iPad EFB update process, your experience
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iPad EFB update process, your experience
We are changing from a Windows-based to an iPad EFB solution. While this is generally a change for the better, as the iPad is easier to use without keyboard and has more intuitive touch controls, the updating of the various apps feels like a step back. All apps have separate built-in updating functions that all work differently, some requiring the app to remain the active app. The Windows machine had a separate update app that ran on startup and then in the background and ensured all the databases for route manual, documents, performance, W&B, etc. were updated.
My question is to all of you flying with an iPad based EFB: do you use the same ‚distributed‘ updating system or is there a single updating app/process?
My question is to all of you flying with an iPad based EFB: do you use the same ‚distributed‘ updating system or is there a single updating app/process?
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The ipads are great. Very ergonomic, fast and I can’t remember one time I had to reset; they basically never crash. The updates are independent between the IOS , Flysmart and Jeppesen. But it’s not really an issue as if you have a decent Internet it will update very fast. You will enjoy it! =)
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Many in GA are using ForeFlight on the iPad. Updates are almost transparent and they recently added an improvement that the app can be closed once the update starts and it will continue.
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Have been using iPad based EFBs for the better part of 10 years now. Before that we had an aircraft based windows system that had to be updated by the crew once a week. The update was centralized and scripted from a thumb drive issued to each pilot and could take up to 25 minutes, so if one started it at the wrong time, it could really mean major delay. The iPads on the other hand do need independent updates between apps, but that is usually just a few seconds, the only exception being LIDO if one was off for a few weeks, so best done at home or in the hotel during downtime.
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Inter-app communication is theoretically possible and thus a single app to update the entire EFB suite, but is probably difficult to develop and overcomplicating a process when background app refresh is available. Most or all EFB apps should be using 'Background App Refresh' which can allow updates to occur automatically even when you are not actively using the app as long as you don't force-quit the app by swiping up.
Under Settings then App Store is an automatic app update feature.
You can select the max size over cell data and everything larger will go automatically when locked on to WiFi.
Easy peasy, slice of cheesy…
You can select the max size over cell data and everything larger will go automatically when locked on to WiFi.
Easy peasy, slice of cheesy…
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The App Store app update will update the app itself not the data within. For example, you may be able to keep the jepp app up to date, but your charts won’t be updated.
We have different apps, each must be manually updated. Just tap the screen. The only “drawback” is that the iPad doesn’t do multitasking very well, so once you start the update, you have to stay in the app for it to finish. I don’t know of a way to update data in 2 apps simultaneously.
edit- I suppose you could attempt simultaneous updates in split screen mode on the iPad if you have the latest OS.
We have different apps, each must be manually updated. Just tap the screen. The only “drawback” is that the iPad doesn’t do multitasking very well, so once you start the update, you have to stay in the app for it to finish. I don’t know of a way to update data in 2 apps simultaneously.
edit- I suppose you could attempt simultaneous updates in split screen mode on the iPad if you have the latest OS.
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MDM (Mobile Device Management) would put the iPads into an enterprise pool (small reconf from Apple needed) and then pretty much all the options admins had under domain/GP/ActiveDirectory managed Win systems become available again. Forced install, push updates of apps and their data, state monitoring, deactivation of various features, ... you name it. And most importantly, delay of iOS updates. Proper MDM is so good and valuable you'll end up paying through the nose and the costs usually overwhelm the PC based version by the typical Apple factor of 2x - although MDM is a 3rd party SW (not sure about the licences).
For pilot use, the manual option is sufficient and even large companies manage without the Enterprise solution. For instance, the umbrella corporation of my employer runs their own App store, the pilot-attached EFB iPads use some of the apps from it, but the units themselves are not enlisted under MDM. The updates are managed manually, including keeping the old iOS when necessary.
random search hits:
https://www.soti.net/solutions/mobil...ce-management/
https://www.ibm.com/security/mobile/...ice-management [Does that really say "Unified Endpoint Management for Dummies" ??
] - used to be Airbus partner for the turnkey SaaS solution.https://scalefusion.com/ios-mobile-device-management
Originally Posted by Apple inc.
mobile device management (MDM)
A service that lets you remotely manage enrolled devices. After a device is enrolled, you can use the MDM solution over the network to configure settings and perform other tasks on the device without user interaction. Mobile device management is supported on Mac computers with OS X 10.7 or later installed, on iOS devices with iOS 5 or later installed, and on Apple TV with tvOS 10.2 or later installed.
To enable management, devices are enrolled with an MDM solution using an enrollment configuration profile, which can be completed directly by the user. For company-owned devices, MDM enrollment can be automated using Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager. When an administrator initiates an MDM policy, option, or command, the device receives notification of the action through the Apple Push Notification service (APNs). With a network connection, devices can receive APNs commands anywhere in the world.
MDM also enables distribution, management, and configuration of apps and books purchased through Apple School Manager, Apple Business Manager, or developed in-house.
To learn more about large-scale deployments of Apple devices, see the Deployment Reference for iPhone and iPad and the Deployment Reference for Mac.
A service that lets you remotely manage enrolled devices. After a device is enrolled, you can use the MDM solution over the network to configure settings and perform other tasks on the device without user interaction. Mobile device management is supported on Mac computers with OS X 10.7 or later installed, on iOS devices with iOS 5 or later installed, and on Apple TV with tvOS 10.2 or later installed.
To enable management, devices are enrolled with an MDM solution using an enrollment configuration profile, which can be completed directly by the user. For company-owned devices, MDM enrollment can be automated using Apple School Manager or Apple Business Manager. When an administrator initiates an MDM policy, option, or command, the device receives notification of the action through the Apple Push Notification service (APNs). With a network connection, devices can receive APNs commands anywhere in the world.
MDM also enables distribution, management, and configuration of apps and books purchased through Apple School Manager, Apple Business Manager, or developed in-house.
To learn more about large-scale deployments of Apple devices, see the Deployment Reference for iPhone and iPad and the Deployment Reference for Mac.
My employer went the MDM way, works really well. But updating charts or performance databases still need to be done by the crew in the app itself, basically part of preflight preparation. As mentioned, the iPads are still not quite as optimized for multitasking and most apps need to remain open to update their content. Our charts app is the worst offender, having to rebuild its document index every time, which can take up to a few minutes.
I do find that if your iPad is not the latest and greatest, it can sometimes struggle to keep multiple apps alive in memory without reloading them when you switch to them. Our iPads are 6th Gen mostly, and we generally need a charts app, performance app, and journey log/navlog app open at the same time. Some days it works fine, some days it will need to reload the apps every single time you switch between them.
I do find that if your iPad is not the latest and greatest, it can sometimes struggle to keep multiple apps alive in memory without reloading them when you switch to them. Our iPads are 6th Gen mostly, and we generally need a charts app, performance app, and journey log/navlog app open at the same time. Some days it works fine, some days it will need to reload the apps every single time you switch between them.
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Haven't seen a production environment iPad program without MDM oversight. It is basically required to keep the iPad in a certified state and therefore a prerequisite, at least in airlines, to satisfy the authorities requirements. But, as Intrance said, it still requires data updates within the apps themselves.
Not only in theory, but also in practice one can update three apps at the same time if necessary, two in split screen (if the apps allow that) and one in slide over. It gets kinda crowded on the screen though, especially in the 10 inch (small) variants, much easier and better on the 13 inch ones but i haven't seen an airline issue those yet. Nor have i really seen the need for that.
Airbus actually does an update of all its different apps (W&B, take off performance, inflight performance, landing performance, OLB, QRH) with inter-app communication and it usually works quite well. And is very fast indeed, takes all of 20 to 30 seconds, so not really onerous on the users time.
Not only in theory, but also in practice one can update three apps at the same time if necessary, two in split screen (if the apps allow that) and one in slide over. It gets kinda crowded on the screen though, especially in the 10 inch (small) variants, much easier and better on the 13 inch ones but i haven't seen an airline issue those yet. Nor have i really seen the need for that.
Airbus actually does an update of all its different apps (W&B, take off performance, inflight performance, landing performance, OLB, QRH) with inter-app communication and it usually works quite well. And is very fast indeed, takes all of 20 to 30 seconds, so not really onerous on the users time.
Only half a speed-brake
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Thanks for all the answers. We seem to have some kind of MDM in place. While I understand the "side-by-side" update technique, it seems a bit "fiddly" and doesn't alleviate the need to call up all the apps while in reach of a friendly/fast network and check all of them for actually having run through their updates successfully.
While EASA requires a lot of detailed paperwork/analysis to approve apps, such aspects seem to be of lesser importance (as is dubious in-app usability).
While EASA requires a lot of detailed paperwork/analysis to approve apps, such aspects seem to be of lesser importance (as is dubious in-app usability).
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CA,
How would the 13 inch model be more effective?
My airline:
The maintenance release document must be paper. If international the master flight plan and plotting chart must be paper.
Other than that, the IPad and ACARS suffices. I don’t see ACARS paper going away for quite some time.
We have MDM on our iPads. We use Content for our manuals etc. Jepp FD pro for backup manuals. Another app for flight by flight backup charts to FD Pro. App updates are almost transparent and seemless. Our inflight internet access is very good and works 95% of the time (North America), turning the system off then on seems to fix the other times.
The biggest EFB problem I have noted is app updates and their improved features are communicated poorly to our pilot group. I find many pilots not taking advantage of what the iPad and flight related apps have to offer.
How would the 13 inch model be more effective?
My airline:
The maintenance release document must be paper. If international the master flight plan and plotting chart must be paper.
Other than that, the IPad and ACARS suffices. I don’t see ACARS paper going away for quite some time.
We have MDM on our iPads. We use Content for our manuals etc. Jepp FD pro for backup manuals. Another app for flight by flight backup charts to FD Pro. App updates are almost transparent and seemless. Our inflight internet access is very good and works 95% of the time (North America), turning the system off then on seems to fix the other times.
The biggest EFB problem I have noted is app updates and their improved features are communicated poorly to our pilot group. I find many pilots not taking advantage of what the iPad and flight related apps have to offer.
The 13” iPad would be welcome for a number of reasons.
As I am now older, and my eyes are not like they once were, the bigger screen would be great.
We operate into uncontrolled airports through Class G airspace, and the airspace design around our major airports is poor and requires us to maintain ourselves in CTR on decent.
The enroute chart function is difficult to read at the best of times, and the bigger screen would help to read off the CTA steps. (Or ATC could redesign the airspace, yeah, right)
SID/STAR/Taxi charts are getting bigger, equivalent to an old fold out page, and to fit them on the screen they become very small.
Being able to use split screen would be more user friendly on the bigger screen. (If I could get the bastard thing to work😩
As I am now older, and my eyes are not like they once were, the bigger screen would be great.
We operate into uncontrolled airports through Class G airspace, and the airspace design around our major airports is poor and requires us to maintain ourselves in CTR on decent.
The enroute chart function is difficult to read at the best of times, and the bigger screen would help to read off the CTA steps. (Or ATC could redesign the airspace, yeah, right)
SID/STAR/Taxi charts are getting bigger, equivalent to an old fold out page, and to fit them on the screen they become very small.
Being able to use split screen would be more user friendly on the bigger screen. (If I could get the bastard thing to work😩
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CaptainMongo
The 13 inch would be better because it has more real estate. In split screen, you could have a sort of reasonably sized approach chart on one side, and another app for whatever perf app or document reader on the other. The regular ipad is just too small for that.
To be clear, this is a limitation if we go paperless. if all you're using is one app at a time, the regular ipad works just fine.
The 13 inch would be better because it has more real estate. In split screen, you could have a sort of reasonably sized approach chart on one side, and another app for whatever perf app or document reader on the other. The regular ipad is just too small for that.
To be clear, this is a limitation if we go paperless. if all you're using is one app at a time, the regular ipad works just fine.
I am very surprised to hear the US airlines still use a plotting chart, I figure this a FAA requirement? (Genuine question, not having a go)
I haven’t used a plotting chart since about 2005 for international ops.
When we started 787 Ops in 2013, we carried paper Enroute charts, Destination and Alternate approach charts only. But they were fazed out to be completely paperless by 2015. (Except for the Tech Log and we printed the load sheet.)
We had onboard EFB plus each pilot had an iPad plus a spare.
I haven’t used a plotting chart since about 2005 for international ops.
When we started 787 Ops in 2013, we carried paper Enroute charts, Destination and Alternate approach charts only. But they were fazed out to be completely paperless by 2015. (Except for the Tech Log and we printed the load sheet.)
We had onboard EFB plus each pilot had an iPad plus a spare.
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From what i can see on the iPads i have used, not all apps do allow split screen functionality. At least on the 10 inch models, no idea if it is different on the bigger one. Importantly, quite some basic EFB apps do not allow to use split screen, like the FlySmart suite from Airbus, our document library app. LIDO on the other hand works both in slide over and in split screen. The slide over thing works with apps that do not allow split screen, for example i can check in a slide over LIDO window the distance on a runway chart for an intersection performance calculation. But to be honest, in most if not all cases the use case is one app at a time. The size of information displayed can be, thank god, usually very easy resized to fit ones ability to read
Would i take the larger one? Of course, but on the other hand i do understand that there needs to be a business case, especially if we talk about thousands of devices for a normal pilot pool.
Would i take the larger one? Of course, but on the other hand i do understand that there needs to be a business case, especially if we talk about thousands of devices for a normal pilot pool.
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Roj approved
I stand corrected. A paper plotting chart is no longer required as of less than two years ago, however a paper master flight plan currently is required. (I should know my limitations as a domestic pilot only…)
I stand corrected. A paper plotting chart is no longer required as of less than two years ago, however a paper master flight plan currently is required. (I should know my limitations as a domestic pilot only…)
