Wireless connectivity has forever changed the way we drive, and it’s about to have just as big an impact on the way we fly. Here are three ways that wireless is simplifying life in the cockpit:

Database updates

If you’re flying IFR flight plans the FAA says you’ll need to update your charts, approach and navigation information every 28 days. That means physically removing the memory card and plugging it into another computer. But new features like “Database Concierge “ on Garmin’s Flight Stream 510 means database updates can be done wirelessly from a mobile device with the click of a button.

Transferring Flight Plans

Flight plans also used to be a manual, tedious process of turning knobs and pushing buttons. Now flight plans can be built on Garmin Pilot, FltPlan Go or ForeFlight Mobile, then wirelessly transferred to select Garmin avionics.

Streaming Weather and Traffic to Mobile Devices

Mobile devices are becoming commonplace in cockpits and are adding unprecedented situational awareness, particularly with surrounding weather and traffic. Products like Flight Stream 110, Flight Stream 210 or Flight Stream 510, ADS-B and SiriusXM weather, plus ADS-B traffic data can be streamed from the latest avionics your favorite portable devices.