iPad Foreflight Reboot Lockout

focal_plane

focal_plane

Pre-takeoff checklist
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focal_plane
Had a curious event happen to my ipad yesterday and today. Background: New purchase ipad air around 2013. Only use is to run foreflight and surf internet. Not a facebooker or twit.

Departed Appleton, WI on an Allegiant flight back to AZ last night. Pulled up foreflight to pass time. I was viewing approach plates while we were descending over the Superstitions. The screen goes dark and then puts up the apple core symbol, looks like a reboot. Takes about 45 seconds to be able to select an application, Another 15 to initialize ff, some more to acquire gps. I've had ff quit before but this was the first time having it take the whole pad down. Got home, put pad on charge, it was at 53%, went to sleep.

This morning, went to turn on ipad. Pad says I need to enter my apple password, "find my iphone" has been activated. Great, tried a few candidates and then it locked me out. I was able to reset it using a laptop but it wasn't instantaneous. Pad all back and happy now. I'm not all that happy.

My trust in the ipad/ff combo has been dinged a little more. I disabled "find my iphone" for this device but not knowing why this happened, not sure that is helpful. Has anyone had this one happen? Known issue?

The reinforcing takeaway here for me is have a backup if IFR. Those plates you're depending on might just go away at a really poor moment.
 
If you have a passcode, you have to enter it after a reboot. That's just part of iOS - You wouldn't want someone to be able to just reboot your device and get all your personal data, would you?

If it was really Find My iPhone (iPad)... Who activated it, and why do they have your AppleID password to do so? :eek: Might want to change your password...
 
flyingcheesehead said:
If you have a passcode, you have to enter it after a reboot. That's just part of iOS - You wouldn't want someone to be able to just reboot your device and get all your personal data, would you?

If it was really Find My iPhone (iPad)... Who activated it, and why do they have your AppleID password to do so? :eek: Might want to change your password...
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Yes, have a passcode, use it every time I close cover and open cover to include a reboot. No issue there. The second part of your question is a very good question. Don't know why it was activated. I changed my password this morning already.
 
focal_plane said:
Yes, have a passcode, use it every time I close cover and open cover to include a reboot. No issue there. The second part of your question is a very good question. Don't know why it was activated. I changed my password this morning already.
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I would strongly recommend enabling two-factor authentication on your AppleID account.

I don't know why you wouldn't want "Find My iPhone" enabled, as it serves to protect the device and your data if the device is lost or stolen.


JKG
 
JGoodish said:
I would strongly recommend enabling two-factor authentication on your AppleID account.

I don't know why you wouldn't want "Find My iPhone" enabled, as it serves to protect the device and your data if the device is lost or stolen.


JKG
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Yes, two factor sounds great. Since I couldn't remember this password, would have to reset two passwords then? Not really worried about lost or stolen. More worried about some apple database mishap that suddenly thinks your device is stolen and disables it. (Yes, I was able to overcome it with my one-factor password, I just don't use an apple passsword often, perhaps 4 years ago when I bought it.). Maybe it will happen to you on approach. And you can remember the password........
 
Too bad this devolved into a password strength issue. The reason for even bringing it up here was your trusted electronic information could go away in a blink for a variety of reasons. This one kind of struck home with me.
 
My young son and I shared an Apple account and when he tried Find My Phone he did something that reset my phone. You don't have any young ones that might have done the same thing?
 
focal_plane said:
Yes, two factor sounds great. Since I couldn't remember this password, would have to reset two passwords then? Not really worried about lost or stolen. More worried about some apple database mishap that suddenly thinks your device is stolen and disables it. (Yes, I was able to overcome it with my one-factor password, I just don't use an apple passsword often, perhaps 4 years ago when I bought it.). Maybe it will happen to you on approach. And you can remember the password........
Click to expand...

The reason folks are suggesting that you strengthen the security of your account is because some of the events that you describe are far more likely to be the result of an AppleID security breach than a "database mishap." Specifically, I can recall multiple instances of breached accounts, but not one "Apple database mishap" causing similar results.

If you choose to disregard best-practice security recommendations, that's entirely up to you. In addition, disabling "Find my iPhone" only reduces the chances of locating a lost or stolen device, and puts the data on the device at greater risk of exposure since it cannot be wiped remotely.

With that said, the use of "Find my iPhone" requires a cellular or WiFi connection to the Internet, so if that wasn't present during your flight, it is unlikely to have been the culprit.


JKG
 
focal_plane said:
Too bad this devolved into a password strength issue. The reason for even bringing it up here was your trusted electronic information could go away in a blink for a variety of reasons. This one kind of struck home with me.
Click to expand...

Your suggestion to have a backup is a good one, and is probably why most EFB vendors permit at least two devices to be registered per subscription. However, if your electronic device becomes disabled while IFR and you don't have a backup (paper backup usually doesn't fail), ATC is able to provide the pertinent enroute/approach information in a pinch.


JKG
 
Critical iOS devices in the cockpit should be utilized in pairs.
I use an iPad & iPhone combo with confidence.

Also, latest version of many apps begin to out-class iOS devices greater than three years of age. This includes the iOS itself as well.
My 2012 iPad quit being reliable last year; neither the iOS or ForeFlight were able to update versions for hardware reasons.
 
My "ancient" iPhone 4 died of natural causes a couple of weeks ago. Now have a 6 with a screen large enough to justify downloading FF onto it as backup for the iPad in flight. Have never had the iPad or FF fail on me yet, but I figure it's just a matter of time.
 
Exactly why I fly with triple backup in the cockpit. We have two iPad mini 4's and an iPhone 5 all running Foreflight at the moment. Going to check out Garmin pilot when my aircraft comes back from the avionics shop.
 
JGoodish said:
The reason folks are suggesting that you strengthen the security of your account is because some of the events that you describe are far more likely to be the result of an AppleID security breach than a "database mishap." Specifically, I can recall multiple instances of breached accounts, but not one "Apple database mishap" causing similar results.

If you choose to disregard best-practice security recommendations, that's entirely up to you. In addition, disabling "Find my iPhone" only reduces the chances of locating a lost or stolen device, and puts the data on the device at greater risk of exposure since it cannot be wiped remotely.

With that said, the use of "Find my iPhone" requires a cellular or WiFi connection to the Internet, so if that wasn't present during your flight, it is unlikely to have been the culprit.


JKG
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Good points.
 
455 Bravo Uniform said:
My young son and I shared an Apple account and when he tried Find My Phone he did something that reset my phone. You don't have any young ones that might have done the same thing?
Click to expand...

No kids. And I don't share the device or passwords with anyone.
 
JGoodish said:
Your suggestion to have a backup is a good one, and is probably why most EFB vendors permit at least two devices to be registered per subscription. However, if your electronic device becomes disabled while IFR and you don't have a backup (paper backup usually doesn't fail), ATC is able to provide the pertinent enroute/approach information in a pinch.


JKG
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My significant other has an air mini, about the same vintage as mine. Hers is the backup on the subscription and we always fly together.

I usually try to print the approach(es) most likely to be used.
 
I find it strange that when it rebooted in flight that it did not ask for your password or indicate that Find My iPhone had been activated. If that was the issue that caused the reboot, shouldn't it have indicated so on the reboot?

Also, I would imagine that you would have to be online for the program to affect your iPad. Does Allegiant have wifi now or did you have cellular on?

I would suggest that if this is an issue that one utilize an external GPS and not rely on the internal GPS with cellular turned on for accuracy. You need to be disconnected from the outside world when using an iPad or any device for flight safety purposes.
 
oilburner said:
Critical iOS devices in the cockpit should NEVER exist
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FTFY

And OP - What were you doing operating a GPS on a commercial flight? That's not legal. Were you in "Airplane Mode"?
 
SkyDog58 said:
I find it strange that when it rebooted in flight that it did not ask for your password or indicate that Find My iPhone had been activated. If that was the issue that caused the reboot, shouldn't it have indicated so on the reboot?

Also, I would imagine that you would have to be online for the program to affect your iPad. Does Allegiant have wifi now or did you have cellular on?

I would suggest that if this is an issue that one utilize an external GPS and not rely on the internal GPS with cellular turned on for accuracy. You need to be disconnected from the outside world when using an iPad or any device for flight safety purposes.
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No wifi. Was a really weird reboot, I did not command it. The lockout didn't happen until the next day. Without knowing anything else, could be just coincidence.
 
No passcode on my iPad. No personal info, either. I've had FF lockout a few times, but it never took down the OS.
 
What is BS? That you cannot operate a GPS receiver on commercial flights or that there should never be a critical iOS device in the cockpit?
 
Ravioli said:
What is BS? That you cannot operate a GPS receiver on commercial flights or that there should never be a critical iOS device in the cockpit?
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Both. You absolutely can operate a GPS receiver on a commercial flight (or a private flight for that matter); the GPS chips can work in airplane mode, since there is no requirement for the receiver to transmit anything. Half the 135 operations and probably some 121s in the country are in violation of your opinion that there should "never be a critical iOS device in the cockpit."
 
Ravioli said:
What is BS? That you cannot operate a GPS receiver on commercial flights or that there should never be a critical iOS device in the cockpit?
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Don't care about the "never ios" comment. You are citing a reg on "Illegal to operate gps receiver"? Even if you come up with something that makes sense in your mind, it still is a red herring with respect to this discussion.
 
Rykymus said:
No passcode on my iPad. No personal info, either. I've had FF lockout a few times, but it never took down the OS.
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Same here. Have had FF drop a few times but never had the OS drop, until this time.
 
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