With the flying world at your fingertips, iPads have become our digital wellspring. Weather, route planning, information resources — you can access almost anything from the tablet in your lap.
However, if you rely on your iPad to help you with flying, consider incorporating a few simple preparedness steps into your preflight operations to make the most of your technology.
Have an iPad dedicated to flight. Keep it uncluttered, using only apps related to flying and flight planning. With a dedicated iPad, commercial pilots and flight instructors can sign off certs and endorsements.
Make a travel kit. Make sure you have a substantial backup battery. Charge it regularly, let it run down, recharge it to extend its life, and have a sturdy charging cable along with it. A dead backup battery and a cheap connection are of little use when you need them the most.
Only use what you need. Close all unnecessary apps and background operations that can slow the processing speed of your tablet.
Keep your apps updated, especially if you're using them for performance and weight and balance. This includes keeping iOS updated. If you use ForeFlight, you will receive an email shortly after each new iOS that gives you the green light to upgrade without concern for compatibility.
Use a functional kneeboard, such as a two-piece folding board, as it likely won't slip around. If you're right-handed, strap your kneeboard to your right leg, and put your iPad on the left half of your board and your note paper on the right for uncramped usability. Reverse that for lefties.
Rehearse using your apps on the ground, preferably while sitting in the cockpit. This allows you to figure out the best arrangement for your kneeboard, pens, etc. Learn what your apps can do, and then master the features you'll depend on the most during a flight. Learning for the first time in flight can be a huge risk factor.
Lastly, while this technology is awesome, remember that paper doesn't overheat, shut down, or lose an internet signal. Have paper sectionals within reach just in case.