Garmin Pilot Review

Route building, fuel calculations, and weight-and-balance are all solid and on par with ForeFlight for most flight profiles. The Connext integration means flight plans transfer directly to compatible Garmin navigators with a single tap. Preferred routes and TEC routes are suggested automatically based on your aircraft profile.

Full VFR and IFR chart coverage with smooth rendering and responsive pan/zoom. When paired with a GDL or GTX transponder, traffic and weather overlay directly on the map in real time. The split-view for approach plates alongside the moving map works well, though the transitions are not quite as fluid as ForeFlight.

METARs, TAFs, radar, winds aloft, and pilot reports are all available on the map and in text form. The core weather package covers most VFR and IFR pilots well. Radar animation and SIGMET/AIRMET depiction are clear and useful, though some premium weather layers like turbulence forecasts require a separate SiriusXM subscription.

Flights can be logged manually or auto-filled from GPS track data. The logbook tracks total time, PIC, SIC, instrument, night, and cross-country categories. Currency calculations cover the basics, and export to spreadsheet or PDF is straightforward for checkride or job application prep.

Downloadable chart packs, airport data, and terrain ensure the app is fully functional without connectivity. The download manager groups data by region, and incremental updates keep storage requirements reasonable. This is a must-have feature and Garmin Pilot handles it as well as anyone.

The iOS version is stable and performant, with a layout that works well on both iPhone and iPad. It does not feel quite as native as ForeFlight — some menus and transitions hint at the cross-platform codebase underneath. That said, it is reliable in the cockpit and that is what matters most.

This is where Garmin Pilot has a genuine competitive advantage. The Android app is a first-class citizen, not an afterthought. Performance is strong, the UI adapts well to different screen sizes, and it brings Garmin Pilot to the large market of Android tablet users that ForeFlight ignores entirely.

Priced below ForeFlight at every tier, Garmin Pilot delivers comparable core functionality for less. Pilots already invested in Garmin avionics get the most value thanks to seamless hardware integration. The only caveat is that some weather add-ons push the total cost higher than the base subscription suggests.