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HUGE news for iPad!

PracticalMac

PracticalMac

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Jan 22, 2009
2,857
5,246
Houston, TX
The FAA has authorized Executive Jet Management to use the Jeppesen Mobile TC App for the iPad as an alternative to paper aeronautical charts.
Click to expand...

This is the first step for "Electronic Flight Bags" to be used by Airline Pilots to better manage the paperwork blizzard pilots face during their flights, and increase safety.
It has been a dream for years to have such a thing, and now it is reality!

It also makes iPad acceptable for all manner of transportation duties, not just airplanes because a Federal agency says so.

It's not to airline level yet, but it is big first step.

http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articl...rts.html?WT.mc_id=110218epilot&WT.mc_sect=gan


Edit:
FAA Regulations for the use of:
AC 120-76A.pdf

AC 91_78.pdf

And suggestion for better use if iPad/iPhone as EFB
http://www.aviationconsumer.com/issues/41_12/accessories/6096-1.html
 
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I hope if I'm on a plane, the pilot that is flying that day doesn't get a pop-up notification while he is checking his chart (blocking the middle of the screen).
 
While interesting I wonder about a couple of things. What happens if your battery dies or if you break your iPad mid-flight?
 
That's the dumbest thing yet. You know those pilots are going to be surfing the web and playing Fruit Ninja.
 
PracticalMac said:
This is the first step for "Electronic Flight Bags" to be used by Airline Pilots to better manage the paperwork blizzard pilots face during their flights, and increase safety.
It has been a dream for years to have such a thing, and now it is reality!
Click to expand...
Good news!

I hope things keep progressing in this area.
 
This is great news. Paper charts are in pita. I wonder if they'll allow the iPad to replace a flashlight for night flights...:apple:
 
It's already pretty common in the corporate aviation world. The company I fly for has been testing one to see if we like it. We still have to carry a paper backup in Canada, but it's still a whole lot easier to use than the paper charts. It sounds like in the US you can go paper less if you have a backup battery source, or possibly 2 Ipads, I'm not quite sure of the rules there. Regardless, most crews I see both have one. It's a great tool for flightplanning and checking weather, communicating with dispatch and so on.
I'm hoping my company go's ahead and buys me one, as I can't justify it on my own at the moment.
 
blackberrypilot said:
This is great news. Paper charts are in pita. I wonder if they'll allow the iPad to replace a flashlight for night flights...:apple:
Click to expand...

Nothing beats a flashlight if you need to see in a corner or inside something. Too hard for an iPad to do, lifting it up and such.
 
As someone who has a passion for aviation and flying in general this is really exciting news for me.

I am sure pilots with have a hardcopy backup just in case the iPad fails in flight.
 
ucfgrad93 said:
While interesting I wonder about a couple of things. What happens if your battery dies or if you break your iPad mid-flight?
Click to expand...
I'm guessing the pilot and co-pilot will simply plug their iPad's in.

As for a pilot breaking his iPad? 1. Auto-pilot 2. Radio navigation 3. Paper-charts will likely remain within the cockpit, for emergencies.
 
PracticalMac said:
This is the first step for "Electronic Flight Bags" to be used by Airline Pilots to better manage the paperwork blizzard pilots face during their flights, and increase safety.
It has been a dream for years to have such a thing, and now it is reality!
Click to expand...

Electronic Flight Bags have been a reality for over a decade. They are usually based on Microsoft tablet PCs, so it's interesting (but not surprising) that someone used an iPad instead.

FAA approval is only needed for flight-for-hire operations. A private pilot can use a PC or an iPad on their own authority.

Class 1 Type B approvals like this are almost the lowest type. It's strapped to your knee or perhaps yoke during use. It's not hooked to the aircraft's instruments, but can use aircraft power.

PBF said:
Why should I, consumer, care? Enlighten me, por favor.
Click to expand...

Your pilot could be less distracted with this, than trying to find and read a smaller paper approach plate. Like paper, the electronic would still need to be the latest update of course.
 
PracticalMac said:
This is the first step for "Electronic Flight Bags" to be used by Airline Pilots to better manage the paperwork blizzard pilots face during their flights, and increase safety.
It has been a dream for years to have such a thing, and now it is reality!

It also makes iPad acceptable for all manner of transportation duties, not just airplanes because a Federal agency says so.

It's not to airline level yet, but it is big first step.

http://www.aopa.org/aircraft/articl...rts.html?WT.mc_id=110218epilot&WT.mc_sect=gan
Click to expand...
In an plane, the iPad, or any other tablet/elecronic device, will NEVER replace paper, only accompany it.
 
Well I wouldn't call this huge news.

Yeah good news for those aviation type folks, but for the rest of the unwashed masses, it means nothing at all.
 
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