Suction mount on aircraft windscreen

[welliewanger]

I'm looking for a means of mounting an iPad in the flight deck. A suction mount appears to be the easiest and most convenient option. However I am worried that it may damage the coatings / laminates etc. Should I really be worried?

[spannersatcx]

as long it is approved for use by the regulators and the airline! Which I very much doubt, so no not a good idea.

[Desert185]

Welliewanger: I use a suction cup mount for a handheld GPS in the DC-8. Doesn't hurt a thing.

[lomapaseo]

I doubt that a regulator is going to accept this without a manufacturers application for approval.

The problem is thermal load being concentrated with heat on. Find something else to hang it from

[welliewanger]

Desert185: Thanks for the info.

Lomapaseo: The heat issue is exactly what concerned me. Without a definitive "yes" I'm not going to do it.

Fargo & spanner: Why do I want it there? I've got all the en-route charts as well as plates for the whole world as well as weather, notams, all the aircraft manuals and performance info. These are normally stored in a locker which is hard to reach and the folders are large and cumbersome.

We have loads of other stuff which hasn't been approved by the regulator in the FD. There's a laptop in one of the bins, my glasses get perched on the side next to the printer, the clipboard with the OFP gets dumped wherever is convenient at the time.. OK, the bins are probably approved for storage, but does that make them the only place where we can put stuff?

[paulsalem]

Ram Mounts works well.

[MTBUR]

I assume this is for Jepps? I have a mate who just places it on top of his oxygen mask on the 73 below 10 000', and above 10 000' puts it in the back behind and holds when required

[Capt. Inop]

May I suggest iPad Deck Mount

The FLIGHT DECK MOUNT for Pilots who use the iPad / ipad2 as Their EFB/Jepps

[FE Hoppy]

If your company has approval to use an iPad as an EFB it must include provision for mounting the device. If they don't have approval then expect the blame should anything go wrong, go wrong, go wrong.

I'll bet there is a bag with paper charts that fit perfectly into those chart holders conveniently secured in appropriate places in your cockpit. Your authority expects you to be using those unless they have specifically authorised otherwise and if they have they will have described exactly how your iPad should be mounted.

[GlueBall]

Hey, FE Hoppy . . . I bet you still carry an E6B "whiz wheel" in your brain bag, eh...?

[Matt101]

in fairness to FE HOPPY I am of the iGeneration but when something has a "not to be used for navigation" label on it i tend not to, regardless of the apple logo. If the iPad is approved use it, if not then it is a comparative tool. Galaxy is better anyway..,.

[crippen]

Forgive a butt in from a SLF. But do suction pads work properly at low air pressures? They do not work at all in a vacuum.

[paulsalem]

Forgive a butt in from a SLF. But do suction pads work properly at low air pressures? They do not work at all in a vacuum.

Our's works fine from sea level to an 8,000 foot cabin. The side windows are not heated so the moisture condenses and forms frost in the inside of the window, and we've only ever had it fall off once.

[spannersatKL]

What about health issues? You spit on the suction device to make it seal...your mates do the same, the window will be like a bar room bowl of nuts with everyones diseases spreading?? Also I don't see how you can use uncontrolled data on your personal iPad? Surely the 'office' has adequate places to hold approach plates and en route charts that have to be used? Introducing another loose article is surely not the way?

[paulsalem]

You spit on the suction device to make it seal

No we don't.

[Skyhawk33E]

For the FAA's requirements on EFB (incl. iPad) mounts refer to AC 120-76A:

AC 120-76A Guidelines for the Certification, Airworthiness, and Operational Approval of Electronic Flight Bag Computing Devices

The AC is soon to be replaced by AC 120-76B.