AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2013 - 40

BRIEFING

PILOT PRODUCTS

A duo of apps
Reviewing one new, one mature iPad application
B Y I A N J. T W O M B LY

use immediately after starting up, and without
referencing a manual.
The big update in version 7 is a partnership with Baron Weather Services for overlay
weather on the ground. Instead of importing
static weather from DUAT or DUATS, the user
can now import Baron’s extensive suite of
weather products, including many with motion.
With this the application becomes a much better
flight planning tool. One of WingX’s core business
philosophies has been partnerships with everything from traffic providers to secondary screens.
Although confusing at times, it does lead to some
real gems like Baron’s weather products.
Also included in the update is more seamless approach chart integration that now lays
the course line and a breadcrumb trail on an
approach chart.
WingX remains one of the best mapping and
flight planning applications available, and is certainly worth a new look.
Price: $99.99 a year, plus additional fees for certain
features
Contact: www.hiltonsoftware.com; Apple App Store

WINGX
IT’S BEEN A FEW YEARS since we’ve looked at
WingX, and it’s clear the company has been very
busy in the meantime. WingX remains toward
the top of the popular all-in electronic flight bag
application list, with good reason. It’s a solid,
innovative application that does everything you
could want and a whole lot more.
WingX is on version 7.1 as I write this.
Given the features race in iPad applications,
there likely will be an update by the time you’re
reading it. Regardless, it’s easy to recommend
WingX if for no other reason than it remains
one of the easiest applications to use. Although
I’ve been told that because of its menu-based
home screen WingX doesn’t necessarily follow the Apple-decreed design philosophy, it’s
a key differentiator and unquestionably a positive feature. It makes the application easy to

40 | AOPA PILOT November 2013

JEPPESEN MOBILE FLITEDECK VFR
THE BIGGEST SURPRISE in Jeppesen’s Mobile
FlightDeck VFR may be that it’s from Jeppesen,
a company not exactly known for being quick or
responsive to market demands. But credit where
it is due, because Jeppesen has absolutely nailed
it with its newest iPad offering.
The trend in mapping and flight planning
iPad applications has long been to cram as many
features as possible into one application and then
sell that same application to all pilots, regardless of the type of flying they do. Jeppesen is
the first to acknowledge the fact that not every
pilot has an instrument rating, and even many
of those who do don’t use it regularly. Mobile
FliteDeck VFR is a delightfully restrained application based on the company’s VFR + GPS charts.
These were a great product at the wrong time,
but with Mobile FliteDeck VFR the company has

http://www.hiltonsoftware.com

AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2013

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - November 2013