LimaFoxTango

It's really been a long while and the research was partial (no need to look further), but web<nospace>manuals<dot>aero always impressed me with how much bang that actually works you'd get for the buck. However, no glossy leaflets, customer appreciation dinners and upbeat regional sales managers posting happy birthday wishes on your LinkedIn.

LimaFoxTango

I have by no means a real overview. However, depending on apps the airline uses they might include document distribution. For example the Airbus app suite includes the whole document set for each airplane in the operators fleet in the database and all airbus documentation. However, to customize it is rather costly.

LIDO, if one uses their charting service, can include the whole route manual part of the documents, freeing the company from keeping that updated by themselves, i bet competing companies offer something similar. And then of course companies usually want to use a general document distribution system that is independent of third party companies. I have used in the past inhouse delivered systems that actually worked very well indeed, only available on the private company app store (Apple does allow other than its own app store for commercial users), and for a short while Docunet from, i belive Vistair, which worked OKish but required the user to manually update the documents instead of automatic push-updating. There are likely a lot of different solutions out there, and it can make sense, if you have a competent IT department, do create your own solution catering for any special needs each company has.

IMHO - the iPad is a terrific piece of kit used in the cockpit, all previous comments understood. One of the best apps that I've come across (and admittedly I am perhaps biased as I create .pdf eForms alongside the 'day job'!) is Readdle's Fluix and as an stand-alone option - PDF Expert. Fluix especially, as the workflows, JavaScript supported capability, Sync. and other functions - makes it a breeze to update and deploy, receive completed documents like; Journey Log, Loading Forms, Cabin Forms, - all of them! and all manuals can be 'loaded' as well. Don't think the larger size iPad is necessarily a requisite, you can always 'pinch n zoom', set larger text fonts, side-by-side display (that is a little tough on the smaller screen real estate admittedly). And the iPad as a platform has plenty of supporting documentation from app providers like Jeppesen, that if say using EASA Part-SPA EFB - makes life a lot easier in gaining NAA approval of use, apps also.

All in all, I love the iPad - simple to use - and they don't get much simpler than me ;-).