According to Garmin, the inReach Messenger Plus goes beyond cell service as the two-way satellite communicator has a lithium-ion battery that can last for 600 hours. The device can be used as a stand-alone tool or paired with a smartphone app, allowing the sharing of group texts, photos, and voice messages along with location information. 

The device has the ability to send an interactive SOS message to Garmin Response, an emergency assistance coordination center that is staffed 24/7. According to Garmin, inReach has contributed to more than 14,500 SOS activations.

“The new and enhanced messaging capabilities of the inReach Messenger Plus gives users a more personal and emotional way to communicate with friends and family when cell service isn’t available,” Dan Bartel, Garmin vice president of global consumer sales of enhanced messaging and navigation, said in a statement. “Tell your family you’ll be home late, send a photo of the epic view to your friends, or simply exchange voice messages to hear the person on the other end of the line. Plus, with a rechargeable battery that can last for weeks, safety charging to help restore a depleted phone, and the ability to trigger an SOS message, the inReach Messenger Plus is an invaluable tool for any adventure.”

The Technology

In addition to the long-lasting battery, Garmin notes that when out of cell service range, the Messenger app will automatically switch to satellite technology. The device can send 30-second voice messages or texts with up to 1,600 characters, as well as emojis.

The inReach Messenger Plus can also be used to check weather and operate as a fully functional, stand-alone, palm-sized device. When paired with the Garmin Explore app on a compatible smartphone, inReach can be used to plan a trip, seek the route, and view a course showing the remaining distance to your destination.

The unit is temperature resistant and able to withstand incidental water exposure of up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes, according to Garmin.

The inReach Messenger Plus has a suggested retail price of $499.99. An active satellite subscription ($14.99 per month) is required to communicate using the device.

For more information be found here.

The post Garmin inReach Messenger Offers Off-Grid Emergency Connectivity appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Flying is one of those things that so many people want to try—or have questions about. We answer some of those frequently asked here.

Learning to fly and obtaining a pilot certificate is not like learning to drive a forklift. You can’t do it in an afternoon. It usually takes a few months, with flying lessons two or three times a week.

It will be expensive, around $6,000 to $10,000 for a private certificate. You do not have to pay the money up front. Be wary about putting money on account at a flight school unless it has a refund policy and it is in writing.

Get your medical certificate early. If you are pursuing a certificate to fly an airplane, you will need to have it before you are allowed to solo. If deferred, don’t give up. There may be an opportunity for special issuance, or you may seek a pilot certificate that doesn’t require a medical certificate, like flying gliders.

You will need an aviation headset and pilot logbook. Bring both with you to your flight lessons. You will want to get a gear bag to carry these materials along with a notebook for taking notes and writing down information in the cockpit.

You will learn to read an aviation sectional, which is a map used for navigation. You will learn how to use the pilot’s operating handbook (POH) for your aircraft to determine its performance.

Part 61 vs. Part 141

The difference between training under Part 61 and Part 141 is structure. Part 141 is the more restrictive of the two. Under Part 141, the use of a syllabus is required, lessons are done in a specific order, only certain airports are authorized for flights to and from, there is a training course outline (TCO), and stage checks are required to advance in training.

• READ MORE: Pointers for Packing Your First Flight Bag

The material covered under Part 61 and Part 141 is identical, but some funding sources will require the applicant to be training at an accredited 141 program.

The benefit of Part 141 is that, in theory, the structure allows for the applicant to achieve the required experience in as little as 35 hours to be eligible for the check ride. Under Part 61, the minimum is 40 hours.

For best results, use a syllabus to make sure all the material is covered in a logical order. Your instructor should have a copy that they refer to, and you should have a copy of it as well.

Be advised, the national average for experience for applicants taking private pilot check rides is around the 60-hour mark, no matter which part you train under.

The benefit of Part 61 is that if there is a hiccup with the issuance of your medical certificate that delays your first solo, you won’t have to stop training. You can move ahead to other dual lessons (that means flying with an instructor) in the syllabus until your medical challenges are resolved. Also, you have more flexibility when it comes to airports you are allowed to fly to, therefore your experience will be broader than someone trained under Part 141.

Use the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS), which are the minimum “passable” performance for a pilot, from day one. The ACS provides performance metrics, such as holding altitude within 100 feet and heading within 5 degrees. Remember these are the minimum standards, so strive to do better.

Learn to Use a Mechanical E6-B Flight Computer

Don’t let it intimidate you. The instructions for solving time, speed, and distance problems are printed on the face of the instrument. The backside of the instrument is the wind calculation side, and it can be very useful for visualizing wind correct angles.

For the pilots (often lapsed CFIs) who argue that the cockpits of turboprops and jets have flight management systems and backups on backups for navigation that will tell you wind correction angles, ground speed, time en route, etc., please remember it’s going to be a long time before the private pilots who want to be professional pilots get to that level with those resources.

And not everyone wants to be a professional pilot.

• READ MORE: How To Use a E6B Flight Computer

Learning to use the mechanical E6-B before you go to an electronic version or an app is the aviation version of learning how to do basic math before using a calculator. It gives you an extra tool to use in the cockpit should your electronic device run out of juice, get stolen, or do an uncommanded gravity check with pavement that renders it inoperable.

Structure of Lessons

A traditional flight school is not like attending high school. You won’t be in a classroom or airplane all day. Your ground school can be done face to face and will be a few hours a day, or you can do it online. At the completion of the course you will be endorsed to take a knowledge test (commonly known as the written test, although it is all on computer now) administered by an FAA-approved private contractor.

Most flight lessons are at least an hour long for local flights. For cross-country flights that involve going to an airport at least 50 nm away, you will budget more time.

Your first lesson will likely be heading out to the local practice area (your instructor knows where that is) to learn how to do climbs, turns, and descents. Flying in the practice area is like learning to drive a stick shift in an empty parking lot. You want the room to make mistakes.

Learning to fly in the airport traffic pattern is like learning to drive a stick shift in stop-and-go traffic. It is considerably more stressful and can be counterproductive. Learn basic control before the stakes are higher.

Solo Flight

Your first solo is the halfway point of your private pilot training. There are 15 experience requirements listed in the Federal Aviation Regulations/Aeronautical Information Manual (FAR/AIM) rule book under Part 61.87 that are required to be covered before you can be soloed.

Keep in mind that performing the task once doesn’t mean you have learned it or can perform it well, so you will have to practice it a few times before the solo endorsement is given. There also will be an airport-specific knowledge test administered by your instructor before a solo endorsement is given.

Before you launch on your solo cross-country flights, a flight instructor must review your flight plan and provide you with an endorsement, stating they have reviewed your flight plan and you are prepared to make the flight. This endorsement will go into your logbook.

About Your CFI

Your CFI should want to talk before and after each lesson. This is known as the pre-brief (what we are going to do and how we are going to do it) and the post-brief (this is how you did, and what we will do next). This is considered part of your training. Don’t skimp on this.

Understand that most CFIs do the job to build their experience for other jobs, like the airlines. Some of them may be more interested in building their own hours than teaching you to fly, or their teaching style or availability might not work for you. If any of these issues crop up, it’s OK to seek a change of instructor. Conversely, if it’s not working from the CFI’s perspective as they cannot meet your needs, they may suggest a change of instructor.

We can’t control the weather. There may be days the CFI suggests a ground lesson, a lesson in the school flight training device (commonly known as a simulator), or canceling the lesson due to weather that is below VFR weather minimums or beyond your capabilities at the time. This is about you flying, not your CFI showing you what they can do. If you are on your second lesson and the crosswind component or gust factor are beyond the demonstrated component of the aircraft you are flying, it’s likely a better day to stay on the ground.

The post What to Expect When Learning to Fly appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Discovery Flight

Most flight schools offer these introductory flights as a means of attracting new clientele. The flight is usually about 20 minutes to half an hour, and the client, under the watchful guidance of a flight instructor, gets to fly the airplane. Some flight schools offer discounts around the holidays—the $99 discovery flight is very popular. Gift certificates for discovery flights are also an option.

If you purchase one of these flights, make sure to ask what type of airplane is used for the intro flight. Oftentimes,the flight school will use the aircraft in its fleet with the lowest operating cost—such as a Cessna 150—which can limit the size of the person taken on the flight. Do not be surprised if the school asks for the height and weight of the client, as there are fewer things more disappointing than going to the airport expecting to fly and finding out it is not possible because the holder of the gift certificate cannot fit in the aircraft. Cost: $99 and up.

Block Hours

Nothing says “I love you” like block hours of aircraft rental at an FBO or flight school. Many schools offer a block rate for training, so take advantage of this and put money on the pilot’s account.

Block hours are not just for aircraft—there are some FBOs that have AATDs (advanced aviation training devices) that allow customers to book block time in them as well. The latter is greatly appreciated in the winter months, when flyable days become the exception rather than the rule. Cost: $200 to $1,000.

Aviation-Themed Ties

You probably know someone who is or soon will be interviewing at the airlines or an FBO for a pilot job. Help them dress the part with an aviation-themed tie. Keep it classy, keep it understated. You might even want to get them two: one with images of World War II warbirds or vintage GA aircraft and one with jets. Ties like these can be just the right accessory for an aviation-related job interview or a holiday party. Cost: $25 and up.

Aviation Flashlight

An aviation flashlight with multiple colored bulbs—red, green, white—is always appreciated. You can never have too many. Be on the lookout for flashlights that have a clip that allows them to be attached to a collar or shoulder harness for hands-free operation. Another option is the flashlight with a magnetic base or a rotating head that allows the beam to be targeted hands-free in a specific location—these are especially appreciated during maintenance operations. You get bonus points if you include a pack of batteries with the flashlight. Cost: $10 to $80.

Flight Jackets

Flight jackets and pilots go hand in hand. At the lower end of the financial scale are the cotton and nylon blends in the MA-1 and A-2 styles. They come in a variety of colors ranging from traditional military colors (olive, blue, and black) to the more fashionable options of pink and maroon. Some are preloaded with “mission patches” while others leave plenty of blank space so your aviator can add his or her own.

Leather jackets are more expensive. Keep in mind the classic World War II styles, such as the A-2, B-15, and B-3, run smaller by modern standards, so you may want to buy a size up from what the person usually wears. If you purchase the jacket second hand and it smells a little “vintage,” you can refresh it by placing the jacket in an airtight plastic bag along with fresh-scent dryer sheets. Leave the jacket in the bag for about a week to dispel any odors. Vintage leather jackets are more expensive and, depending on the age, more delicate—keep this in mind if you are looking for a jacket that will be worn. Cost: $55 to $1,200.

Aviation Spark Plug Holder

If you are shopping for an aviation mechanic or owner who maintains their aircraft, consider an aviation spark plug holder as a gift. Working on an aircraft engine is a precise task and having a spark plug holder makes it that much easier. Gift certificates to aviation tool supply companies are also appreciated. Cost: $35 to $100.

Hot Wings Runway Playset

For the younger aviation fan—and the young at heart—there are all sorts of aircraft toys on the market.

Die-cast metal toys are particularly popular, especially for CFIs who use them as teaching tools. The Hot Wings company makes several play sets that range from individual aircraft with a piece of foam rubber “runway” all the way up to a hangar and control tower with runway and ramp extensions. Cost: $11 to $30.

Citizen Promaster Blue Angels Skyhawk Watch

A wristwatch has been synonymous with aviation since the 1920s. Pocket watches just weren’t terribly practical in open-cockpit aircraft because they could be dropped too easily. In addition, the watch had to have a large face (because you’re reading it as you bounce around the cockpit) and large buttons and knobs that would allow you to make adjustments while wearing flight gloves. If you’re looking for a modern pilot watch for a gift, consider the Citizen Promaster Blue Angels Skyhawk A-T.

This watch features a stainless-steel case chronograph, perpetual calendar, dual time zones, alarms, a countdown timer, a digital backlight and UTC display, and power reserve. This watch utilizes Citizen’s Eco-Drive technology, which means it is powered by light; therefore, it never needs a battery. The watch also has a pilot’s rotating E6B-style slide rule bezel. This model appears in a stainless-steel case and bracelet. The dial features the colors and the insignia of the Blue Angels, the Navy precision flight demonstration team. Cost: $600 to $750.

Flight/ Gear Bags

Pilots always need a gear bag. Find one that fits your pilot’s needs, or get this as a gift for yourself. Do you need a place to put an iPad? Do you need one with two headset pockets? Washable bags made from nylon or another fabric are wonderful because they are easy to keep clean. The more expensive leather bags look more professional, though, and they tend to be more durable. The bags can also be personalized with a monogram.

It’s not uncommon for pilots to have multiple gear bags—you may one day find that you have more than you need. Suggestion: If this is you, consider donating that extra gear bag to your local foster care system. The children who are in foster care often lack luggage, and when they are moved from place to place, they are frequently forced to carry their belongings in trash bags. These kids already feel disposable—think what it could do for their self-esteem to have a gently used nylon gear bag to carry their belongings. Cost: $20 to $250.

Collectible Ornaments

Collectible aviation tree ornaments are very popular. Each year, Sporty’s Pilot Shop has a new design—this year it is an Ercoupe, celebrating the classic single.

Hallmark has been in the game for decades as well—expect to see a Republic RC-3 Seabee from them. For models from past years, search eBay and Amazon. Cost: $19 to $35 (more for past years).

Pivot EFB Mounts

Pivot makes several mounts to hold electronic flight bags (EFBs). These devices provide both instrument protection and make for a neater cockpit. These devices are easy to install and remove with a universal mounting system so upgrading or exchanging devices is quick and simple. Cost: $150.

Aloha Pilot Shirts

In the spirit of “aloha,” or affection and fellowship in Hawaiian, Pilot Quarters recently released a series of polo, casual, and camp shirts suitable for pilots sharing the joy of flying. Within the Hawaii Collection, sectional charts from the islands are screened onto cloth in a variety of colors and routes. Men’s, women’s, and youth sizes and styles are available. Cost: $48 to $75.

This article was originally published in the December 2022/January 2023 Issue 933 of FLYING.

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