jackc Posted September 24, 2021 Share Posted September 24, 2021 Looking for opinions on the above GPS please? I called a vendor today for info and wanted to know IF software could be used to enter ALAs as waypoints, without having to manually enter them directly into the unit? I am considering one of these as I can’t justify the more expensive model. Hoping to just suction cup it to my screen, rather than go through the grief of hard mounting it and needing approval for a 25 rego aircraft. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yenn Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 Do you really need approval for a 25 reg aircraft? I would doubt it. I have always considered the Aera to be overpriced, which is typical of modern Garmin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlegg Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 iPad or Android tablet and ozrunways makes the Garmin GPS obsolete I think. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thruster88 Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 (edited) A tablet with ozrunways or avplan would be better a solution. Flight plan, navigation and always current documents so you can pass a ramp check. Edited September 27, 2021 by Thruster88 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dlegg Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 Also very easy to put in waypoints, maps scrollable and easy zoom in, VFR or IFR, and can read weather reports etc. Invaluable..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kgwilson Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 A free option is Airmate. It has all the same flight planning & maps as Ozrunways & Avplan & the latest Maps, Notams, Airstrip plates, weather etc. Easy to use & runs on any Android or IOS device. I have it on my phone, Android tablet & Desktop PC. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RossK Posted September 27, 2021 Share Posted September 27, 2021 I think Yenn might be right in that you don't need approval if it's a removeable device, as the 660 would be if mounted in an Airgizmo dock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackc Posted September 27, 2021 Author Share Posted September 27, 2021 Well, messing with Avplan tonight and think I found a good feature for the Aera GPS. Can import the flight plan from Avplan to the GPS 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yenn Posted September 28, 2021 Share Posted September 28, 2021 Avplan and Oz Runways are a good way to go and I used to use Avplan. There are drawbacks though. The screen can be hard to see in a plane with a nice big canopy and also there can be problems with overheating. In my RV4 I had to relocate the iPad to a location where it was out of direct sunlight and even then angle it so that the reflections were reduced. Probably not a problem in a wide cockpit, but a single or tandem seat is harder to deal with. In my Corby the iPa is useless, there just isn't enough room to have it working and be able to see it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackc Posted September 28, 2021 Author Share Posted September 28, 2021 I have an iPad and Avplan which has a lot of stuff, I don’t think I will be able to come to grips with staring at it while flying as screen has a lot of stuff. Downloaded Airmate as suggested and it may do all I need? Still will get the Aera as I am an electronics geek, my hand held radio has VOR (might be handy) and ILS…..doubt I will ever need to go there 🙂 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mewp Posted September 29, 2021 Share Posted September 29, 2021 I use avplan on an apple mini. It occasionally overheats and shuts down for a few minutes. I have a thigh mount for it which keeps it below the panel and out of direct sunlight. I also have the aera GPS in the panel as a fall back when the pad looses interest. The great thing about avplan is it gives instant access to everything you will need and as a backup i can print the route maps directly from the pad if needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NT5224 Posted January 25, 2022 Share Posted January 25, 2022 I have a Garmin aera 660 as my panel mounted GPS. Used to have a Garmin 596 and this is way better. Just love the simplicity. Is it over priced? Yes probably, and it doesn't do much your EFB can't.. But as a backup its great. My airspeed indicator and AH just died and I completed my flight using the Ground Speed and AH on the 660 panel.. Alan 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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