The Smart Aviator

AvBrief.com
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The Smart Aviator is your trusted, independent voice in aviation. From aircraft and avionics to training, upgrades, and maintenance, it delivers unbiased, expert advice and reporting—free from influence. Hosted by respected aviation journalists and pilots, it continues a 56-year tradition of clear, honest insights for buyers and enthusiasts alike.

  1. 8Flight Aviator App: Fast-Growing Feature Set

    3D AGO

    8Flight Aviator App: Fast-Growing Feature Set

    As more users look for alternatives for flight planning and cockpit tablet navigation apps, a program called 8Flight Aviator EFB has been getting a lot of attention for its competitive and fast-growing feature list, plus its reasonable subscription price that’s lower than some of the leading programs. But as 8Flight EFB founder Matt Guthmiller explains in this episode of the Smart Aviator podcast on AvBrief, creating a full-featured EFB app from the ground up —with the features that demanding pilots expect—is no easy task.

    23 min
  2. Cockpit EFB Apps: How You Might Choose

    JAN 24

    Cockpit EFB Apps: How You Might Choose

    The full-featured, well-respected ForeFlight Mobile iPad app has been in the spotlight lately with some loyal users pondering other options—of which there are plenty. But switching apps (and taking the plunge to an EFB if you've never used a tablet app in flight) can be a major, difficult decision. As Smart Aviator on AvBrief ventures on an in-depth aviation tablet app review, we sat down with John Zimmerman at Sporty's for some guidance on how you might go about the decision.

    16 min
  3. Colorado Autoland: Blackhawk On the Tech Behind the First Activation

    12/27/2025

    Colorado Autoland: Blackhawk On the Tech Behind the First Activation

    While media praised the recent Garmin Autoland King Air save, the installer—Blackhawk Aerospace—also deserves credit. Installing aftermarket Autoland and autothrottle is complex, and full testing is impossible without an in-flight  emergency. On this podcast, Blackhawk’s Conrad Theisen discusses the install and the real-world save.

    17 min
  4. Smoke In the Cockpit: EVAS Vision Tunnel

    12/10/2025

    Smoke In the Cockpit: EVAS Vision Tunnel

    Cockpit smoke emergencies in air carrier and commercial jet ops are more common than you might think. So common that a company called VisionSafe developed the EVAS—for Emergency Vision Assurance System. Its deployment has been responsible for lots of safe landings in everything from airliners to corporate jets to freighters.

    13 min
  5. Dynon Avionics: Growing Market Reach

    11/21/2025

    Dynon Avionics: Growing Market Reach

    Avionics buyers want options. With roots planted deeply in the experimental aircraft market, Dynon Avionics has been gaining sizable momentum in the current market with a wide range of avionics products for both experimental and certified aircraft.

    14 min
  6. Avionics Training: Sims Work Best

    11/04/2025

    Avionics Training: Sims Work Best

    Flight1's advanced sims offer G1000 NXi realism for Cirrus and Piper pilots—ideal tools for avionics mastery outside the cockpit.

    21 min
  7. Nighthawk Guardian Flight Deck—Is it a Disruptor?

    10/31/2025

    Nighthawk Guardian Flight Deck—Is it a Disruptor?

    At AirVenture 2025 at Oshkosh, Nighthawk Flight Systems got a lot of attention when it showed a clean sheet integrated avionics suite called Guardian. The Guardian was an attention getter with its tight graphics, thin displays, a liberal IO that works with a large variety of third-party analog and digital avionics, plus a price tag that was said to be under $40,000. Nighthawk Flight Systems (it bought Sandel Avionics a few years ago) promised to start shipping FAA-approved (via an AML-STC) as early as December 2024. Since that's just a couple of months away, we followed up on the project with company CEO Paul Martin, who not only promised a seamless installation and high-level field support, but set aggressive goals for the system's initial certification and growth.

    19 min
  8. Aircraft Insurance Policies: AI for Assessing Risk

    10/24/2025

    Aircraft Insurance Policies: AI for Assessing Risk

    In a hardened insurance market that's causing grief for pilots of complex and tailwheel models, Maryland-based SkyWatch Aviation Insurance has been gaining attention for its modern approach to assessing risk. Using AI models to better match a pilot to a policy, the company has a website utility where pilots enter their information and the program shops for coverage with a variety of underwriters, and buyers can often score coverage on the spot. SkyWatch is credited for working with AOPA to create a senior pilot insurance program to help aging pilots get liability insurance in hopes of stretching their flying careers. To learn more about the company and for an update on the current market (and for tips on aircraft upgrade decisions with insurance in mind), we talked with SkyWatch's senior underwriting manager, Alon Admi.

    19 min
See All (14)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

The Smart Aviator is your trusted, independent voice in aviation. From aircraft and avionics to training, upgrades, and maintenance, it delivers unbiased, expert advice and reporting—free from influence. Hosted by respected aviation journalists and pilots, it continues a 56-year tradition of clear, honest insights for buyers and enthusiasts alike.

Information

  • Creator
    AvBrief.com
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © AvBrief Media Ltd.
  • Show Website
    The Smart Aviator

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