a place for the iPad in Aviation?
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: I wouldn't know.
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The EFBs i've come across so far are usually standard Windows XP pen tablets, however in my outfit we now operate the second military spec rugged platform of that kind. Main reason is that they hope to get lower repair and replacement bills than with our first platform (a standard HP tablet PC), main reason is that they have to withstand quite a wide range of different temperatures, vibration levels and shock from falling down, not to mention moisture. Since those things are now rugged PCs they are quite heavy and bad to handle in a cramped cockpit like the 737, so most of us are looking forward to the promised EFB II fixed installation where everything is fixed to the airplane and not manually handled by us. Documentation is allready only available in electronic form including the AFM, apparently a dual EFB-installation is quite enough to satisfy the regulator, dispatch with only one working EFB is approved, the EFB has to be stowed below 1000ft AGL.
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: FL410
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I don't know about feeling the need to show everyone my iphone - but there are certainly a lot of captains who are intrigued enough to ask if they can have a look at the apps on it.
Smithy - Have you taken that giant leap into the 80's and bought a VCR or a microwave yet?
Why are people so rabidly for or against these things? If you don't like it - don't do it!
As regards the ipad - I can think of one reasonable use for it... Reference. My company issues all manuals electronically. Having that search option available on the flightdeck would be occasionally useful. But then I can do that on the iphone too, just on a smaller screen.
Smithy - Have you taken that giant leap into the 80's and bought a VCR or a microwave yet?
Why are people so rabidly for or against these things? If you don't like it - don't do it!
As regards the ipad - I can think of one reasonable use for it... Reference. My company issues all manuals electronically. Having that search option available on the flightdeck would be occasionally useful. But then I can do that on the iphone too, just on a smaller screen.
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Australia
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I am not an Apple fan, but I have an iphone, which is crap as a mobile telephone. Being touch sensitive there is no tactile feedback either of key position or activation. In the old days one could stride purposefully through the Angel with a clunky Nokia texting your friends with one hand that you were running late. Try doing that with an iphone and you will hit the first lamppost you encounter. (ie it ruins your situational awareness 
)
The best feature of the iphone is the SMS speech-bubble interface. It makes SMS into conversations that are visible and can be scrolled! "I refer the honourable girlfriend to the excuse I made earlier." becomes a real possibility...
hugel
)The best feature of the iphone is the SMS speech-bubble interface. It makes SMS into conversations that are visible and can be scrolled! "I refer the honourable girlfriend to the excuse I made earlier." becomes a real possibility...
hugel
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Whereever I lay my hat
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Mac + OS X = modern, powerful and reliable
But I do understand people who say that apple are primarily a form / design company with a few techie bits thrown in for good measure!
And what is wrong with a well designed, good looking computer
?I have been using PCs with Microsoft operating systems and Linux since a long time but when my portable PC was stolen one day I 'confiscated' my wife's Macintosh and since then I have never felt the need to go back to a PC/Windows system. For professional reasons I do need the ability to run my customer's Windows applications but this was easily provided by running a virtual Windows system on my Mac using VMWare's Fusion software.
Johan
PS It's always nice and good to have a choice whatever your preference is!
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Derbyshire, England.
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Its out in Australia?... I don't think so... It is not going to be shipped anywhere until end of March....
(It probably didn't arrive by a 'recognised' route).
Rockwell, Panasonic & Thales, be afraid, be very afraid.
So, from what I hear so far, the ipad is of no use in the cockpit but has some entertainment value, can be used by a child or pensioner, can play games and view films, download the latest newspapers/magazines and weighing a pound & a half will slide into a pocket roughly the size of an inflight magazine.
Now, what possible use could it have in aviation???????
Now, what possible use could it have in aviation???????
Nemo Me Impune Lacessit
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Fair enough, I'm confused now, I'll be seeing him again tomorrow and find out exactly what he has got, but I could have sworn...............etc.etc.
Hugel,
You obviously have not seen the app that displays the video camera feed as the background with your SMS text over the top so that you can see where you r feet are going on the screen in real time as you text ... 
No more gutters, small dogs, lampposts etc..
Try doing that with an iphone and you will hit the first lamppost you encounter. (ie it ruins your situational awareness )
No more gutters, small dogs, lampposts etc..
Join Date: Jun 2008
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I'm an ex commercial pilot, now software engineer with 15+ years of experience writing real time avionics software. I'll definitely be getting an iPad to go along with my Macbook Pro and iPhone. You'll find many engineers with macs not for the looks but for OS X and its UNIX/BSD base combined with its excellent integration with the hardware. Most of us used windows once upon a time
The reason full OS X is not being supplied is due to it's performance on the power efficient processors, have a look at the reviews of how windows 7 is performing on tablets ... not well at all.
Why are so many developers supporting the iPhone/iPad? The App store takes away all the pain of having to set up a commercial site and get customers in. + the huge user base. Apple also produces one of the best development environments money can't buy, it's been free for eons.
Unfortunately due to certification requirements, it's too difficult to get the iPad/iPhone certified as a navigation device due to OS X and the hardware operating limits. The OS would probably have to be qualified to Do-178B Level B or C and Apple would not be interested due to the cost and limited market. However it would make for a great planning and briefing device.
The reason full OS X is not being supplied is due to it's performance on the power efficient processors, have a look at the reviews of how windows 7 is performing on tablets ... not well at all.
Why are so many developers supporting the iPhone/iPad? The App store takes away all the pain of having to set up a commercial site and get customers in. + the huge user base. Apple also produces one of the best development environments money can't buy, it's been free for eons.
Unfortunately due to certification requirements, it's too difficult to get the iPad/iPhone certified as a navigation device due to OS X and the hardware operating limits. The OS would probably have to be qualified to Do-178B Level B or C and Apple would not be interested due to the cost and limited market. However it would make for a great planning and briefing device.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Bridport
Age: 49
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Pointless, completely useless overpriced gadget for poseur big kids with a lot of disposable income and absolutely no sense/intelligence whatsoever. No doubt filled with idiotic, childish "apps" to show off to like-minded immature simpleton mates. With the ability to play much rubbish music illegally downloaded from t'net. Also complete with various other silly useless gadgety functions of absolutely no use whatsoever to any normal human being except to entertain said braindead users. And to obnoxiously, loudly, antisocially telephone aforementioned mates from various public places, muchly irritating the general public.
Nope. Absolutely no use or place at all in aviation.
Smithy
Nope. Absolutely no use or place at all in aviation.
Smithy
