For the past decade, the trend in General Aviation has been clear: “Go digital or go home.” We traded our paper charts for iPads and our pencils for styluses. But as student pilots, we quickly discovered a frustrating reality: Sometimes, the iPad is terrible cockpit tool.

We’ve all been there—trying to fumbled through menus to find a frequency while ATC is barking instructions, or having a tablet overheat right as you enter the pattern.

Today, after two years of development and testing with over 150 of our fellow pilots, Aviate Software LLC is officially launching GA Kneeboard.

The Problem: Digital Overload

The iPad is a miracle for situational awareness, but it’s a distraction for data entry. When you’re in a high-workload environment, “head-down time” is the enemy of safety. We realized that the most efficient way to manage information wasn’t another app window—it was a Hybrid Cockpit.

The Hybrid Cockpit is a philosophy that combines the best of both worlds: the power of digital preparation with the tactile, “at-a-glance” reliability of a physical kneeboard.

The Solution: GA Kneeboard

GA Kneeboard isn’t a physical board; it’s a specialized utility designed to create the perfect “analog” interface for your flight.

We didn’t just build this in a vacuum. Over the last 24 months, we’ve iterated on the design hundreds of times based on feedback from a community of 150+ beta testers. We asked pilots what they hated about their current setups and what information they needed most when the pressure was on.

The result is a tool that allows you to:

• Create custom data sheets tailored to your specific tail number and mission.

• Reduce workload by placing critical frequencies, checklists, and nav logs exactly where your eyes can see them without a single swipe.

• Fly safer by keeping your primary EFB (like ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot) dedicated to the map, while your kneeboard handles the data.

Built by Student Pilots, for Every Pilot

We started this journey as student pilots. We knew that if we could make the cockpit feel less overwhelming for a learner, we could make it safer for everyone. Whether you’re a pro flying cross-country or a student working on your first solo, GA Kneeboard is built to keep your “eyes outside” and your mind on the flight.

Try it Today

The “Hybrid Cockpit” isn’t just a theory—it’s a better way to fly. We are incredibly grateful to our beta testers who helped us refine this utility into the safety tool it is today.

Ready to declutter your cockpit? [Check out GA Kneeboard at kneeboard.ga]

Blue skies and tailwinds,

The Aviate Software Team