given my prospective missions once a PP, and the app itself is something I won't be using much while training and learning to do everything manually. It'll pretty much be something to play with and learn how to use while I make my way to PPL and a nice thing to have once I do have the certificate. Thanks for the input!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Get a plotter, E6B, and sectional. Learn how to use them.

Here's my dirty secrets:

I test my students to see if they can live without foreflight. If they don't have a GPS feed of some sort, I make them divert and see if they can come up with heading, ETA, and fuel used. I'll also ask about times and altitude structure of various SUAS.
 
+1 to MachFly's third option whilst training.

Then the standard subscription while your enjoying your new privileges and building time. And get the Pro once you really find a use for it.
 
The subscriptions can be upgraded and downgraded, and are prorated, so there's no harm in going with the standard and upgrading later. Hopefully your instructor will insist on using FF without GPS input to learn the basics of pilotage. It's easy for the device to become a crutch when you can see your plane on the chart.
 
I can think of only 2 real advantages to the Pro subscription if you are a VFR pilot:

1) Terrain warning is I think available only in the Pro edition. This is a huge safety feature at night or in low visibility, or even on a nice day if you don't notice that 3,000 foot tower at 12 o'clock.

2) Geo-referenced taxi diagrams are also really nice if you go into larger airports.

Are there others?
 
I thought the terrain warnings was worth $75 more a year. Geo referenced taxi is nice, especially for unfamiliar busy airports.
 
Other choices .
Garmin
Fly q
Wing X
Try one month free on all these Apps and then buy the one that you like .
 
'Really irritated me when they added terrain, but made you pay extra for it. You get all the advantages of terrain, and geo ref'd taxi diagrams in the standard sub of WingX. 3 yr sub makes it cheap.
 
Even if you're just training for Private, the Pro version has one very valuable tool for you -- the georeferenced taxi charts. That alone can pay for itself if you ever visit an unfamiliar airport. Unless you're really confident you can be dumped somewhere on a big busy airport, be given a complex taxi assignment, and navigate your way around with just the basic chart, airport signage/markings, and your two eyes, I'd say you should "go Pro".
 
Go with the standard,as you advance you can go with the pro. All your paper charts in one easy device.
 
frfly172 said:
Go with the standard,as you advance you can go with the pro..
Click to expand...
To be honest, I'd say go the other way 'round. The geo-referencing will be a lot more important to an inexperienced pilot than someone with five or ten thousand hours who's been doing it the "hard way" successfully for a couple of decades.
 
I'll second Cap'n Ron on this one. If you can afford the Pro version, seeing your plane on the taxi diagram is very much worth it.

That's assuming you aren't doing ALL your training at untowered fields for which FF doesn't have taxi diagrams. But I think you need to do some landings at controlled fields, particularly during solo cross countries (if memory serves), and it's good training even if not required.

So yeah, go Pro, if the $150 cost is within your budget. Considering how much it costs to get a PPL these days, though, that should be small potatoes.
 
Concorde said:
Other choices .

Garmin

Fly q

Wing X

Try one month free on all these Apps and then buy the one that you like .
Click to expand...

Also JeppFD, although it's a bit pricier, I prefer it for IFR stuff. Jepp has geo-referenced approach plates now as well, plus, Jepp will automatically load and display the taxi diagram after you touch down and slow below 40 kts I believe.
 
Last edited:
Drew,
If the argument about the cost of Pro being insignificant is true, there is some logic to "Go Pro" now. I basically would recommend the advice of try a number of these EFB's for their free period so you have your own feeling about which and what is best. Don't worry about the sage advice to go back to the Middle Ages and a piece of straw to "learn how to navigate". If you take the time to understand these programs and how they work you'll be knowledgeable enough to look out side the window and follow the train tracks back to the airport. No CFI with his salt will allow you to be addicted and unable to tell which is the shiny side. If you have any common sense, you'll turn the iPad off and build your own confidence in your navigation skills.
 
Last edited:
A ForeFlight vs. ForeFlight pro story...

During the ground portion of my last BFR/IPC, the instructor suggested that I upgrade to "pro"...that it's great.

My response was that I don't have much problem with situational awareness and really don't see the need.

So we go flying.

And we shot the VOR-A approach into Neosho, MO (EOS) which includes a DME arc. Except that he vectored me to the arc and purposely put me on the wrong side of the final approach...using typical adept CFI distraction techniques as we passed through it. So I'm flying the arc, fat and sassy, never realizing that my VOR needle is deflected in the wrong direction.

I would've flown a full circle around the airport had he not finally slapped me up side the head.

If I had "pro" that would've never happened.

The situational awareness aspect of pro could save your life someday. $75 is cheap insurance.
 
Last edited:
This feedback is much appreciated. My training takes place at a non-towered field, but I'm sure I'll be venturing to plenty of towered airports that I'll be somewhat unfamiliar with. I pretty much saw that FF seemed to be the favored app around the boards, and didn't even give much consideration to the other apps. I just may tinker around with those a bit, as I have already with my trial version of FF...and I like it so far.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Georef airport diagrams make it worth the money alone. I fly, a lot, and have been to many airports. Trying to figure out where the hell you are and where you're supposed to go at a major airport during the busy times never gets easy. It REALLY helps.
 
$150 is a drop in the bucket compared to all other expenses. If you can afford it, go for the Pro version. There is a lot of useful features and more being added every month.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
I didn't think much of needing the Pro version until I landed at my first busy Class C airport...KSNA and was headed for a FBO on the big boy side of the airport. Turned off the runway and the airport diagram with my exact location magically popped up and I was able to see the taxi diagram as Tower immediately gave me taxi instructions before I was even to a full stop cuz they wanted me moved!

I would have been a fumbling idiot or had to do the whole "unfamiliar"..."need progressive taxi instructions" without it!...worth the extra money!
 
Go standard, if at all. Foreflight is a great tool once you know how to use a paper chart.
 
Gosh! I'm torn on this one as a CFI. Personally I would suggest going to Foreflight once you hit the Cross Country phase, but really, as a PPL knowing how to use a paper chart (although quickly becoming less relevant with all of the EFBs) is really important. I find that my students (70% in their early 20's...since I work for a community college) have a tendency to overuse their iPads and not have a better understanding of what to look for outside or how to correlate what you see outside to what you see inside.

As a CFII, however, its sometimes scary how useful the tool is to me as an instructor. It allows me to keep a perfect picture of where we are, where the student needs to go, and any indicate errors before they get out of hand. Pro is a VERY powerful tool for a IFR certified pilot.

Personally, I would say no Pro just yet. I appreciate Ron's argument for Airport diagrams, but Standard has those diagrams too and as long as you can see outside the window and keep a good sense of direction, a picture of the airport on your knee is a sufficient.

(BTW...Foreflight does automatically pop the Taxi Diagram when you start moving on an airport)


And since you are in Oklahoma, there isn't too much in terms of terrain to worry about. I can vouch for that being in Florida, the only thing that really concerns me is the 2000AGL towers scattered about. So Pro isnt too necessary for that.

Once starting IFR...PRO if used correctly can be very powerful!
 
davidm767 said:
(BTW...Foreflight does automatically pop the Taxi Diagram when you start moving on an airport)
Click to expand...
Even with the Standard version? I thought Airport diagram on roll-out was a Pro feature and assumed auto-taxi when in motion was, too. :dunno:
 
Last edited:
azure said:
Even with the Standard version? I thought Airport diagram on roll-out was a Pro feature and assumed auto-taxi when in motion was, too. :dunno:
Click to expand...

Georeferenced taxi diagrams require Pro.
 
LDJones said:
Georeferenced taxi diagrams require Pro.
Click to expand...
Yes -- but to be fair, he didn't say that it was georeferenced, only that the taxi diagram came up. The Pilot's Guide description of "Auto Show Taxi" (which I think is what we're talking about) doesn't say whether it's a Pro feature either. It could come up without showing your position too.

I'm just not sure now -- I'm pretty sure I've had the Pro subscription since before that feature was added (meaning Auto Show Taxi, not georeferencing on taxi diagrams).
 
I'm a relatively new pilot, just finished my first Bienniel Flight Review.

I got the 30 day free trial for standard Foreflight while still a student, and 30 days later bought my subscription. I still fly with the standard Foreflight and am very pleased with it.

I would recommend you download the 30 day free trial, pay for standard at the end of the 30 days, and get as much experience with it as you can. If the time ever comes when you do more instrument flying or for some other reason want the PRO, you can very quickly and easily upgrade at any time.

My $0.02,
 
jesse said:
Georef airport diagrams make it worth the money alone. I fly, a lot, and have been to many airports. Trying to figure out where the hell you are and where you're supposed to go at a major airport during the busy times never gets easy. It REALLY helps.
Click to expand...

Plus, you get a complex taxi assignment, you can just draw it on the diagram with your little plane symbol marching along!
 
I've been a ForeFlight subscriber for three years. I just upgraded from an iPad 1 to 4 in November. My ForeFlight subscription is due in February and I'll be upgrading to pro now that I have an iPad that can take full advantage of the add'l features.

It's a great program and asset in the plane.
 
...I use standard as a PPL with no instrument rating (yet). I've never seen much use for the pro version. We only have the v1 Stratus so don't get any of the cool features with v2, 99% of the places I fly to I definitely don't need taxi instructions and if/when I do fly somewhere a little more complicated I make sure to have the taxi diagram handy in the plates section that I can switch to once I land. I'm not flying into DFW or anything so worse case I can just ask for progressive taxi if I'm not feeling it.

Now, when I start IFR I'll definitely upgrade.
 
RhinoDrvr said:
Go standard, if at all. Foreflight is a great tool once you know how to use a paper chart.
Click to expand...


Good advice. I believe that learning to use a plotter, an E6B and a paper chart before using Foreflight is not only good advice, but EXCELLENT advice.

I sometimes forget that beginning pilots now, will mostly start out with GPS and other gadgetry from the get go. It would REALLY behoove them to learn the old fashion way before moving to the gadgetry. They will have a much better understanding of what that box is doing.

I would suggest taking your training cross country flights with the old fashion way of doing it. That will give a better understanding of all the variables involved and their effects.

My $0.02,
 
MBDiagMan said:
Good advice. I believe that learning to use a plotter, an E6B and a paper chart before using Foreflight is not only good advice, but EXCELLENT advice.

I sometimes forget that beginning pilots now, will mostly start out with GPS and other gadgetry from the get go. It would REALLY behoove them to learn the old fashion way before moving to the gadgetry. They will have a much better understanding of what that box is doing.

I would suggest taking your training cross country flights with the old fashion way of doing it. That will give a better understanding of all the variables involved and their effects.

My $0.02,
Click to expand...


How much longer will paper charts even be available?
 
MBDiagMan said:
I would suggest taking your training cross country flights with the old fashion way of doing it. That will give a better understanding of all the variables involved and their effects.

My $0.02,
Click to expand...

I couldn't agree more. My CFI had no problem if students used ForeFlight, but I opted not to. I now LOVE and live by my Ipad and Foreflight in the cockpit, but glad I went through the PPL process without it to not only learn the "how" but the "why" things are.
 
My vote: Professional all the way...for yet one mor reason I don't see above: It allows you to accumulate your own documents and open them on Foreflight. I write lots of reference docs I like to use in flight and even on the ground. Yes, I could open them from another app, but it's really great when flying to just scroll to the document on Foreflight.
 
VWGhiaBob said:
It allows you to accumulate your own documents and open them on Foreflight.
Click to expand...

I developed my own checklist and it is stored in Foreflight Docs as a PDF. Love having the digital copies of all my avionics manuals and POH accessible as well! (Yes, I have the hard copies on board as required)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top