Airport Tile Guide

Overview

Airport Tile is the most popular tile in GA Kneeboard for good reason—it was the first tile created and packs comprehensive airport information into a compact, customizable format. Whether you’re planning a flight or need quick reference during operations, the Airport Tile shows everything from radio frequencies and runway information to traffic patterns and custom data fields.

Airport Tile Structure

At a glance, each Airport Tile displays:

Airport Name at the top
Airport Code as a watermark
Runway Sketch with traffic pattern overlay
Runway Dimensions at the bottom
Corner Data Fields (4 fields in single mode, 8 in wide mode) showing customizable information

Getting Started

Adding an Airport Tile

The Airport Tile comes by default in the VFR Flight Demo template, which you can use as a starting point for your own templates. To add a new Airport Tile:

Eject the current tile (if replacing an existing one)
Click on “Airport” tile type
The Airport Tile will appear, ready for configuration

Accessing Settings

You can enter settings mode in two ways:

Click anywhere on the tile header
Click the gear icon

This opens the airport settings configuration panel.

Configuring Your Airport Tile

Selecting an Airport

Airport Code Field: Enter the 3 or 4-letter airport identifier (e.g., KBFI, KPAE)

Recent Airports: The system remembers your five most recently used airports. Simply click on any airport from this list to quickly switch without retyping the code.

Choosing a Runway

Select your runway from the dropdown menu, which displays:

Runway designation (e.g., 16L/34R)
Runway length

You have several runway selection options:

Single Runway Selection

Choose one specific runway for detailed display.

Multiple Runway Selection

NEW FEATURE: You can now select two runways to display side by side. This is perfect when you’re not sure which runway you’ll be assigned. The runways will appear next to each other on the tile.

Tip: Select runways in the order you want them to appear. For example:

Click 34L first, then 34R second to display them left-to-right in the correct geographic orientation
This maintains intuitive, prototypical layout that matches reality

Runway Display Orientation

Choose how the runway is visually represented:

Magnetic: Displays the runway at its actual magnetic orientation

Shows the runway angle as it appears in reality
Example: Runway 02/20 at Bremerton shows at an angle
Best for geographic awareness

Vertical: Aligns the runway vertically regardless of actual orientation

Runway always appears top-to-bottom on the tile
Useful for standardized display
Great when space is limited

Traffic Pattern Overlays

Traffic patterns help you visualize entry procedures and circuit orientation. Choose from four display options:

None (Hidden)

Clean, minimal layout
No traffic pattern display
Provides maximum space for notes or other information

Downwind Only

Shows the downwind leg with directional arrow
Blue arrow = Left traffic pattern
Red arrow = Right traffic pattern
Useful for airports with preferred runway sides

45-Degree Entry

Displays the standard 45-degree entry to the downwind leg
Shows entry angle and pattern direction
Most common traffic pattern entry method

Midfield Crosswind (Teardrop)

Shows the midfield crosswind/teardrop entry
Creates a distinctive “heart shape” pattern
Includes theoretical crossing heading
- Shows the perpendicular heading for crossing midfield
- Based on runway orientation
- Example: “Fly heading 074 to cross midfield”
- Use as a guide, not absolute reference

Important Note: The theoretical headings are calculated based on runway orientation and provide good guidance, but always follow local procedures and account for wind conditions.

Display Modes

Runway Sketch (Default)

The standard view showing a simplified runway diagram with:

Clear runway outline
Traffic pattern overlay
Easy-to-read dimensions
Best for most operations

Airport Diagram

Displays the official airport diagram:

Shows all runways in their relative positions
Indicates taxiways and airport infrastructure
Displays tower location (when available)
Shows lighting information symbols
- Example: Pilot-controlled lighting indicators
Less legible than sketch view due to size
Useful for:
- Understanding airport layout
- Locating tower or ramp areas
- Checking lighting availability
- Comparing multiple runway positions

Note: The airport diagram provides an overview but does not replace approach plates for detailed airport information.

Customizing Corner Data Fields

Each corner of the Airport Tile can display different information relevant to your needs. This is where you “do your own cooking” and configure the tile to work for you.

Single Tile Mode (4 Corners)

Click on any corner to open the field selector and choose from options including:

Airport Elevation
Tower Frequency
Ground Control
ATIS/AWOS
Unicom
And many more…

Custom Values

You can also enter custom values for any corner field:

Click on a corner field
Enter your custom information
- Example: “Tower Hours: 7AM – 9PM”
- Example: Custom notes or reminders
Your custom value will appear in that corner

Tip: Custom fields are perfect for:

Operating hours
Local procedures
Personal reminders
Temporary NOTAMs

Wide Mode (Merged Tiles)

NEW FEATURE: Enable Wide Mode to get additional data fields and enhanced display.

Activating Wide Mode

In the display settings, select “Wide” mode. Your single tile will stretch across two tile widths, providing:

8 corner fields instead of 4
More space for runway display
Room for additional custom information

Side-by-Side Comparison

You can place multiple Airport Tiles next to each other to compare different airports or configurations:

Example: Display Boeing Field (KBFI) on one tile and Paine Field (KPAE) on another tile for quick comparison of:

Frequencies
Runway dimensions
Traffic patterns
Elevation differences
Custom notes for each airport

Each tile maintains its own corner field configuration, so you can customize them differently based on what matters most for each airport.

Best Practices

Template Organization

Use the VFR Flight Demo as a starting point
Arrange tiles in the order you’ll reference them during flight
Consider your typical flight profile when choosing corner fields

Corner Field Selection

Choose fields based on your flight phase (departure, enroute, arrival)
Common combinations:
- Tower, Ground, ATIS, Elevation
- Unicom, CTAF, Elevation, Custom notes
- Ground, Tower, Clearance Delivery, ATIS

Traffic Pattern Configuration

Use 45-degree entry for standard operations
Switch to Midfield Crosswind when required by local procedures
Hide patterns when you need a cleaner view for notes

Wide Mode Use Cases

When you need to see many data fields at once
For airports where you need extensive frequency information
When displaying complex traffic pattern information
For airports requiring custom notes and standard fields

Multiple Runway Display

Use when weather could affect runway assignment
Select runways in geographic order (left to right) for intuitive display
Helpful at airports with parallel or crossing runways

Evolution and Feedback

The Airport Tile has evolved significantly over the past two years based on user feedback. GA Kneeboard continuously improves based on real pilot needs and suggestions.

We Want Your Feedback: If you have ideas for improvements or features that would make the Airport Tile more useful, please submit your feedback through the app. Your input directly shapes how this tool develops to better serve the aviation community.

This guide reflects the latest Airport Tile features and capabilities. For additional help or questions, visit the GA Kneeboard support resources or submit feedback through the application.