As airspace becomes more technical and there exists an elevated need for moving map and GPS systems, pilots often find themselves overwhelmed with the available options available today.

As airspace becomes more technical and there exists an elevated need for moving map and GPS systems, pilots often find themselves overwhelmed with the available options available today. Brands keep innovating by building newer and more capable solutions. But which to pick?

Let us assist you to by showing the very best portable aviation GPSes for pilots!


In the event that you?re flying a state-of-the-art airplane, with glass cockpit and all the fun features you can want, you might already have the necessary GPS tools to greatly help take some pressure off your shoulders while flying. But most of us still want to do it with the nice ol? 6-pack analog gauges, which we?re most likely completely fine with, by the way! A portable GPS device may be the perfect solution for those flying aircraft that are not equipped (yet) with modern GPS systems, or for those of us who like to get a back-up in case we are in need of it.

More and more pilots are employing their iPad while flying, as it allows for almost endless possibilities to take tasks off your hands before, during and after the flight. If your iPad can be an LTE model, you curently have a built-in GPS receiver which will get you all the GPS data you may want.

You decided a handheld aviation GPS might be a good tool to possess in your flight bag. Just how do you select the right aviation GPS, and what are some things to look out for?

If you?re planning on using the GPS in combination with other systems and tools, it?s vital that you consider the compatibility of the GPS unit you?re thinking about. Some GPS receivers are appropriate for iOS devices, it doesn?t hurt to dubble check, especially if you're using other platforms such as Android.

Although the topic of the guide covers handheld aviation GPS units, some are a little more portable and compact than others. Needless to say, it all depends on what you are planning on using it for.

For example, while the Garmin inReach series is very compact and easy to devote a little side pocket, viewing the map and reading the data in-flight might be a little harder than when using, for instance, the Garmin aera GPS.

When investing some money right into a GPS that could make your life easier, it?s important that it?s easy and simple to use aswell. In the cockpit, you?re often handling multiple things at the same time, there?s virtually no time to open up a manual and begin reading instructions on how to use a certain feature you will need at that moment. https://www.hackster.io/bestreviewstips A user friendly GPS unit can save you from a lot of frustrations.

Not all GPS units mentioned in this guide offer the same functionality. While all units listed in this guide offer some type of GPS functionality, some are filled with other features like satellite communication, or weather and traffic receivers.

In the end, everything comes down to what it really is you need, and what your budget allows.

Although it?s always nice to really have the best & most advanced gear available, it?s not necessarily important to get the most expensive model on the market. Your budget and needs will determine whether you can afford and need a high-end GPS, or in case a more compact and inexpensive option can perform the job just as well.