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Marine Corps and Civilian Aircrews Replacing Maps With iPads
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My god you're right. Thank god that planes don't use complex computers and electronics just to stay in the air at any given moment, and just about everything else.
This is great, but let's hope they didn't forget to charge the iPad before take off... And also, let's hope they have another iPad handy in the cock pit in case the one they're using dies....
Personally I don't care if all those things happen, as long as the autopilot keep on working.
Way to compare apples to oranges, modern planes can't function without computers. Maps on the other hand work exceptionally well and continue to work when wet, shot, and after weeks without power.
Ipad(s) for pilots fine, but I wouldn't wan't to rely on something like this as a ground soldier.
For everyone worrying about battery life, y'all do realize that as long as the engines are running (and for a good while after thanks to things called batteries) the aircraft is generating electricity.
The kind that can be used to charge an iPad.
The kind that can be used to charge an iPad.
Nice case!
Wow. If I had 14 iPads that I needed to transport all together, I'd get that cool Pelican case. (I have several Pelican cigars cases already, and they're excellent.)
Wow. If I had 14 iPads that I needed to transport all together, I'd get that cool Pelican case. (I have several Pelican cigars cases already, and they're excellent.)
That's pretty cool.
Kind of funny that ipads will soon help people kill other people though. Go figure.
Also, while these ipads are pretty useful (or extremely useful, probably), I'm pretty sure that any soldier with half a brain (or an important mission) will still have an old fashioned map as a backup.
Maybe they'll make some special ruggedized ipads for the military eventually...
Kind of funny that ipads will soon help people kill other people though. Go figure.
Also, while these ipads are pretty useful (or extremely useful, probably), I'm pretty sure that any soldier with half a brain (or an important mission) will still have an old fashioned map as a backup.
Maybe they'll make some special ruggedized ipads for the military eventually...
A few notes:
Such devices have been in use since at least 2000, using PC and other tablets. One primary difference with the iPad is its price. Another is that it must be stowed during takeoff and landing, and cannot connect to the airplane's systems like some other, more expensive, certified devices.
Re: MIL SPEC. Yes, it will be interesting to see how Apple reacts to someone trying to get warranty work on an iPad full of sand, or with its moisture sensors triggered from being near water all the time.
True story about using non-mil parts: Decades ago the military budget was tight, so we made sure that everyone in our unit had a Radio Shack Battery-of-the-Month Club card when stateside, so we would have plenty of spare D cells to run our backpack EW radios when we deployed to the field.
Re: airplane interference. If you read the anonymous ASRS reports to NASA, there's been plenty of reports of interference over the years, from navigation to autopilots. Not to mention getting that ridiculous GSM buzz in the headphones of some older planes. I say, better safe than sorry.
Such devices have been in use since at least 2000, using PC and other tablets. One primary difference with the iPad is its price. Another is that it must be stowed during takeoff and landing, and cannot connect to the airplane's systems like some other, more expensive, certified devices.
Re: MIL SPEC. Yes, it will be interesting to see how Apple reacts to someone trying to get warranty work on an iPad full of sand, or with its moisture sensors triggered from being near water all the time.
True story about using non-mil parts: Decades ago the military budget was tight, so we made sure that everyone in our unit had a Radio Shack Battery-of-the-Month Club card when stateside, so we would have plenty of spare D cells to run our backpack EW radios when we deployed to the field.
Re: airplane interference. If you read the anonymous ASRS reports to NASA, there's been plenty of reports of interference over the years, from navigation to autopilots. Not to mention getting that ridiculous GSM buzz in the headphones of some older planes. I say, better safe than sorry.
Having been in the military for over 2 decades, I'm glad to see troops getting equipment that is actually useful for once.
Assuming the iPad wireless connectivity is cut off and these can only use certified apps, I'm guessing they are also SCIF certified. It will be interesting to see these being used in the field. Looks like Navy/Marines with iPads and Army with Android.
Assuming the iPad wireless connectivity is cut off and these can only use certified apps, I'm guessing they are also SCIF certified. It will be interesting to see these being used in the field. Looks like Navy/Marines with iPads and Army with Android.
Yeah... and please do know that just as iPads can get broken... maps can tear! Well, if we don't appreciate technology... one most probably won't be sending e-mails... it would be smoke-mails.
People should just memorize the maps because as mentioned maps can tear, they can burn, they can be damaged by bullets and explosions.
Memorize everything so there is no risk of something getting damaged! Unless you get killed, at which point it doesn't matter.
Memorize everything so there is no risk of something getting damaged! Unless you get killed, at which point it doesn't matter.
Does not apply to devices which have been tested and approved under a Part 121 or 135 OpSpec. Also does not apply to devices on Part 91 flights with the flight crew's permission, so it's a non-issue.
You are entirely wrong.
This is great, but let's hope they didn't forget to charge the iPad before take off... And also, let's hope they have another iPad handy in the cock pit in case the one they're using dies....
Our OpSpec for using 'Electronic Flight Bags' on our Part 135 (charter) flights is that we must have 2 devices (1 for each crewmember), plus an on-board printer so that if one device fails the other can be used to print paper copies of the necessary approach charts on the spot, OR completely paperless if there is a third device switched off and stored so that if some electrical event disabled 2 devices the third one could be pulled out and turned on.
Not necessarily, see above. I fly frequently with only electronic charts.
- ForeFlight is the absolute best right now.
- WingX has a few nice features, but everyone I know who's tried it goes to ForeFlight pretty soon.
- Jeppesen Mobile TC only has approach plates right now, but will soon have enroute charts, at which point it will probably become the preferred solution for airlines and all non-US operators (ForeFlight has US charts only).
- Lufthansa LIDO is what one US airline uses, but is not widely used in the US yet since it doesn't have full coverage.
5 bucks says an iPad couldn't survive basis mil-spec hardware qualification testing.
Let's see how well an iPad holds up when being slammed with RF jamming equipment.
Not to mention the 3 foot drop test onto concrete, condensing humidity testing, water impingement, fungus / mold growth testing, UV exposure, gamma exposure, -40C operating temp...
Screw that, 10 bucks!
Let's see how well an iPad holds up when being slammed with RF jamming equipment.
Not to mention the 3 foot drop test onto concrete, condensing humidity testing, water impingement, fungus / mold growth testing, UV exposure, gamma exposure, -40C operating temp...
Screw that, 10 bucks!
To each his own, I guess. But I don't know why you'd not want to be prepared. Maybe a VFR flight you've done a million times, I don't know. But I want my charts and my whiz wheel and my handheld on every flight.