GPS data not available to apps after iOS 8.3 update

Thanks, PilotDon! That's consistent with what others have been saying (other than Apple, of course, which remains the Great Stone Face) 🙂

I could have tried to rely on my internal GPS (I have the iPad Air WiFi + Cell), but have found it to be unreliable under the cockpit canopy. Also, my XGPS170 also carries the ADS-B information via Bluetooth.

Call me impatient, but I'm fairly computer savvy and only had minor apprehension about reinstalling the 8.2 firmware until things shake out. Once they do, I'll wait a respectful month (this time -- still bruised from kicking myself over upgrading so quickly to 8.3; lesson re-learned) and then update to the latest Apple iOS. I respect those who choose not to do that, too.

I always carry an old paper charts and an old Garmin 196 with me for a back-up, but admit that the iPad + FlyQ + XPGS170 have spoiled me, not to mention saved me a ton of money.

Hi Don. Starting to panic. Flying out for a job tomorrow. Do you dudes really fly planes using iPhones? 😮

Pete

petermac87 wrote:

Hi Don. Starting to panic. Flying out for a job tomorrow. Do you dudes really fly planes using iPhones? 😮

Pete

I know I am not Don, but I will speak for myself and all the other pilots that I know. Yes! I fly with an iPad mini, and an iPhone as backup....beyond that , the plane has a Garmin 430 installed in the dash, then I have the old paper charts, and then finally air traffic control to talk to.

Let me try to put this into perspective for you. The Display on my $300 iPhone looks like this...

The display on the airplane's $5,000 Garmin 430 looks like this...

Which would you use?

OK, I get it. From now on I will be more critical of Apple keeping sharp with their iOS updates!!!! lol

Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.

Pete

Downgrading to 8.2 from 8.3 isn't Jailbreaking. The list of Apple approved ios releases for your iDevice is listed here.

http://api.ineal.me/tss/status

You will notice that 8.2 is still listed. Downgrade asap. Must be a serious bug or serious complainer to keep Apple letting you downgrade to 8.2 for so long.

Robert

I Don't have any issue with using 8.2, as you stated, Apple is still signing it.

My issue is having to download the script for 8.2 on one of the 50 websites that offer the download. The problem is that you are downloading the script for 8.2 from a third party website. Not Apple. These third parties can embed any malware that they want inside the script. In fact, after finding some very strange files written into my iPad documents (that I could not keep deleted), I highly suspected this to be third party malware. It behaved as such(although unconfirmed).

While the 8.2 downgrade may not be "jail broke", it, in fact, is from a third party that can modify the script however they so choose. Definitely not worth the potential risk , in my opinion.

BEtter get updates solely from Apple's hands only.

According to https://developer.apple.com/library/prerelease/ios/releasenotes/General/RN-iOSSD K-8.4/index.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP4…

The 8.4 beta 2 has fixed the Bluetooth GPS issue.

Now, the question is, when will it be released !!

Hopefully before my flight tomorrow!!!!

Pete

I do wonder how Apple and Garmin can get away with it.

All software is sold, "As is, with all faults".

firemediclex has given the definitive answer to the question as to whether we'd fly with (just) an iPhone. Just shops why iDevices are so successful for aviation Navs. I've a new aircraft on order that has the Garmin G3X Touch panel specified. It will be interesting to see whether it supplants my iPad(s) as main Nav tool.

As for me, I'm a great believer in a "belts and braces" approach to not getting lost or straying into controlled airspace. I have a paper flight plan that I can fly with a compass and watch as the ultimate backup. I have an iPad mini (WiFi only) mounted on the instrument panel in a RAM Mount with data (normally) supplied from a Dual XGPS160, and another iPad 3 sitting in the flight bag just in case. Then there is the iPhone in my pocket. The Dual supplies top quality GPS Data (GPS + GLONASS) to all three iDevices (and can supply two more devices as well). If I have a passenger, they often bring their iPad with the Navs software on it.
I've had a couple of occasions when I've had the iPad let me down. First time was overheat & shut down when I was within eyesight of my destination airport. Cured that by mounting the iPad in a RAM mount and running off ship power. Another was when I hadn't done a good enough iPad pre-flight and my maps were a day out of date. Fix for that is obvious. Once got down to just the iPhone which was still far better than maps. Never, ever had to go back to paper maps. Once I had a situation where a mate borrowed my iPad to get the weather forecast and managed somehow to delete my flight plan. I didn't discover that until I was at 1,500 ft and homeward bound. Solved that one with a few "direct to" plans created mid air with a couple of screen taps. Too easy.

PilotDon wrote:

Once I had a situation where a mate borrowed my iPad to get the weather forecast and managed somehow to delete my flight plan. I didn't discover that until I was at 1,500 ft and homeward bound. Solved that one with a few "direct to" plans created mid air with a couple of screen taps. Too easy.

Sorry, just fainted. I am glad you guys have it so together. I would have an iPad, iPhone and iParachute!

Pete

PilotDon echoes my thoughts entirely (without the bit about having a new aircraft on order!).

I have been in aviation all my life (I am now approaching retirement) and know only too well that, if it can go wrong it will. It annoys my wife intensely, but that is why I too go for the belt and braces approach. In my case, when I go flying it's a RAM-mounted iPad mini linked by Bluetooth to a Garmin GLO as my primary navaid with an iPad and Bad Elf Plug-In on the back seat - two independent GPS communications mechanisms and manufacturers and two independent (bar the IOS!) display devices.. The GLO is great, but has failed lock in flight a couple of time (before the IOS8.3 update) and I too leant my lesson about leaving my iPad on the back seat in the sun when it shut down due to over heating. PLUS I always prepare a paper chart, conduct a Gross Error Check on departure plus when taking up a new heading, and I regularly cross-check my position on my chart using my Mk 1 eyeballs and prominent landmarks. It sounds a lot but takes only seconds. My instructor would be proud of me! But I do it because the skies are busy, the airspace is crammed full of areas where I shouldn't go without a clearance and I have every intention of being an old(er) pilot. That is also why I now have a Bad Elf Pro Plus 2300 on order. It's not cheap, but ask me if it is worth it when I encounter unforecast bad weather and have a low-ish fuel state.

I do wonder how Apple and Garmin can get away with it.

All software is sold, "As is, with all faults".

Really good IP lawyers. Like me. 😁

firemediclex wrote:

I Don't have any issue with using 8.2, as you stated, Apple is still signing it.

My issue is having to download the script for 8.2 on one of the 50 websites that offer the download. The problem is that you are downloading the script for 8.2 from a third party website. Not Apple. These third parties can embed any malware that they want inside the script. In fact, after finding some very strange files written into my iPad documents (that I could not keep deleted), I highly suspected this to be third party malware. It behaved as such(although unconfirmed).

While the 8.2 downgrade may not be "jail broke", it, in fact, is from a third party that can modify the script however they so choose. Definitely not worth the potential risk , in my opinion.

BEtter get updates solely from Apple's hands only.

Always a good idea to be cautious about malware potential. That's why I, and most credible tech blogs, use ipsw.me. As their notice says "When you download any IPSW file from this page, you are redirected to an Apple Server (via api.ipsw.me). We do not (and never will) mirror these files."

If you don't trust Apple, well, I guess the bricking of Bluetooth GPS devices by the 8.3 release just shows you shouldn't trust the OME either. 😁

As an extra precaution, be sure to test any file you download with your standard malware software. I suspect the remnants you found were just vestiges of 8.3, but the decision is a personal one. As I tell folks, there's a reason they call them *personal* computers.

So, today I happened to be in a place where there was no WiFi - not mine not anybody's. So, I hot-spotted my iPad Mini (WiFi only iOS 8.3) to my iPhone (4S iOS 8.3) via WiFi. Then, I loaded my Nav App (OzRunways). My Dual XGPS160 was back home awaiting redemption.

OzRunway loaded and my little airplane icon lights up showing my position on the map accurately. I could fly with it!

Anyone else tried this and had the same result?

Seems my iPad is happy to accept GPS data from the iPhone. A fairly ordinary substitute for the Dual but better than nothing. And better than trying to fly with just the iPhone.

I was not keen to do the roll back to 8.2 and this means I can wait for 8.4 with the GPS fix.