iPad
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Bracknell, Berks, UK
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Ever hear of the Y2K bug? granted it didn't cause world catastrophe, but for the limited effects it did have, it DID affect multiple devices at the same time. Not a great example, because all i'm going to hear in reply is from those who heard about it via the media reports, but for those of us working the fixes it was a very real scenario.
IT kit used in a flight deck should be viewed in the same way as the meals IMHO. Different devices running different s/w. Also, having spent 9 years working alongside an anechoic chamber, EMI had better be tested, tested, and tested again.
Oh, and whilst you might think i'm barmy to have an opinion like that, i'm currently sat here (at 2am) restoring a small customer server from backups after BOTH it's RAID1 hard drives (of the same manufacturer) fried themselves simultaneously. n+1 isn't always the solution.
Join Date: May 2000
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The Y2K bug didn't "cause a world catastrophe" mainly BECAUSE we worked out enough of the bugs BEFORE the year end. I was working at Boeing as a software test engineer at the time, and we found MANY bugs in our in-house software. Most of them would not be "catastrophic" in isolation, but I believe that if ALL of them were left to flourish, we would have had SIGNIFICANT problems...
Join Date: Jan 2008
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The Y2K bug didn't "cause a world catastrophe" mainly BECAUSE we worked out enough of the bugs BEFORE the year end. I was working at Boeing as a software test engineer at the time, and we found MANY bugs in our in-house software. Most of them would not be "catastrophic" in isolation, but I believe that if ALL of them were left to flourish, we would have had SIGNIFICANT problems...
Anyway, it was merely a ready analogy to show that despite the best will in the world, you CAN have multiple systems failing at the same time.
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And on a similar thread... A single cell phone may not interfere with radios and nav systems, but who has tested the effect of 100 or 400 of them all coming on line at the same time?!? 
Join Date: Sep 1999
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Im using an Ipad2 with an external GPS antenna, I love the pictorial display of our exact position on the Jeppesen FD airport diagram, it greatly enhances our situational awareness taxiing around strange airports.
Join Date: May 2006
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We are not talking of an FMS, I don't think that a normal not apple efb is made in that way, as far as I know it's just a certified computer, and both in the cockpit are made exactly in the same way, they don't run on different CPU, hard drives, nor software... Most of them are even running windows with the old hard drives and I think you will agree that an apple software with a solid state memory is much more reliable. Emi test has been done and succeeded and the iPad is now certified in that, I've no clue on how many times they made it because is not my job, but if and aviation authority says that is tested from my point of view it means green light, GO!
So if it worries you Mike-Bracnkell, your company or your regulator, then eliminate your risk by carrying a hard copy of jepps in the back, or a copy of Jeppview on the laptop.
I sometimes freelance on a private-ops CJ and we fly entirely paperless with iPad as our principal approach chart viewer and a laptop with Jeppesen Flitedeck as backup.
The iPad is much easier to use than a bundle of paper charts, whether in single-pilot or two pilot ops. It is as easy to read as papercharts in daylight, and easier at night. The "zoom" function makes reading and briefing small print on the charts easier than paper charts. In my view it is safer too - the iPad is always up to date, and is RELIABLY up to date because there is no chance that a crucial chart can be missing or out of date due to a carelessly performed paper update. I think that advantage outweighs the minscule risk of harware failure.
We also use the iPad to carry pfd copies of weather briefing and notams, using the excellent "save screen" feature.
I should add that, although we have Flitedeck on a laptop as backup, I would not fly with that programme as my primary chart viewer. It is appallingly clumsy, slow and difficult to use. I would prefer two iPads.
By contrast, when I fly CJ3 on EU-OPS with obligatory paperwork, CRM is made clumsier and slower by having to handle and store multiple bits of paper.
Here's a picture of the private CJ with our iPad MFD!
The iPad is much easier to use than a bundle of paper charts, whether in single-pilot or two pilot ops. It is as easy to read as papercharts in daylight, and easier at night. The "zoom" function makes reading and briefing small print on the charts easier than paper charts. In my view it is safer too - the iPad is always up to date, and is RELIABLY up to date because there is no chance that a crucial chart can be missing or out of date due to a carelessly performed paper update. I think that advantage outweighs the minscule risk of harware failure.
We also use the iPad to carry pfd copies of weather briefing and notams, using the excellent "save screen" feature.
I should add that, although we have Flitedeck on a laptop as backup, I would not fly with that programme as my primary chart viewer. It is appallingly clumsy, slow and difficult to use. I would prefer two iPads.
By contrast, when I fly CJ3 on EU-OPS with obligatory paperwork, CRM is made clumsier and slower by having to handle and store multiple bits of paper.
Here's a picture of the private CJ with our iPad MFD!
Last edited by Trim Stab; 14th Nov 2011 at 13:08.
Join Date: Mar 2008
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My two cents/pesos/pence/lira, etc...
I 've personally been using an issue iPad 2 for about three weeks as a company standardized EFB. Having used paper for decades, I still have some approach chart backups, but the iPad has been flawless. We aren't the first to use this. Major airlines and corporate flying departments have been using the FAA and company approved concept for many combined hours. I think its a good thing.
As far as mounting, I just lay it on my flight kit like a Jepp binder.
We're using Foreflight, Jepp View and Goodreader primarily. Amazing capability with Skype, FltPlan.com, ADDS, mapping, etc. in one small, lightweight package.
Legal, efficient, effective, lightweight and capable. All good.
I 've personally been using an issue iPad 2 for about three weeks as a company standardized EFB. Having used paper for decades, I still have some approach chart backups, but the iPad has been flawless. We aren't the first to use this. Major airlines and corporate flying departments have been using the FAA and company approved concept for many combined hours. I think its a good thing.
As far as mounting, I just lay it on my flight kit like a Jepp binder.
We're using Foreflight, Jepp View and Goodreader primarily. Amazing capability with Skype, FltPlan.com, ADDS, mapping, etc. in one small, lightweight package.
Legal, efficient, effective, lightweight and capable. All good.
