If I may offer a suggestion. I have an EQ-G. I do not use the handset at all, and, in fact, have sold it. I use a Shoestring Astronomy EQUSBDIR cable (that plugs directly into one of the USB ports on the AIR and the other end is a proper 9 pin Centronix connection that my EQ-G has (I know the newer ones use a different connector and/or USB. Shoestring makes the right USB for those as well. Then, my process on startup is this:
Power on the mount
Power on the AIR
Wait for beep and enter the AIR
Tap the Telescope tab and select EQMod with (or without) Sky Safari (it makes no difference to control)
Make sure baud rate is 9600 (I think this is default)
I start the Polar Align, and after Success, I just select and GOTO my first object.
No syncing to mount, EVER. Not on startup, not after Polar Align and not after successful GOTO (with successful platesolve)
When I am done for the night I park the scope using the command in the AIR Telescope tab, and shut every thing down. That's it. Taking the hand controller and Sync to mount command out of the way allows to be up and running without issues night after night. I hope this helps for you. I am aware that Shoestring Astronomy is down till the 12th of January, and there are other suppliers of this same type of connecting cord. Some work and some don't. Shoestring seems to know exactly how to build the ones they sell. Very helpful!
Best of luck to you!