Garmin Pilot transition guide for Foreflight users

Martin Pauly

Martin Pauly

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Martin Pauly
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You can thank @midlifeflyer for this video if you like it (or complain to him if you don't) - he and another friend on BeechTalk talked me into creating a tutorial to explain Garmin Pilot to Foreflight users. Sounded pretty simple, but ended up taking a couple of months of my spare time (I do still have a day job...).

Ready or not, here it comes:

 
I’m still a FF user but have the mandatory GP subscription only for Concierge (have a FS510 in the panel). I will watch the video since I have become GPcurious. ;) Smart charts have piqued my interest. Thanks for your efforts.
 
One thing I think, but am not completely sure of is the presentation of weather information in general on ForeFlight versus Garmin Pilot. I use Foreflight to look at a lot of weather information as a prelude to planning my flight. Not sure Garmin Pilot has the amount of various weather products that ForeFlight has. Any thoughts Martin?
 
@Rcmutz I have the same concern but, as of the past year, I have been relying on the NWS AWC site for weather briefing primarily. Perhaps my concern is not an issue that I should have been using to dismiss using GP. It still feels a little clunky to me but I have only used FF to this point as an EFB although I pay for a GP subscription for DB Concierge. I’m only about 20 minutes into Martin’s video but, based on his presentation, I think I need to give it a fair trial.
 
robin ardoin said:
I will watch the video since I have become GPcurious. ;) Smart charts have piqued my interest.
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You are describing the target group for this video exactly, Robin. A lot of people are curious about Garmin Pilot but also understand there is a non-zero learning curve when transitioning from another app. I'm hoping this video will help with that learning curve.

And SmartCharts are the bomb! They make instrument flying so much easier - feels like cheating when I brief an approach now! :D

- Martin
 
@Martin Pauly

Martin, one of my biggest concerns is accurate transfer of my logbook from FF to GP. Can you elaborate on your experience with this?
 
decalogue said:
But why?
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Personally, I started out with Garmin. Tried ForeFlight and hated it. I just couldn't get the display to clean up to a nice tidy interface that I like. Garmin tends to put things out of the way when you don't need them and I'm able to find information much faster on GP.
 
robin ardoin said:
@Martin Pauly

Martin, one of my biggest concerns is accurate transfer of my logbook from FF to GP. Can you elaborate on your experience with this?
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See this post from Garmin Pilot.

It's going to take a little knowledge of how to work with csv files. And, if you have any digital signatures in your Foreflight logbook, they will be lost. The entries will be there but digital signatures are tied to the creating software and are not transferrable.
 
decalogue said:
But why?
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1. Expanding knowledge.
2. Features you heard of that you would like to use.
3. Like the idea of an interface and planning flow identical to your panel avionics.
4. Have it anyway because you are using it to update panel databases so might as well learn to use it.
5. These days, concerns over the future of Foreflight after the development team downsizing after the private equity acquisition.
 
midlifeflyer said:
1. Expanding knowledge.
2. Features you heard of that you would like to use.
3. Like the idea of an interface and planning flow identical to your panel avionics.
4. Have it anyway because you are using it to update panel databases so might as well learn to use it.
5. These days, concerns over the future of Foreflight after the development team downsizing after the private equity acquisition.
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Trying new stuff is good

The doom nonsense with FF un-“boeing bloating” FF is a little silly IMO
 
I’m thinking of a similar effort describing how to go from Pilot and FF to paper charts and a Wizz Wheel :biggrin:
 
midlifeflyer said:
See this post from Garmin Pilot.

It's going to take a little knowledge of how to work with csv files. And, if you have any digital signatures in your Foreflight logbook, they will be lost. The entries will be there but digital signatures are tied to the creating software and are not transferrable.
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Thanks, Mark. I did find that link and my FF logbook transferred completely. I will have to move over my endorsements for completeness. I will keep parallel logbooks until I decide if I want to use GP exclusively. I have no problem with ForeFlight but, since I have to buy Garmin Pilot for my wireless DB updates, it makes sense to give GP a fair and thorough trial.
 
Ed Haywood said:
Do FBOs still stock them? Been at least a decade since I checked.
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AFAIK, Not many. I started to see them disappear or only kept in short supply from FBOs a decade ago. I gave one of my last ones to a jet pilot who needed one but the pilot shop was out of stock. Some flight schools probably still carry them. i think they still have a place, albeit a small one, in the training environment.
 
Ed Haywood said:
Do FBOs still stock them? Been at least a decade since I checked.
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Mine at CQX does. Actually, I went in to buy the updated chart that released the day before my PPL checkride - not really knowing what to expect from my DPE. The CFI who sold me the chart said something akin to "wow, old school!" No, just prepared. I fly primarily within the Boston TAC area so I keep an up-to-date copy of that in my flight bag.

One thing I haven't wrapped my head around, though is why are they updated every 45 damn days! Are there really that many changes happening?!
 
KE5BM said:
Mine at CQX does. Actually, I went in to buy the updated chart that released the day before my PPL checkride - not really knowing what to expect from my DPE. The CFI who sold me the chart said something akin to "wow, old school!" No, just prepared. I fly primarily within the Boston TAC area so I keep an up-to-date copy of that in my flight bag.

One thing I haven't wrapped my head around, though is why are they updated every 45 damn days! Are there really that many changes happening?!
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On a national scale, there are a lot of changes that take place. What you are seeing it the result of digitization. Sectionals used to be updated every 6 months. Updates were NOTAMs that lasted for a year and were moved to a separate publication.

The current 56 (not 45) day update cycle for VFR charts is because they are now digitized, with what is likely a large majority using EFBs as the sole source of aeronautical charts.

The 56-day cycle has been the rule for IFR charts for a long time. Those even have 28-day updates.
 
If you can talk them into playing nicely with other products (Dynon, Avidyne) would really help the case! Would like to make the switch, but I like the redundancy of having my ADSB data on my mobile as well as having my track log. About a year or so ago, their support team hinted there may be some news. You have any inside scoop?
 
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I didn’t watch much of the video because I am not interested in the topic, but my vote is this is a top quality product.
 
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