Cockpit Workflow: How the Garmin D2 Air X10 Complements an EFB (iPad)

Let’s start with a truth every pilot in the 2020s knows: the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), typically an iPad running ForeFlight or Garmin Pilot, is the king of the cockpit. It has revolutionized flight planning, navigation, and access to information. It’s our primary chart, weather brief, and flight planner.

So, when a device like the Garmin D2 Air X10 comes along, the immediate question from skeptical pilots is, “Why? Why do I need a tiny screen on my wrist when my 11-inch iPad does everything, and better?”

That is the wrong question.

The value of an aviator watch isn’t to replace the EFB. That’s a battle it would lose. Its true value lies in workflow integration and cognitive offload. It’s not about doing the same job as your iPad; it’s about doing the small, quick, repetitive jobs more efficiently, and providing a critical layer of redundancy.

This is not an “either/or” scenario. This is an “and” scenario. Here is how the D2 Air X10 actually fits into a modern pilot’s EFB-centric workflow.

The Real Value: “Glanceable” Data vs. Interactive Tasks

Your iPad is an “interactive” tool. You tap, pinch, swipe, and type. This requires cognitive load and “heads-down” time, which is fine during cruise, but costly during critical phases of flight.

The D2 Air X10, at its best, is a “glanceable” tool. Its primary function is to give you critical data points in under one second, saving you the 5-10 seconds it might take to wake, unlock, and navigate your EFB.

Let’s break this down by flight phase.

Workflow 1: Pre-Flight (On the Ramp)

Your full, official weather briefing should happen on a large screen (your EFB or computer). But we all know that 15-minute gap between finishing your brief and starting the engine.

This is the watch’s first win. While walking to the aircraft, you’ve already paired your D2 Air X10 to your smartphone. You can glance at your wrist for the latest METAR at your departure airport. It’s the final “last look” at the wind and visibility without fumbling for your phone or tablet. You can also double-check that the Zulu (UTC) time on your watch matches your flight plan, setting the standard for the entire operation.

Workflow 2: In-Flight (Cruise & Situational Awareness)

Once airborne, your iPad is the primary navigator, displaying your moving map and charts. The watch now transitions into a passive, supplemental role.

• HSI Backup: The D2 Air X10 features an “instrument-like HSI course needle.” You can set it to your destination or the next waypoint. Now, your iPad is your primary map, but your wrist provides a simple, analog-style backup of your deviation from the course. It’s a classic “cross-check” opportunity.
• Time Management: Flying across time zones? The watch handles automatic time zone switching seamlessly, a feature one user review praised heavily. It keeps your local time, home time, and UTC time organized without thought.
• Physiological Monitoring: In unpressurized aircraft, a quick check of the Pulse Ox (SpO2) sensor provides a data point for your hypoxia awareness. While (as noted by users) it’s not a medical-grade device, a trend of 90% at 12,000 feet is a powerful, glanceable cue to either use supplemental oxygen or descend.

Workflow 3: The Emergency (When the EFB Fails)

This is the most critical workflow: redundancy. iPads are incredibly reliable, but they are not infallible. They can overheat. They can (rarely) crash. Batteries die.

In this scenario, the Garmin D2 Air X10 transforms from a “nice-to-have” to a “lifesaving-to-have.”

It operates on its own battery and its own GPS receiver. If your EFB goes dark, you have an independent, worldwide aeronautical database on your wrist. The “Nearest” function is paramount. With a few taps—an “active” task reserved for this very emergency—you can get an immediate bearing and distance to the closest airport. This single feature, providing a path to a runway in a high-stress “EFB dark” scenario, justifies the watch’s existence as a true piece of pilot equipment.

Workflow 4: Post-Flight (The Ecosystem Advantage)

You’ve shut down at the FBO. The “paperwork” begins. This is where the watch’s integration into the Garmin ecosystem (if you use it) provides its final win.

The D2 Air X10 features automatic flight logging. It detects takeoff and landing, logs your flight, and (when paired with the Garmin Pilot app) can wirelessly sync this data to your digital logbook. As one user noted, “it tracks flight hours automatically.” This small convenience removes one of the most tedious parts of flying, reducing administrative friction and ensuring your records are accurate.

Conclusion: A Co-Pilot, Not a Replacement

Stop thinking of the D2 Air X10 as an EFB competitor. It’s not.

Think of it as the most efficient co-pilot you can wear. It handles the small, repetitive tasks (time checks, logging) and provides critical, independent redundancy (GPS “Nearest” function). By offloading these small cognitive burdens, it frees up your mental bandwidth to focus on what matters: flying the aircraft, managing your primary EFB, and maintaining ultimate situational awareness.

Your iPad is your navigator. The D2 Air X10 is your ever-present, glanceable redundant system.