FAA OKs iPad for Pilots’ Charts

[Mark in CA]

Just stumbled upon this, and wondered if anyone here is a) using them and b) whether this is a good idea or not. While obviously less cumbersome than a stack of charts, might there other downside or safety issues here anyone might be concerned about?

FAA OKs iPad for Pilots’ Charts | Autopia | Wired.com (http://goo.gl/8y4D9)

[alcan60283]

Doesn't the 777 already have this capability built in? The placards underneath the unit specifically state to not use it for primary navigation, but the Ipad is an acceptable device for charts? What gives?

[35hPA28]

As long as one keeps it in Airplane Mode (pun not intended) and doesn't use it for other stuff, it looks like inevitable, sooner or later.

[lurker999]

theres going to be much more movement in this direction.

tablets / ebook readers etc are going to become ubiquitous so it's not going to be possible to ignore them. it will get to the point where either company certified devices or an SD Card will be given to every pilot and that will contain pretty much everything they'll need.

i can see the pilots' briefcase becoming the pilots ipad. it will have everything on board and update itself daily.

accounting and law offices used to look like libraries with all the relevant legislation, decisions, manuals etc etc. now they buy a subscription, load it onto a server and it has everything and is updated daily. there is little paper used for reference information any more.

[Airbubba]

Some initial thoughts:

The union legal department is already getting geared up for the inevitable disciplinary hearings.

Unauthorized Faceb**k, porn and PPRuNe posts on company iPads, you can see it coming. If they are company owned, anything you put on them is fair game for the company to see and use against you according to numerous U.S. court rulings. The Fourth Amendment doesn't protect you much in this case from what I understand.

The iPads have cameras and GPS, I predict someone will figure out how to get fired using these features to put them at the scene of the crime. Somebody will post a booze picture or topless F/A shot and be surprised to find that a geotag and user name are in the metadata of the jpeg. I'm sure the company would never use the GPS track log to look at your layover movements, right? Or, will the iPads be bolted into the planes, perhaps?

A new iPad will be announced in a day or so, by the time the feds approve the iPad hardware, the original will be out of production I would think.

The iPad in the cockpit is probably a great idea but I fear some of us will screw it up if it's not implemented very carefully. Kinda like an honor bar in the crew lounge...:)

[galaxy flyer]

While the plane has approved EFBs on-board, several of my mob use an iPad and absolutely love them. I not only have Jepps that quickly update, I have all the manuals, AIPs, Google Earth, various aviation references like AIM, FAR, EU-OPS, etc. Bloody great, but its mine, not the company's. In business aviation, I cannot see being without it.

[mutt]

Galaxy Flyer, how do you utilize the Jepps? Print them before the flight or view them inflight?

[Denti]

Haven't used a paper map in at least 5 or more years, we don't have any on the flightdeck anymore anyway. While not being the iPad EFBs are commonplace for some time now. We use a windows based tablet pc which remains on the aircraft and is made pretty much foolproof, no way to install your own software. Each pilot has its own USB stick on which he loads flightplans, updates, routings etc. during briefing and later puts all that stuff on the EFB where the eRoute-Manual reads the routing and puts all required maps up for easy use. Weight and balance as well as the performance calculation tools (take off and landing) still have to be filled in manually. However there is some work done to use the gsm-chip and automaticaly download loading information to enable automatic w&b and TO performance calculation.

With the move of our chart supplier to an iPad app there are rumours we might get a personal iPad per pilot, however even then configured using some corporate use toolkit which makes it possible for the administrator to restrict which apps the user can use or load.

[galaxy flyer]

Mutt

I fly a GLEX with CMC EFBs installed, so that is the primary. On the iPad, I use the Jepp app to access charts without printing them. I use the app for planning, to be able to easily access two charts at once; sometimes it is quicker to access a chart on the iPad than on the CMC (Jepp View in Flite Deck mode) when ATC gives a fast, last minute change; and the easy ability to expand the chart with a finger swipe is handy when taxying in the dark (aged eyes, you see). In-flight, I have one of Jepps handy headset bags (perfect size for the iPad and into the mapcase) so I can reach for it easily. Sporty's has a kneepad arrangment, but I hate those things. Also, very handy for planning in hotel room or FBO.

You have to have a Jepp subscription to get charts on the app. Our office has about a dozen subscriptions,each of which can be licensed to four computers under our arrangement. Our Charts Officer has a spreadsheet and each pilot can load one subscription to his iPad or laptop, his choice.

Another pro is easy access to loads of manuals and other paperwork that is hard to handle in a cockpit anyother way. Taxying out with a client, we had a nuisance warning. It was nearly instantaneous accessing and displaying the book reference authorizing our continued operation. It is faster than any laptop or EFB and more organized than paper manuals.

Limitations:

No enroute charts or text data, yet. No geo-referenced airplane symbol, yet.

Questions?

[sunshine010]

does anybody knows what NOPACK is?

thanks

[Northbeach]

I fear some of us will screw it up
I am frequently amazed at the new and interesting ways some of us manage to step in it.

Ya gotta love pilots, and I are one.

From layover follies with a video cam, froth and spittle flying rantings on union websites to running the poor violations committee ragged trying to keep ones career from coming to an end because of some action/inaction.

Here come the iPads………..let’s see how we hang ourselves next.

[Basil]

Here's a little review. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUo0A8BeXmU)
FF thro the intro unless you like Also Sprach

[ft]

To what standard is it EMI certified?

How is it verified that there aren't any glitches which will make them e g turn off at when the clock ticks over a given date? Compare with the recent bug where the alarm didn't work on the morning 1st of January. Viruses. Other software running. Etc etc etc.

Considering the amount of hoops we put everything through prior to allowing its use, this one appears to have slipped by rather easily?

Of course, I'm all for relaxed certification standards. What could possibly go wrong?

[Denti]

Considering that most if not all EFBs run windows as operating system and are deemed safe enough to fly without paper backup i'd say certification standards are low for a pretty long time already.