Garmin Pilot vs. ForeFlight vs. 8flight: How EFBs Are Transforming IFR Flight

John Stikes
Aug 26
2 min read

These days, the cockpit no longer needs paper stacks and binders. Instead, many IFR pilots rely on powerful Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs)—notably Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight, and the up-and‑coming 8flight—to navigate the skies with ease. I was talking with my CFII while doing some training recently and it made me starting thinking about this topic. I’m not a CFI, just someone who loves aviation and tech, and I find the evolution fascinating. This post is for discussion only—not training advice.

Tablet displaying flight chart in a cockpit. Text: "Electronic Flight Bags: Enhancing Safety for IFR Pilots" against a sky background. — Should we be relying on these devices?

The EFB Trifecta: Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight, and 8flight

Garmin Pilot

Known for seamless integration with Garmin avionics (e.g., G1000, GTN, G500), Garmin Pilot customizes the in-cockpit experience for Garmin-equipped aircraft. It shines in navigation features like Direct-To, Nearest, and Emergency Mode, and mirrors panel systems for intuitive use AOPA+2Pilots of America+2 AirProLead+1. Explore more on Garmin’s official site.

ForeFlight

A trailblazer in aviation software, ForeFlight offers a sleek interface, robust IFR flight planning, weather overlays, alerts for airspace and terrain, performance profiles, and Jeppesen chart support for global ops AirProLead+1. Learn more on ForeFlight’s official page.

8flight (eightflight.com)

Launched by aviation content creator Matt Guthmiller, 8flight is innovating on approachability and real-time data—featuring AI-enhanced weather, FAA weather camera feeds, seamless FBO/fuel data, and a clean, user-friendly design aeroavion.com +4Wikipedia+4foreflight.com+4 AOPA. Learn more at eightflight.com.

Hands holding a tablet with a flight map in an airplane cockpit. Two digital screens show navigation data. Cloudy sky outside. — Getting information in the cockpit has never been easier... isn't that a good thing?

Why IFR Pilots Are Embracing Them

Flight planning in minutes instead of hours: File IFR plans, calculate alternates, and review alternate minimums with ease.
Real-time situational awareness: With moving maps, geo-referenced charts, live weather, traffic overlays, and alerts, pilots are more informed than ever.
Enhanced safety margins: Features like synthetic vision (ForeFlight), terrain/terrain proximity, and emergency airport locators (Garmin) reinforce safety.
Efficiency at scale: From weight and balance to repeating flight logs and checklists, everything is streamlined.

These tools have indeed transformed IFR flying—some would say for the better.

But Are We Losing Something?

Let’s be candid: relying heavily on EFBs raises concerns, too.

What happens if your tablet freezes or runs out of battery mid-flight?
Are fewer pilots becoming masters of raw navigation skills and manual planning?
Do these systems unintentionally shift pilot focus away from “fly the airplane” to “manage the screen”?

EFBs undoubtedly enhance safety when used thoughtfully, but such redundancy shouldn’t replace essential airmanship and prepared backups.

Safety or Convenience—Where’s the Balance?

Pilots need a balanced mindset:

Use your EFB to augment your flying—not replace it.
Always carry backups: a charged second device, paper charts, or minimums strips.
Maintain core skills: mental math, paper navigation, and raw data interpretation.
Treat EFBs as partners, not crutches.

A Friendly Disclaimer…

I’m not a flight instructor, and this isn’t meant as training advice—just a conversation starter. I've been captivated by how technology like Garmin Pilot, ForeFlight, and 8flt are reshaping IFR operations. Now I’m curious: Do you view these tools as safety enablers, or are we at risk of becoming too dependent on screens?