Garmin International has introduced new features and enhancements to its Garmin Pilot application on Apple mobile devices. The latest update adds a configurable tab bar along the bottom of the application, offering easy access to commonly used features and functions within the app. Also new, a live track log overlays a chequered line on the moving map that displays the track of the current flight, particularly useful for post-flight analysis. The addition of route data and chart downloads also helps to ensure pilots have all of the charts and database information they need for a specific flight.

To help streamline navigation throughout the Garmin Pilot app, pilots can configure a new tab bar along the bottom of the app as an alternative to the home menu. For example, when the app is viewed in portrait mode on an iPad, the tab bar features six icons that are always visible when navigating and one additional icon that reflects the most recently visited page. The tab bar includes icons that are always visible when navigating throughout the app and recently viewed items, which are separated by a vertical line. Additional menu items can be viewed by selecting the ‘More’ button, which gives pilots the option to add or edit additional tab bar menu items. The icons are also similar to those found within Garmin avionics and integrated flight decks so pilots will experience a seamless transition throughout the cockpit.

The new live track log overlays a chequered line on the moving map so pilots can easily review a flight after landing. Pilots can activate the live track log from the map layer selection on the moving map page. Upon landing, the log will display the last recorded track for up to 60 minutes or until the Garmin Pilot app is closed. The track log is attached to the logbook entry within the app and can be reviewed at a later date.

The route data and charts feature is now included in trip planning to ensure the data required for a flight resides on the device. Information such as navigation data, VFR sectional charts, IFR enroute charts, as well as obstacles, terrain, airport information including runway diagrams and airport documents and more, are all reviewed once the pilot enters a departure and destination airport pair. Within the trip planning page, a green check mark will display next to the flight bag icon, assuring pilots they have all of the data needed for a flight and that it is available for offline use.

Garmin Pilot is available in the Apple app store as a free download for the first 30 days.