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By Tiago Scharfy, Student, Hillsboro Aero Academy

The first piece of aviation gear purchased by many aviation students is the headset, and it can be a daunting process.  Because choosing a headset is such a personal decision, you need to think about what matters to you the most before you go shopping. Obviously, you will need somewhere to start. What options do you have, and what are the factors that should affect your decisions?

Highlighting features such as noise reduction, sound quality, comfort, and price, click HERE to learn The ABCs of Choosing an Aviation Headset.  It might just help you land your perfect headset!

DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or views of iFlightPlanner.

The August 2014 digital issue of Avionics News Magazine is now available!

In this month's issue, you'll find:

• The View from Washington
• International News & Regulatory Updates
• Advancing Cordless Cockpits
• AEA member profile: Vaughn College
• AEA member profile: Mid-South Calibration
• Digital data: A Security Nightmare for Businesses
• Choosing a school
• Industry professionalism
• Marketplace classifieds and much more!

For more information on the Aircraft Electronics Association visit http://www.aea.net/.

The iPad has gained nearly unconditional acceptance among pilots since its debut in the spring of 2010, but some say the iPad is too large for the cockpit.  Enter the iPad Mini.  Apple's new tablet is about 2/3 the size of the iPad but otherwise has the same features and performance specs of the iPad 2.

In this video, AVweb and Aviation Consumer put the iPad Mini through its paces, and other than the ongoing issue with screen glare, might just become your favorite new cockpit accessory for iFlightPlanner for iPad!

The iFlightPlanner Crew received word from Bad Elf that the Bad Elf GPS Pro, one of the first "iFlightPlanner Approved" external GPS devices, is officially compatible (over Bluetooth) with all of the new Lightning-based iOS devices.  No firmware or hardware changes are necessary.

The new official list of supported devices is:

• iPod touch (2nd, 3rd, 4th, & 5th generations)
• iPhone 5, iPhone 4S, iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, & iPhone 3G
• iPad mini, iPad 4, iPad (3rd generation), iPad 2, iPad

Bad Elf GPS (BE-GPS-1000)

Although the Bad Elf GPS dongle with the 30-pin dock connector is not directly or officially compatible with any of the new Lightning-based iOS devices, Bad Elf is happy to report that it works with all of them using either of Apple’s Lightning-to-30pin adapters.

Bad Elf has done extensive testing and the only issues they encountered (and resolved) were actually related to the known iOS 6 bug affecting external GPS receivers.

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG™

by Andy Matthews, iFlightPlanner.com

I love to fly and look out at the world below.  It provides such a unique perspective which I instantly fell in love with when I started flying airplanes.  Unfortunately for those of us who continued working towards our IFR rating, the price we paid for the opportunity to fly in less than ideal conditions was to give up that top-down view in exchange for a pair of funny looking glasses.

Just a handful of hours into my IFR training I quickly learned that the frosted goggles designed to limit my view of the outside world were not going to make the cut.  As much as I love flying by reference to instruments I struggled with the amount of time I was spending under the influence of frosted plastic.  Eye-strain became a real issue and I began to scour pilot shops to find something better.  I am happy to report that I have!  If any of you have experienced strained or watery eyes as a result of using frosted IFR glasses, cry no more.  Meet Blockalls!

I had the opportunity to fly with Blockalls for the first time last month and quickly noticed how light and comfortable they are to wear.  I weighed my pair at exactly 1 ounce, which is pretty impressive given they are made of a sturdy plastic with rubber accents on the nose and behind the ears.  In addition to enhancing comfort, the rubber ear pieces made sliding the Blockalls on and off while wearing my headset extremely easy.

Functionally, I found them great in the cockpit.  Blockalls have an opaque finish that blocks sunlight from getting in while creating an off-centered viewing area that helps you keep your eyes focused on the instrument panel.  Given their more stylish shape you may be able to sneak a peak out of the corner of your eye if you have exceptional peripheral vision, but I found it difficult to do so and in no way compromised their designed purpose.
 
Blockalls retail between $24.95 and $28.95 and are available in an array of colors.  They have a model with a tinted viewing area and one designed specifically for helicopter pilots as well.  If you are one that wears reading glasses while in the cockpit, Blockalls has teamed up with a company that offers prescription stick-on lenses that'll eliminate the need to wear one pair over the other.

The bottom line puts Blockalls at a very competitive price point, and given that they are the most comfortable and pilot-friendly view limiting device that I've had the (dis)pleasure of flying with, it’s a no-brainer.  Do your eyes a favor and add a pair of Blockalls to your flight bag!

Blockalls has extended iFlightPlanner.com members an offer to save 10% off their order.  Simply head over to Blockalls.com and use coupon code “BA10” at checkout to take advantage of this special offer!