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11 Answers

iPad with ForeFlight during the commercial practical test?

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Commercial Pilot

Can the iPad and ForeFlight be used during the flight planning (oral portion) and X-country (flying portion) of the commercial practical test?

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11 Answers



  1. James on Aug 13, 2012

    Yes, I used it on my instrument test. The examiner may want to see that you can plan a flight manually as well, but Foreflight is all up to date charts and weather. Nothing wrong with it, just don’t use it as your GPS in flight.

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  2. Lucas on Aug 13, 2012

    It really all depends on the Examiner . Some will allow it, some wont. The best thing to do is to ask the examiner himself. Some of them wont even allow an electronic flight computer. Always be prepared for plan B.

    Lucas
    http://passfaaexams.com/

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  3. Gary Moore on Aug 14, 2012

    wow times have changed 🙂

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  4. Matthew Waugh on Aug 17, 2012

    Sounds like yes – but be prepared for the scenario “oops, you dropped it and now it doesn’t work – continue”.

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  5. Dale Adams on Aug 21, 2012

    My commercial examiner did not allow it.

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  6. Dale Adams on Aug 21, 2012

    My commercial examiner would not allow it.

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  7. n on Aug 24, 2012

    Our local DPE wouldn’t get in the plane until you stowed your toys in the back. As a CFI I would NEVER recommend someone that needed a app to get through a check-ride.

    Not to be a jerk, but if you cant pass the test without having a moving map, apps and all that other BS, you shouldn’t be a COMMERCIAL pilot. All you should have in the cockpit with you is your cross country log (paper) and pen, scratchpad and a chart.

    As someone who takes pride in my PROFESSION, the idea that a DPE would allow this cheapens my craft a little.

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  8. Earl Blessing on Aug 29, 2012

    Dear N – I totally agree with you. I would never be seen by a physician that used an electronic device of any kind. If there aren’t leeches in his bag then he is cheapening the medical profession.

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  9. Earl Blessing on Aug 29, 2012

    Dear N- i totally agree with you. On a similar note I would never be seen by a physician that used any sort of electronic device. If he cant cure me with leeches and snake oil, then he is simply cheapening the medical profession.

    Times change N. It may be hard to accept, but sometimes that “BS” is actually better than your paper and pen.

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  10. n on Aug 30, 2012

    Yea, until your batteries die.

    I read something on pprune a while ago about a fellow who did a emergency landing in CAVU weather due to a alternator failure, something about not being able to navigate…. L M A O

    Look, perhaps you mistake me for someone who is straight old-school, I’m a smartphone wearing, CPU overclocking, GPS, G1000 guy, I really enjoy that stuff and it makes life easier,

    BUT it is NOT what I count on to save my life and I presume it WILL fail right when I need it. This is why I rely on my eyeballs, common sense, paper charts, knowing simple rule of thumb math for x-countries, knowing that the only fuel indicator worth a damn is TIME and a stick and god forbid.. stick and rudder skills.

    To me a electrical failure is a reason to divert NOT a reason for a emergency off field landing because I need my gadgets to know where the heck I am….. I guess others mileage will vary

    You guys sure have some faith in your alternators and batteries eh??!

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  11. Sam Dawson on Sep 25, 2012

    If an examiner will not let you use and iPad ask him/her for a reference. Electronic devices are revolutionizing the information available to GA pilots and, if taught how to use them correctly, can greatly enhance safety. I use to be a “paper” pilot (Google Australian fold), but was convinced of the usefulness of electronics on a cross country flight from West Texas to Upstate NY. The planning took 10% of the time using an iPad; we did not have to wait for low level charts, sectionals and IAPs to arrive (or order them just to have to cancel the flight and have wasted the money); we had much more information available for our planning; situational awareness was greatly enhanced.
    Being able to use electronics does not mean you should not have stick and rudder skills. For some reason there is a thought pattern that the two are mutually exclusive- they are not. As for backups… what is the backup for a paper map? And yes- I have had one “fail” in flight. In the military we called it the “map monster”- the map would be sucked out an open vent or window.

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