Garmin Pilot IFR Add-on: worth it?

[1001001]

I use the Garmin Pilot app on my Android devices in the cockpit to increase my situational awareness and to replace my primary paper charts. For the last year I've had a subscription to the add-on Garmin Pilot SafeTaxi (now Garmin calls it the "VFR add-on"). The subscription has now come to an end, and I'm considering renewing it, or changing to the "IFR add-on" which apparently includes the VFR add-on and adds the geo-referenced IFR approach plates.

Has anyone had a chance to determine the utility of this? Should I spend the $50 for a year's subscription? I'm finishing up my instrument rating and expect to be flying a lot of approaches in the next year. Is the additional situational awareness worth the money or is it fluff I don't need?

Dave

[erikpmort]

i love it- i have the ifr add on- two things-

the stars and departure plates are not geo referenced. only the approach plates are- i emailed garmin about this and they said its a scaling problem -- i'm curious if foreflights are---

#2- Xplane doesn't work with pilot- only foreflight. if i would have known that i would have bought foreflight.

otherwise very happy with the pilot interface. can't wait to buy by g3x touch someday to go with it

[1001001]

Originally Posted by erikpmort

i love it- i have the ifr add on- two things-

the stars and departure plates are not geo referenced. only the approach plates are- i emailed garmin about this and they said its a scaling problem -- i'm curious if foreflights are---

#2- Xplane doesn't work with pilot- only foreflight. if i would have known that i would have bought foreflight.

otherwise very happy with the pilot interface. can't wait to buy by g3x touch someday to go with it

Do you mean XPlane the simulator? It definitely works with Garmin Pilot. You just install the XPlane to GPS app and it simulates a GPS signal.

[erikpmort]

Ru serious ? They said it wasn't supported ? I even chatted with the tech through email about it. What is the exact name of it on the App Store ? Thanks

[1001001]

Originally Posted by erikpmort

Ru serious ? They said it wasn't supported ? I even chatted with the tech through email about it. What is the exact name of it on the App Store ? Thanks

Are you using Android or iOS? The XPLANE to GPS app I use is for android; I don't know whether there is one for iOS. The app for Android is called "X-Plane to GPS" and is made by "Appropel." It receives data from XPlane and creates a spoofed GPS signal that any app (Garmin Pilot, Google Earth, Google Maps, etc.) can read. You have to enable "mock locations" in Android but the steps are straightforward and clearly spelled out in the docs for the app.

[erikpmort]

Ah ha. Yeah it's not Available for Mac yet. Ah well

[1001001]

Originally Posted by erikpmort

Ah ha. Yeah it's not Available for Mac yet. Ah well

Mac or the iPad? I don't see any reason X-Plane to GPS shouldn't work with a Mac XPlane installation, but I don't think Appropel makes a version for iOS. It's the iPad that is the problem. If you're interested in replacing it with an Android tablet, I can recommend the Galaxy Tab Pro 8.4 (it's a little old by now, but it runs Pilot very well).

[1001001]

Originally Posted by humptybump

Dave, to your OP question, I find the geo-referenced approaches to be very useful for IFR situational awareness. If you are training for your instrument rating is recommend giving it a try. Assuming you would to want the "VFR add-on", you are discussing a $25 annual increase to jump up to the "IFR add-on".

Glen, thanks. I am on the fence about the VFR add-on since I haven't flown into enough fields large or busy enough to make SafeTaxi much of a necessity. It helps a bit, but eyes out the window and a current airport map has been enough for me so far. I wish there were a way to get the georeferenced plates without the SafeTaxi bundle.

[1001001]

Originally Posted by humptybump

Understood Dave.

I can only say what my experience has been. And on at least 2 occasions over the past year, SafeTaxi has been a valuable resource. The step up to geo-referenced approaches makes sense for me given my panel is not instrument equipped.

As for the cost, Garmin and ForeFlight seem to be staying in sink for their "entry" and "full" subscriptions. Garmin happens to offer something in the middle.

You are right about Garmin offering a middle road. The only thing they could be doing better would be to bring the android version up to full feature parity with the ios version.

[emuyshondt]

WingX Pro comes with geo-referenced taxi diagrams and an obstacle database in their basic subscription.

I like get-referenced approach plates for instrument work.