Must haves for PPL VFR?

sarangan said:
At least until everyone has an ADSB-out, your eyes are still the best traffic sensor.
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There is definitely no replacement for eyes outside at this point. You have to be able to view the adsb traffic in a scan so it doesn’t take your eyes off the inherent risks outside the cabin. That said, it is tough to find traffic sometimes. I discovered traffic via adsb at 11 o’clock approaching 1.5 mi and 200’ below. I could not find them until they were less then 1 mi. Sometimes terrain and lighting doesn’t allow good detection. I new they were there just couldn’t find them. These scenarios are definitely to close for comfort situations for me and I wonder when I would of detected them with just my eyes and no clue they were there. Now when I see oncoming traffic I take evasive action, turning slightly off course and flashing a wing as well as trying to locate with my eyes.
Adsb will not be perfect until everyone implements it, which probably will never happen. However, I am going to use the current resource because of the obvious advantages I have experienced so far.



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sarangan said:
I would second Bob's recommendation. Don't get me wrong, I am totally into tech - I write most of my own software and build my own electronics. In the cockpit, the essential elements of flight are already there on your panel, regardless of how old style the gauges are. EFB is really a replacement for paper charts. But really, nothing beats looking out the window for the enjoyment of flight and for safety. At least until everyone has an ADSB-out, your eyes are still the best traffic sensor.

Instead of the current trend of loading the panel and the pilot with excessive gadgets, I would like to see an alternative minimalist cockpit style emerge. I don't mean vintage style, but a modern minimalist style with electronic displays, but with a minimalist approach.
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I think that sounds like a cool idea. I don’t want to put off the idea that I am a gadget hungry pilot looking to only use iPads in the air. I do plan to utilize one on the inter xc trips and look forward to the added information in the cockpit. It sounds like an iPad and an adsb receiver would be hard to beat. I do enjoy flying with only the panel as that is all I have ever done. The simplicity of just looking out of the window is fun and can’t be substituted.

Outside of iPads and the like, what are some other necessities for the flight bag? I know everyone has their own opinion but I am curious if anyone carries things in the bag that have not yet been mentioned?
 
Using the map and afd on my iPad keeps me looking out the window. I never have to block my view with an unfolded paper.


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I second Tantalum's recommendation to carry a 406 MHz PLB; they're small, light, and relatively inexpensive. I always carry one as extra insurance even though my airplane has a 406 ELT. If the plane winds up in a position where the ELT antenna doesn't have visibility to the SARSAT/COSPAS constellation the ELT is useless.
 
Obviously you need to learn the paper charts but realistically, you want an iPad AND iPhone with either Foreflight or Garmin Pilot. (One subscription can be put on 3 devices.) Don't let the "good ole boys" scare you away from the electronics. They are wonderful tools if used properly. If I'm flying to a different airport, I plan on the iPad then pull it up on the iPhone when I get in the plane. Just "follow the magenta line". That's a hot button phrase on this site but I don't care. With a quick glance I can tell where I am, if I'm on course and ETA. I find it gets my eyes outside the airplane MORE than using paper.

If I was a full time pilot, I'd go with Foreflight just because it's so much more common, especially in the professional world. Since I'm not, and can't deduct it, I use Garmin Pilot. I think it's about half the price of FF. Whichever you decide, just learn how to use it ON THE GROUND. It will take a few hours to really learn the ins and outs. (I practiced using it on car rides when someone else was driving.) Plan trips, make modifications, diversions, emergency nearest airport, all of it. Then when you're in the plane, it's no big deal and you can keep your eyes outside.

Just my $0.02
 
Nothing wrong with electronics. I fly with Foreflight, a 430W and ADS-B in. I keep a chart at hand and suggest that anyone depending on modern technology be competent with the old methods and keep a chart within reach.

The OP inquired about the minimum and I outlined it for him.
 
Nice thread, thanks for the information. I have 9.6 hrs and should be doing the solo soon. Hoping to get my private license by the end of November flying 2-3 times per week.
 
Ipad and Stratus works great. Sometimes my Ipad overheats in the summer. Sometimes I lay a microfiber cloth over the top to block the sun and that works ok, I just move the cloth to look at it. You can't run it in hot weather and charge it at the same time or it will overheat. Also sometimes the ipad suction cup mount falls off the windscreen at inopportune moments.

If it quits on me, I just whip out the iphone, which also has ForeFlight. On calm days and for short flights I just use the iphone.
 
lancie00 said:
Whichever you decide, just learn how to use it ON THE GROUND.
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I feel like I post this every day or day and a half, but I don't think it can be overstated: Avare, FltPlan Go, I'm pretty sure ForeFlight, and possibly others can be used with flight simulators like X-Plane (and Avare at least has its own 'simulator' mode). I've gotten a TON of practice fidgeting with my phones/EFBs without burning dinosaurs, busting regs/airspace, or endangering my life. When I finally connected my (Android) phone to the Garmin GTX 345 in our club planes, I was way ahead of the game and could USE it in brief glances instead of learning it on the wing. Even if you're not really into flight sims, I think for this alone something like X-Plane is worth the investment. Similarly, I saw someone recently mention not getting VORs. Again, flight sim it until it makes sense. I've done the same with the autopilot in our 172SPs. Cheap practice.
 
Of course, I'm going to say iPad with ForeFlight... That's a given.

But the reason I'm posting is to say this: At this point, I would recommend the Sentry over any Stratus solely because of the price difference. Put the two together and you have pretty much everything you'll ever need. So put that Sporty's catalog away. ;)
 
Have to go with the I pad , stratus ,ForeFlight crowd. Has never let me down.
 
MBDiagMan said:
MUST haves for VFR?

Charts
Plotter
E6B
Pencil
AFD
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And then an extra canister of plutonium to be able to time travel back to the future, where you will have a GPS/EFB setup that does those calculations instantly. :D
 
Skibum44 said:
There is definitely no replacement for eyes outside at this point. You have to be able to view the adsb traffic in a scan so it doesn’t take your eyes off the inherent risks outside the cabin. That said, it is tough to find traffic sometimes. I discovered traffic via adsb at 11 o’clock approaching 1.5 mi and 200’ below. I could not find them until they were less then 1 mi. Sometimes terrain and lighting doesn’t allow good detection. I new they were there just couldn’t find them. These scenarios are definitely to close for comfort situations for me and I wonder when I would of detected them with just my eyes and no clue they were there. Now when I see oncoming traffic I take evasive action, turning slightly off course and flashing a wing as well as trying to locate with my eyes.
Adsb will not be perfect until everyone implements it, which probably will never happen. However, I am going to use the current resource because of the obvious advantages I have experienced so far.
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^This. The closer I get to the pattern, the less I check targets on the ADS-B. That said, ADS-B is marvelous tool when used at the appropriate time.
 
I think this is related to VFR and the question at hand; Do many of you carry Topo maps like the ones DeLorme prints in book form for each state? My background includes back county navigation by topo map and compass. I find that they have far more visually identifiable references than a road map or the sectional charts. Roads, rivers, towns, structures, hills, powerlines, railroads, etc are all there and many private air strips are marked as well.
 
Oblivion said:
I feel like I post this every day or day and a half, but I don't think it can be overstated: Avare, FltPlan Go, I'm pretty sure ForeFlight, and possibly others can be used with flight simulators like X-Plane (and Avare at least has its own 'simulator' mode). I've gotten a TON of practice fidgeting with my phones/EFBs without burning dinosaurs, busting regs/airspace, or endangering my life. When I finally connected my (Android) phone to the Garmin GTX 345 in our club planes, I was way ahead of the game and could USE it in brief glances instead of learning it on the wing. Even if you're not really into flight sims, I think for this alone something like X-Plane is worth the investment. Similarly, I saw someone recently mention not getting VORs. Again, flight sim it until it makes sense. I've done the same with the autopilot in our 172SPs. Cheap practice.
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ForeFlight definitely works with X Plane. I wish the Garmin GTN practice apps did as well.
 
Ben2k9 said:
And then an extra canister of plutonium to be able to time travel back to the future, where you will have a GPS/EFB setup that does those calculations instantly. :D
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The title of the thread is “must haves.” A properly trained and competent pilot can fly without GPS, thus it is not a “must have.”
 
I didn’t have any of that till well after my CPL.
 
I disagree with a few here.... I think a panel GPS is required from a safety and practical perspective. The reason VOR flight paths are 8 miles wide is the inaccuracy of the beacon. An iPad or some EFB is also a practical necessity.

I remember my first solo night flight. It was down the Salinas Valley with mountains on either side. This was a wide passage, but the peace of mind from having terrain warning and synthetic vision on the iPad was reassuring all was good.
 
Skibum44 said:
I recommend getting with cellular. It’s nice to file a flight plan, get the latest weather or pack and brief for a flight without having a WiFi internet connection. When I flew from Kentucky to Alaska this came in handy. Also, nice to have the bigger screen to browse the internet in the hotel room.


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Just tether the iPad to your cell phone hotspot. Done. Save the $130 difference on the WiFi only version. ;)
 
MBDiagMan said:
The title of the thread is “must haves.” A properly trained and competent pilot can fly without GPS, thus it is not a “must have.”
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But it’s the year 2018...”must have” doesn’t mean bare antiquated minimums.
 
Lachlan said:
Just tether the iPad to your cell phone hotspot. Done. Save the $130 difference on the WiFi only version. ;)
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Then you have to maintain a second battery to have cellular data, not a big deal but still. Also, if battery dies in your Stratus or whatever you choose for gps source takes a crap you lose position. I think it’s worth the extra $130 to have redundancy with built in GPS and data is money well spent. To each his own, but for me I choose cellular with GPS. My provider doesn’t charge me any money to have the iPad hooked to my plan... no brainer. I carry a older full-size iPad in the flight-bag for backup and I have my phone that may or may not have enough battery to make the trip running foreflight without plugging in. Depends on time of day.
 
Ben2k9 said:
But it’s the year 2018...”must have” doesn’t mean bare antiquated minimums.
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Okay then, in order to match up with your idea of “must have,” I “must have” a new Citation, even though my Mooney gets me where I need to go.
 
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