ForeFlight and your Instrument Checkride

[@Tyler-faWks]

These videos are a gold mine for filling in those extra gaps I’m missing from my training. Thanks a ton!

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're welcome!

[@timhoke2]

Seth, as others have said, this is a goldmine of information/help, not only for the checkride, but also for IFR safe flying. This a true service for the IFR community. Your "blueprint" gives me every confidence that, if I follow it, I will pass my IFR checkride. Thank You is not strong enough, but it is the best that I can do. I'm watching all of your videos.

[@skyking2202]

This is a goldmine. Like another commenter said, I feel like I just found some cheat codes. I love the idea of not just book marking, but annotating/highlighting information right on the pages as well. I have a number of docs that I have developed that I use a lot and this video inspired me to PDF 'em and put them in Foreflight, a few of which have blown DPEs/CFIs minds a little bit. I also have some study guides, like Pilot Cafe's, that I hadn't even thought about putting in Foreflight until now. I have a PDF of my POH, and guess what--it's going in Foreflight, along with bookmarks to the pages I use the most. Also going to binder all the Pilot Guides for all my avionics. This video really opened up a door to new thinking about how to really capitalize on Foreflight. Thank you!!!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Glad I could help you discover a new way to use ForeFlight!

[@stephenpeterson7570]

Thanks for recommendations to add to my chkride document binder. Helped me understand how to use that feature and the bookmark feature. Also introduced me to plates section with flight binders. Much better than finding everything thru airport lookups. Never noticed checklist section before. Checklist for my rental plane added, also efb preflight, imsafe and passenger brief, pretty cool!

[@IanJames2909]

oct 11th 2024 - this has been incredible to see. thanks for the feedback and lessons. about to take my PPL checkride soon! thanks.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Best of luck!

[@privacy-is-good]

Extremely helpful! I'm preparing for an IPC after several years off of flying. I was thinking about buying new versions of the books you reference and didn't realize Foreflight provided great access to the ones I was considering plus extras. When I started flying Foreflight was mostly a weather app so I appreciated the overview of finding documents, creating bookmarks, integrating it all into an effective preflight routine, and demonstrating to the CFII that I am well prepared to answer questions and perform a safe flight! Thanks!

[@SethLakeDPE]

That's great to hear! ForeFlight has just grown in functionality by leaps and bounds in the past 15 years! Glad to hear you getting back in the saddle, I'm sure it's exciting to slip the surly bonds again. If you haven't already, check out AOPAs rusty pilot courses, it's a great resource to help you spin back up.

[@justdewit]

I feel like I just got the cheat codes for a checkride AND being a safe and professional recreational pilot. I will probably never be a commercial pilot but I want to be a professional pilot aka I take it all seriously and this video showed me what taking things seriously looks like in practice. I feel like I learned more here in general about instrument philosophy than my online course I paid for. Thank you for this content it is invaluable!!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you so much for the kind words, I'm glad you found the content helpful!

[@stephenpeterson7570]

Not all cfiis are really up on foreflight. Im certainly not! Really appreciate how you know it inside out. Im going to watch every foreflight video you do and share with my ir pilot friends.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Great to hear the positive feedback. Thank you!

[@JustinKruse-u1g]

This is amazing. Feeling much more confident about Foreflight organization after this video.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Great!

[@butcherknife59knife46]

Very nice info Seth! Enjoy your take on how to be prepared for preflight check list and flight plan and back up plans.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@phibra8845]

Absolutely stunning ! Your effort in this video and all your other videos are much appreciated. Companies charge tons of money for such valuable information, tips and little tricks. Thanks Seth, keep banging out such videos!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@alexdg33]

Really helpful, thorough, and well-explained. Thanks for making this so straightforward.

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're welcome!

[@zerohero6602]

Wow! You’re an absolute legend

[@livefulldieempty]

This video is pure gold. Thanks a lot

[@SethLakeDPE]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@brandenraftery5074]

Fantastic video that really showed the practical applications of foreflight

[@jamespipe2760]

absolutely fantastic. Learned more about foreflight in this video than anything I have seen so far. Thanks for helping me prepare for my checkride

[@SethLakeDPE]

Great to hear!

[@tywheeler7131]

This is amazing material. It’s so nice to have an even keeled and professional explanation that is thorough and incredibly helpful. Thank you for posting this material and taking down the walls of ego in information availability - true service oriented mindset with incredible value. If you ever make a page where we can buy you a coffee let me know!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you so much for the kind words. I'm really glad you find the content helpful. Adding value to the community is my goal!

[@ndnpylot]

Seth you are a legend my friend. Very informative and an organized way to approach the instrument checkride. Appreciate it man!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you so much! And you're welcome!

[@jonathonbuchholtz8516]

This guy is amazing. This content is Gold. Wish I had this when I was doing my IR.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you so much for the kind words!

[@nodnarb310]

Great video mate! Feeling more prepared for my impending checkride after your videos

[@SethLakeDPE]

Great! Best of luck!

[@herbertmischel3165]

Wow. So glad I came across these videos. Seth - these are invaluable lessons not just for the check ride, but for being a better prepared pilot. Thanks so much.

[@SethLakeDPE]

So good to hear this. Thank you for watching and thank you for the feedback!

[@Tatumthornton]

This is so helpful with pre checkride nervs. Thank you so much.

[@FML1405]

This was great. Thank you for sharing your process.

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're welcome!

[@joeldbrooks23]

Thank you for a great video. I've been using ForeFlight for about a year now and just learned a few new things! Also, I actually had my iPad overheat during the first approach of my instrument checkride. After a brief moment of panic, as it had never happened to me before, I pulled out my phone and continued the approach, putting the ipad into a shaded spot. By the time we got to the next approach, it was working again and gave me no further issues. It CAN happen

[@SethLakeDPE]

Absolutely it can. iPad overheating can easily become a problem if you aren't careful in the summer and don't have a backup.

[@MichaelSasser]

Thank you for sharing information like this! The practical part of using foreflight and its benefits in real world examples. Going to check out your other videos now!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Glad it was helpful!

[@JoeCoolPilot]

Excellent material! Thank you for sharing. Your channel is gold. Fly safe!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Welcome!

[@calvincrane4807]

This is incredible information!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thanks!

[@yuriys3164]

Thanks!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you so much!

[@Meowairn]

Great content very easy to follow, organized & easy to listen to. thanks!

[@kylecrumpton1048]

Looking forward to an all weather video. Love the knowledge sir!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Soon as I can get to it!

[@osvaldocastillo7293]

Thanks for the great info Seth.

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're welcome!

[@nooreddinNawar]

Thank you! I feel wayyyyyyy better for the checkride woow. Unbelievable honestly

[@jamaicahines]

Hey Seth! Thanks so much for your content. It has been super helpful preparing for my IFR ride coming up in a few days. You seem like a fantastic DPE. Keep up the good work!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you!

[@ZRAMY2012]

Nicely explained, wonder why you don’t have a Million views by now? Very informative and to the point. Please keep making more vides.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@charleswithey8277]

Found this video while looking for tips on tabbing a far/aim for my instrument checkride coming up. This wasn’t helpful at all with that but I’m very glad I came across it. ForeFlight is a hell of a tool. Good work

[@SethLakeDPE]

That's a little ironic but I'm glad you found it!

[@imc2cavu]

X2. My search for tabbing the FAR/AIM landed me here. I followed it to the letter and now I have redundant sources! 👍🏻

[@EZ_shop]

Wow! Best info I ran into in quite a while. Loved it. My iPad doesn't show departure and arrival plates on the left side like yours, just the binders.Ciao, Marco.

[@dennisnbrown]

I know this material is a bit old but thank you so much. These are fantastic

[@nickpepper4592]

I'm not big on using the ff but it's because I have never looked at what it can do for me. I used it as a backup logbook and for maps screen. This was so informative that it makes me want to dive into ff for these features plus more.. thanks for another well done video

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're welcome!

[@charlesrice1540]

Fantastic content. Long time VFR ForeFlight user working on an IFR ticket and the timing on this could not be better. Thanks!

[@SethLakeDPE]

So glad you like the content! Thanks for watching!

[@jsisson]

I absolutely love these videos!!! Huge help as I prepare for my check ride Monday! 🫶🏼🙌🏻 the ace guide has been all too helpful too!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Awesome to hear! Best of luck with your checkride, let us know how everything goes.

[@RobinReedCoach]

Lotta value = thank you!

[@Maximka1100]

Thank you for the great video Seth.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Welcome!

[@schneider1997a]

Wow, wow, WOW! This is so incredibly helpful as I prepare for my instrument checkride. Thank you Seth!

[@SethLakeDPE]

So glad you found it helpful. Best of luck with your training and checkride!

[@robertmcdaniel8147]

Totally agree with Adam! Thank you, Seth!

[@AaronGrijalva]

28:57 super cooled LARGE droplet ….help spread the word! Haha. Great video and very helpful, thank you for this.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you for the correction, I misspoke. The L in SLD stands for large, not liquid. These droplets are, in fact, in a liquid state though. Bottom line is it is very dangerous to fly in these conditions in any type of aircraft.

[@Flywith_los]

Love these videos! 🙌🏻🙌🏻 thank you for these

[@dylansmith6984]

This is Gold! Well done!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thank you!

[@Noircogi]

This is a fantastic video! I wish I'd found it earlier. At least I'll know all of this before my IRA checkride. Thank you.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thanks for the feedback, glad you found it helpful!

[@BJJ403]

Many thanks! So many instructors tell horror stories about using Foreflight. Proficiency in Foreflight and using the tools at your fingertips seem like a no-brainer to me. Can you make a video with any additions or subtractions you'd suggest for the Commercial Checkride?

[@SethLakeDPE]

I will be making more ForeFlight videos in the future. Since this one seems to be popular, I will probably make one for each type of checkride.

[@pilotshashi]

Loved it

[@richardwagner3112]

Just getting interested in flying, Thanks

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're welcome!

[@mytech6779]

I switched to a different airplane that morning which wasn't setup in my EFB (something came up with the plane I had reserved), and then my EFB locked up anyway and had to be rebooted during the oral portion. Fortunately I keep paper backups, and I'm proficiant with manual W&B and performance calculations(while continuing to answer oral questions) so there wasn't a bunch of waiting. I even had my leidos briefing and nav log printed. The plane was the same model and configuration so the nav log didn't change, just W&B, changing tail number and of course fetching the maint logs from the hanger.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Great job making use of backups! I plan on doing a series on 1800WXBrief.com. It makes an excellent backup to ForeFlight or your usual EBF of choice.

[@yuriys3164]

@@SethLakeDPE is the series out already?

[@justusphillips9059]

Super helpful video, thanks a lot!

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're welcome!

[@DSShelby23]

This is the most helpful video ive founs thus far in trying to get organized for my chechride. Thank you so much!

[@SethLakeDPE]

So glad to hear this! Best of luck with your checkride!

[@jerrydelatorre5977]

This is great! Thank you for this!

[@SethLakeDPE]

You're very welcome!

[@maritestaylor8458]

Awesome thanks

[@kylebeatty3466]

This is GREAT STUFF!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Glad you think so!

[@lechstryzewski9350]

Super informative and extremely useful !! Made me a subscriber. Do you have a video on building a binder for private Checkride ?? Thanks Seth -

[@SethLakeDPE]

I don't, but I'll work on one. So glad you found it useful!

[@lechstryzewski9350]

@@SethLakeDPE Sounds great. Thank you !!

[@diaryrecorded5524]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR ALL THIS! ❤9:30 did they get rid of the Icao filing quick reference in foreflight because I can only find the regular FAA one now... BUT I DID GOOGLE IT AND FOUND IT on the internet and just had to upload it to foreflight and get it from my imported folder

[@SethLakeDPE]

ForeFlight made a change a few months ago. It's still on documents just under the name 'A2. ForeFlight Filing Guide'.

[@joshuahunter2825]

Got to finish Private, but I'll come back to this video.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Keep up the studying!

[@lynnew4111]

*gasp* - the bookmarks! You just out-nerded a supernerd. Respect!

[@SethLakeDPE]

Respect!

[@stackspilot]

As a DPE do you recommend applicants use ForeFlight primarily and have paper documents to back them up?

[@SethLakeDPE]

I recommend applicants have an iPad with ForeFlight as primary and a iPhone with ForeFlight as a backup. You could also just have a second iPad. I don't carry paper backups myself in any of my professional flying (airlines/military/DPE). I would recommend showing up completely digital with a device backup and a battery bank. That's plenty of backups to handle any reasonable failure mode.

[@chuckmartin5773]

Didn't know where else to post or ask this. Could you do a video on weather with Foreflight? Specifically for the PPL and what the DPE is looking for etc..

[@SethLakeDPE]

You bet!

[@chuckmartin5773]

@@SethLakeDPE Perfect!! I'll be on the lookout. Thanks!

[@Tyleraviator99]

@@SethLakeDPE yes that will be absolutely amazing

[@SethLakeDPE]

Just posted!

[@chuckmartin5773]

@@SethLakeDPE YAY....Thank you!!

[@YamaMotoGarage]

Hey! love the series, I'm about to take my instrument checkride and your videos have been helping immensely! You mentioned you had a weather information video and I was wondering if you could shoot me a link to that? I was looking through your videos and I wasn't able to locate it. Thanks.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Thanks! Yes, I have a weather basic video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/j5auaohohMeGfKM I plan on creating some more weather content in the future so stay tuned!

[@mwp1088]

You can send a flight to plates and it sets up binder for you!

[@SethLakeDPE]

I just saw this! Thanks for sharing!

[@hustin2323]

Seth, did you make a video about setting up the logbook/airplane profile in foreflight? I thought in one of your videos you referenced it, but I cannot find it. Thanks in advance!

[@SethLakeDPE]

I don't think I've done a video specfically on that yet. However, I did do a seminar on how to setup the equipment codes on ForeFlight. Checkout this video and see if it helps: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGrUoIt_hr-shpo

[@hustin2323]

@@SethLakeDPE thanks so much!! IR ride is set for 11/12.

[@KingpinRable]

I am a brand new student pilot who is working on a private license for now. I am also subscribed to the Foreflight. My question is, how do I plan my flights leaving and coming back to the same airport? Somehow I’m not seeing an option to plan a flight like that and because of it I can’t do briefing. When I did attempt to plan it this way, I got an error. Is there a way to plan a flight just flying near the airport I take off from? If so, how would I go about it, and how can I create a log of a flight without a real destination? Thank you in advance. I hope my questions make sense.

[@SethLakeDPE]

The best way to brief a local flight is to put a waypoint in between your departure and destination. For example, for Russellville I put the following: KRUE HAAWK KRUE. It will then let me brief my flight. If your airport doesn't have an actual waypoint nearby you can just make a custom point and use that. Hope this helps!

[@BillDaubenmier]

I know most pilots training for industry jobs train on ForeFlight and it's a great tool, so I'm told. However there are other tools available, i.e. FlyQ by Seattle Avionics. Have you looked at FlyQ? What are you comments for a Recreational Pilot such as myself (single engine, land, ~220 hrs)? I'm not interested in any aviation jobs but want to be as professional and absolutely as safe as I can be. I may get an instrument rating in the future but do not plan to fly much in actual IFR conditions. I will be doing a flight review in a few months so I'm starting to prepare. Could you do a similar video using FlyQ for VFR pilots? Thanks for your time, Seth.

[@SethLakeDPE]

Hi Bill! I don't have experience with FlyQ, but will look into it. I know not everyone uses ForeFlight, but it is by far the most common flight planning software out there. If I post a video of FlyQ I will let you know! Thank you for watching and best of luck with your flying!

[@BillDaubenmier]

@@SethLakeDPE i looked at Foreflight with a free trial. After about 2 hours and several intro KZbin's, I was still not comfortable using it from my VFR only interest. A pilot buddy who is IFR, Commercial and many other ratings suggested FlyQ. About an hour on FlyQ, I felt very comfortable planning VFR flights. Besides, I can draw on my pilot buddy if I get stuck and I've even shown him a few things in the year that I've been back in the air. Great to have these tools and GPS. Flight planning was never this easy back in the 80s when I learned to fly. Look forward to seeing your take on FQ Thanks Seth.

[@philipkrzyszton]

Thank you so much! I always thought Foreflight was under-utilized, but I guess my instructors are just old-school. Couple questions though, you mentioned that with the current regulations, all ifr flights must be filed with an international flight plan... Where can I learn more about this?

[@SethLakeDPE]

The FAA made the ICAO flight plan form mandatory for IFR flights in August of 2019. You can find out more about in the ForeFlight Filing Guide which is in the ForeFlight drive of the documents section.

[@-The-Stranger-]

Was watching this today and when I got to the "ICAO Filing Quick Reference" I noticed it wasn't in my list of item in my ForeFlight folder. Is there somewhere I have to go to get this, or did Foreflight get rid of it with an update? Thanks.

[@SethLakeDPE]

I think the Quick reference is still there but ForeFlight renamed their guide shortly after this. It's now called: A2. ForeFlight Filing Guide

[@kitward24]

The bookmarks option is great. The only issue I've had is bookmarks shifting locations when a given book is updated and the old page locations change. Have you seen this too and is there a workaround?

[@SethLakeDPE]

Yes, I have experienced this as well. Right now, I don't have a good workaround, sorry!

[@Boeing_73753]

What subscriptions should I get I’m about to start my instrument rating

[@SethLakeDPE]

I would start with basic and move up from there. Is you plan on flying a lot I would highly recommend performance plus.

[@jamostew]

Do you have any issue with using Jeppesen charts vs. FAA for IFR checkrides?

[@SethLakeDPE]

Not at all!

[@deanfowlkes]

Beware of having a DPE who has never been a Part 135 or 121 pilot. They do not have a lot of experience or comfort level with Jep Charts.

[@Superxpninja]

I would love to see a video on TERPS data

[@SethLakeDPE]

Great! My plan is to do one very soon!

[@bishoppearce-killian8776]

Do you know if I highlight/ annotate the FAR/AIM pages, will all of those annotations be erased when next years' version comes out? (The 2025 FAR/AIM) Thanks!

[@SethLakeDPE]

I'm actually not sure what will happen. That would be a question for ForeFlight.

[@bishoppearce-killian8776]

@@SethLakeDPE I actually got a reply from ForeFlight on this, maybe it can be helpful for you too! Here's what I got: "If you make annotations and the document updates, the annotations will stay on the exact page where they were made. For example, if you made an annotation on page 52 and the information has been moved to page 54, your annotations will stay on page 52 while the new information is on page 54. Your annotations do not move. " The 2025 FAR/AIM has quite a few changes, so it looks like I'll have to re-annotate it. Thanks for your reply and hope this helps!

[@marshallgorski5108]

I am not finding the ICAO Filing. Did they rename it or am I just missing something?

[@SethLakeDPE]

What particular thing are you not seeing? The file option will show up at the bottom of the Flights section. The master settings is where you can select FAA vs ICAO filing. If you want the ICAO flight plan form filled out you just press the send to icon on the filing window. I have a YT Shorts video showing that particular function. Hope this helps!

[@dath1974]

I found this information along with more in the "A2. ForeFlight Filing Guide" in the ForeFlight Drive.

[@SethLakeDPE]

The ForeFlight Drive has a wealth of great information!

[@ihab6984]

My instrument Checkride coming up next week. for the Flight plan Can I just print the NavLog from Foreflight or do I have to write that down like the VFR one? Thanks you

[@SethLakeDPE]

You can use the ForeFlight log just understand and be prepared to discuss what I leaves out (magnetic deviation). Also be prepared to discuss how it arrives at the answers.

[@ihab6984]

@@SethLakeDPE Thanks. I passed my Checkride. I used my Foreflight Navlog and it everything went great. just had to do runway take off / landing distance calculations separately

[@GavinGismondi]

do you have a private pilot version of this?

[@SethLakeDPE]

No, I don't but I'll be doing a video on it in the future.

[@velavanlaack9134]

I don't see the ICAO filing quick reference guide, only filing guide. Is it because it updated?

[@keving4037]

Did you find the Quick Reference Guide? I did not have it in the ForeFlight drive, but I found a copy here: cloudfront.foreflight.com/docs/ff/1018/ICAO-quick-ref-guide_1018.pdf and downloaded into the Imported drive

[@SethLakeDPE]

There was a recent change by ForeFlight and all the information previously found on the ICAO guide is now in the document called 'A2. ForeFlight Filing Guide' in the ForeFlight drive.

[@sundollarsolar4266]

ICAO is not in my version of Firelight, only in FAA folder

[@SethLakeDPE]

There isn't an ICAO folder, only FAA. The names of the guides have changed so I will be doing a update to this video soon.

[@yuriys3164]

If you're referring to 9:30 minute mark of the video, one of the commenters asked as well: Foreflight has changed the name of the guide, it's still under Foreflight Drive but changed name to A2. ForeFlight Filing Guide.

[@dwighttaylor5107]

😮😮😮😮😂😂😂😂😂❤❤❤❤

[@SethLakeDPE]

👍

[@keithmeline7485]

I'm literally tabbing my FAR AIM right now... lol

[@SethLakeDPE]

😂

[@DirtNerds]

now do one fore flight plan go and other efb's

[@SethLakeDPE]

Good idea!

[@张瑞敏-q6c]

My instrument really mad at me for using the foreflight too much man.

[@张瑞敏-q6c]

instrument DPE

[@SethLakeDPE]

Interesting

[@deanfowlkes]

Usually, you still have to know and demonstrate that you know how to do everything in paper format. Once I showed that I could do that, my DPE did not want to see any more paper.

[@topofthegreen]

I didn’t think you could use For flight on check rides.

[@SethLakeDPE]

You absolutely can! Just know HOW to use it properly!

[@deanfowlkes]

meow

[@SethLakeDPE]

This isn't guard 🤣

[@deanfowlkes]

@@SethLakeDPE - I’m just wondering how pilots actually say the waypoint. And, of course, none of the FAA chart makers ever saw Supertroopers. 😜😁

[@GZA036]

The bookmarks function is trash, when any document is updated, all the pages change...

[@SethLakeDPE]

Yes, they do get messed up when a document changes. I'm confident FF will fix this issue in the future though.