A Scary Experience
With ADS-B In, we have lots of information on board: weather, airport information, TFRs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and more, all integrated into the map display of the iPad. Recently we added Terrain.
On a flight from Dallas to Deming, NM, we intended to try out the Terrain feature. The trip produced a scary learning experience.
For the flight we got current sectionals and updated the aviation data base in the iPad. We marked the route on the paper sectional with a red pen and circled potentially troublesome towers.
Departing from Aero Country Airport, we had marginal VFR due to 1,500 ft ceilings in the Dallas area. The weather was to become VFR according to the airport data once we were 50 nm beyond the outer ring of the DFW class B space. So this was a simple trip, right? Just fly 1,000 ft AGL until VFR is reached, then climb to cruise altitude.
Since the Terrain feature was new, we paid more attention to the iPad displaying the map with route and airplane icon. About 5 nm southwest of Bridgeport, we glanced at the paper sectional. Holy smoke, we were getting close to a tower that rose to 1,296 ft AGL.
In disbelief, we looked at the map shown by the iPad. It did not show that tower!
How could that happen?
As we veered away from the tower, the Terrain feature kicked in and warned of the nearby tower by a large red X on the map. But the map indicated nothing justifying that X.
When we installed ADS-B In, two experienced pilots urged us to forget paperless cockpit and still have paper sectionals on board, marked with the route. We just learned how important that information is.
Lest we forget: On the iPad we see layers of information produced by various sources and cobbled together by software. Both data and software are not necessarily reliable. The information is then displayed on the iPad, which is a device designed and built for entertainment, and not according to aviation certification standards. The information is useful and makes flight much safer. But it should not be our primary navigation information. That should be old-fashioned paper sectionals, with drawn-in routes.
On a flight from Dallas to Deming, NM, we intended to try out the Terrain feature. The trip produced a scary learning experience.
For the flight we got current sectionals and updated the aviation data base in the iPad. We marked the route on the paper sectional with a red pen and circled potentially troublesome towers.
Departing from Aero Country Airport, we had marginal VFR due to 1,500 ft ceilings in the Dallas area. The weather was to become VFR according to the airport data once we were 50 nm beyond the outer ring of the DFW class B space. So this was a simple trip, right? Just fly 1,000 ft AGL until VFR is reached, then climb to cruise altitude.
Since the Terrain feature was new, we paid more attention to the iPad displaying the map with route and airplane icon. About 5 nm southwest of Bridgeport, we glanced at the paper sectional. Holy smoke, we were getting close to a tower that rose to 1,296 ft AGL.
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| Dallas - Ft. Worth sectional, effective 19 Sep 2013 to 6 Mar 2014 |
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| Dallas - Ft. Worth sectional of iPad |
As we veered away from the tower, the Terrain feature kicked in and warned of the nearby tower by a large red X on the map. But the map indicated nothing justifying that X.
When we installed ADS-B In, two experienced pilots urged us to forget paperless cockpit and still have paper sectionals on board, marked with the route. We just learned how important that information is.
Lest we forget: On the iPad we see layers of information produced by various sources and cobbled together by software. Both data and software are not necessarily reliable. The information is then displayed on the iPad, which is a device designed and built for entertainment, and not according to aviation certification standards. The information is useful and makes flight much safer. But it should not be our primary navigation information. That should be old-fashioned paper sectionals, with drawn-in routes.
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