"Buy a case for it" & "Update next month" - Apple Supervisor

[admanimal]

Correct. When we are taxiing, or doing any manual control manipulation, there are NO distractions. Above 10,000ft normally, we can stop being so attentive and relax a bit. At no time are people "texting and driving" or so to speak. I've been in the major airline business for 4 years and have never seen anything like that before. We are professional pilots, but more importantly we are SAFE pilots. That being said, I'll use my iPad and iPhone when appropriate to assist me in completing the flight on time, as safely as possible. (edit - for example, checking the instantaneous radar on my iPad just prior to departure to make sure I'm taking a clear path and wont be getting into trouble... etc)

Edit: And yes the Autopilot does a wonderful job. It can be engaged at 500ft above the ground, and disengaged at 200ft on approach and landing. It is pretty much idiot proof and does everything for you. You just have to crosscheck and make sure you program it and the flight management systems properly, and keep a watchful eye on what the airplane is doing. Just because "George" is flying, doesn't mean we can stop paying attention. We just relax. We still pay attention. We're just letting him do all the work! haha

Can any of the newer planes (e.g. 777) do a whole trip without any human control including T/O and landing, at least technically speaking even if it's not done in practice?

 

[thatsmyaibo]

Can any of the newer planes (e.g. 777) do a whole trip without any human control including T/O and landing, at least technically speaking even if it's not done in practice?

Takeoffs, not as common but a plane could be landed from the ground pretty flawlessly. An ILS approach is something we perform which lines up the plane with what is called a glidescope both horizontally and vertically and brings it to a safe landing altitude. I think it's only been done in extreme situations like that case where both pilots fell asleep.

Computers are a huge help in piloting a plane but the days where pilots are not needed will not come anytime soon. They are there to assist us.

 

[Built]

That's ridiculous. I've been a commercial pilot flying for a major US airline for 4 years and I've had my iPhone out and ready, and using it while moving on the taxiways getting updated radar images, reviewing data (my manuals are on my iphone and ipad) as pertinent to the operation, and of course my flight time logging is all managed by my iPhone. Electronics are authorized in the cockpit. Neither the OP or myself are breaking any regulations or putting the flying public at risk. We know the times to put the phone down and pay attention, and when to pick it up and resume gathering whatever data we were gathering.

Chill out - and stop acting like a moron.

I know for more than you can imagine about the workings of the cockpit...Don't assume.

I still don't believe the OP as he simply doesn't have the ring of truth.

BTW, you might want to review the TOS before you start telling others to chill out.

I certainly hope you are not this high-strung during your next FAA Physical or line check.

 

[admanimal]

I used to be pretty into Microsoft Flight Simulator, so I'm vaguely familiar with things like ILS, etc. I was just never entirely sure how many of the details are 100% accurate.

For example, is there really a cockpit setting that controls whether crashing actually does any damage to the airplane?

 

[Built]

I understand completely. I was hired by Mesa (yeah yeah I know) 3 years ago, and had a hell of a run there until I was laid off in January. Then I interviewed at my present company in February, started class in May, and I'm just finishing up my IOE stuff now.

If I didn't love flying so much I don't know why I do this. The money sucks, the time away from home sucks, being a reserve bitch sucks, the tiredness/fatigue sucks, and did I mention the money sucks? I made $24,000 on 3rd year F/O pay last year. Unbelievable. I don't blame you for going to ATC.

That explains a lot.

I hope you're a little less anxious during sterile than you're showing yourself to be on this forum.

 

[thatsmyaibo]

I know for more than you can imagine about the workings of the cockpit...Don't assume.

I still don't believe the OP as he simply doesn't have the ring of truth.

BTW, you might want to review the TOS before you start telling others to chill out.

I certainly hope you are not this high-strung during your next FAA Physical or line check.

Tell me what you don't believe and my motive behind saying what I said? First off, I never said I work for an airline. I do work for a charter company out of one of the busiest airports in the world and I am a certified pilot. Not hard to believe.

 

[Built]

Tell me what you don't believe and my motive behind saying what I said? First off, I never said I work for an airline. I do work for a charter company out of one of the busiest airports in the world and I am a certified pilot. Not hard to believe.

Just what I thought...Part 135...Cessna 402, perhaps?

Your inference was otherwise, and you were perfectly willing to allow others to believe you were on big iron.

 

[thatsmyaibo]

Just what I thought...Part 135...Cessna 402, perhaps?

How does that make my original post less valid? My post stated that I use an iPhone in the cockpit of a plane and this turned into an S storm. Whether it be a 172 or a Citation, it is fully legal and safe to use an iPhone or iPad in the cockpit.

 

[churchrd]

I'm fascinated that you guys are able to use a consumer product(iphone or ipad) to aid you in your line of work. It really is amazing to me the technology that we all have access to. I love the fact that developers are making apps that are changing how we work, or accomplish our work. I love it, it's awesome.

OP, if what the Apple Supervisor told you is true, Apple could be underestimating the backlash. The media and fandroids will be all over this, unless there is a fix soon. And no, having to buy a bumper is not a "fix".



Here's to hoping for a real response from Apple soon.

 

[Built]

I'm fascinated that you guys are able to use a consumer product(iphone or ipad) to aid you in your line of work. It really is amazing to me the technology that we all have access to. I love the fact that developers are making apps that are changing how we work, or accomplish our work. I love it, it's awesome.

OP, if what the Apple Supervisor told you is true, Apple could be underestimating the backlash. The media and fandroids will be all over this, unless there is a fix soon. And no, having to buy a bumper is not a "fix".



Here's to hoping for a real response from Apple soon.

The weather apps are often more accurate and timely than what Ops or Dispatch can provide. We've often found out we were cancelled during an off-schedule operation from a passenger's internet-enabled cell while on the ground...when Ops tell us we are still going.

 

[thatsmyaibo]

I'm fascinated that you guys are able to use a consumer product(iphone or ipad) to aid you in your line of work. It really is amazing to me the technology that we all have access to. I love the fact that developers are making apps that are changing how we work, or accomplish our work. I love it, it's awesome.

OP, if what the Apple Supervisor told you is true, Apple could be underestimating the backlash. The media and fandroids will be all over this, unless there is a fix soon. And no, having to buy a bumper is not a "fix".



Here's to hoping for a real response from Apple soon.

Thanks for your respectful post and getting back on topic. The reason I brought this up is because of all the posts that say there will be an update tomorrow or that bumpers are being given away for free. Both were denied today.

I know a supervisor isn't the final word for the company but I assume that they must have some true info that is being given to them to handle the influx of upset customers.

 

[firewood]

Um, you hold your iphone in your left hand while you control the plane with your right hand? Uh, what airline do you fly for?

Airlines fly IFR. The plane is on auto-pilot the vast majority of the flight, so you don't want to touch the controls if you are on course (unless the TCAS alarm goes off, you see a squall line on your nose, or something).

On small planes, you just need the operator's (usually the pilot) permission to play with electronics. If you are the pilot...

 

[Built]

Airlines fly IFR. The plane is on auto-pilot the vast majority of the flight, so you don't want to touch the controls if you are on course (unless the TCAS alarm goes off, you see a squall line on your nose, or something).

On small planes, you just need the operator's (usually the pilot) permission to play with electronics. If you are the pilot...

A TCAS warning can really ruin your morning. Talk about getting your pulse rate going.

What's that they say about hours of boredom punctuated by moments of sheer terror?

 

[macbook yes]

If you take your hands of the yoke in a plane it won't go crazy or fall out of the sky.

This has turned out to be one of the funniest threads I have ever read on this board. I don't understand why everyone decided to freak out when the OP mentioned using an iPhone while in the cockpit. Do people really believe that there is one pilot with their hands at the controls at all times during the 11 hour flights?

 

[tigress666]

Just giving you a hard time here but...

Do you get cell service at that altitude? And, if you do, why do we all have to turn off our phones?

If you don't get cell service, than the "holding the phone in your left hand" thing wouldn't be an issue.

From what I understand it messes with some navigation instrument. Not a big deal in a small plane where the pilot can be aware that some one's cell phone could be messing with his instrument so knows not to trust it. Can be a big deal in a commercial plane where the pilot is unaware.

I also know that if you recieve a call on the cellphone, it really creates annoying buzz noise in the earpieces (or something that transmits through the headphones).

And yeah, I echo the pilots do a lot of chart referring and such when flying (my roommate is a pilot and has taken me on quite a few flights).

 

[Built]

This has turned out to be one of the funniest threads I have ever read on this board. I don't understand why everyone decided to freak out when the OP mentioned using an iPhone while in the cockpit. Do people really believe that there is one pilot with their hands at the controls at all times during the 11 hour flights?

The OP is Part 135. He doesn't do 11 hour flights. While data from an iPhone, as I stated before, can provide better and more up-to-date information, the fact is that this guy is not flying 300 people around at a time.

Things are MUCH more casual with the typical Part 135 operator.

 

[thatsmyaibo]

From what I understand it messes with some navigation instrument. Not a big deal in a small plane where the pilot can be aware that some one's cell phone could be messing with his instrument so knows not to trust it. Can be a big deal in a commercial plane where the pilot is unaware.

I also know that if you recieve a call on the cellphone, it really creates annoying buzz noise in the earpieces (or something that transmits through the headphones).

And yeah, I echo the pilots do a lot of chart referring and such when flying (my roommate is a pilot and has taken me on quite a few flights).

Now imagine those charts in the palm of your hand. It's a lot safer and less of a mess.

 

[Built]

Now imagine those charts in the palm of your hand. It's a lot safer and less of a mess.

...and there's a LOT less room in a Cessna cockpit.

 

[megsalias]

Technically, Thursday is "next month", so even if that's true, a fix of some sort may not be far off. The rep I spoke to said Monday though. I'm sure they'll get something...at least an announcement out pretty soon.

 

[malbright]

Velcro?

 

[thatsmyaibo]

The OP is Part 135. He doesn't do 11 hour flights. While data from an iPhone, as I stated before, can provide better and more up-to-date information, the fact is that this guy is not flying 300 people around at a time.

Things are MUCH more casual with the typical Part 135 operator.

I agree with you completely. But a cockpit is a cockpit and I use my iPhone in the cockpit. I don't understand why you keep trying to call me out about how many people I fly. That's irrelevant to my post or the conversation I had with the Apple rep. I was just defending the safety of the use of an iPhone in the cockpit.

And even regional and international carriers have it pretty casual. A former coworker of mine works as FO for continental now and he uses a laptop in flight. Worse than an iPhone in my opinion. And no matter how large the plane you fly is, the FAA rules are all the same. It's airline company policy that restricts what you can do in the cockpit.

 

[The Mad Mule]

Taking this thread back momentarily to the thread title, I sure as heck hope that a software fix will at least be announced tomorrow.

Oh, tomorrow is today already. By one minute.

 

[Daremo]

"Update next month"

Considering rumors have it set for this week, and "next month" is this Thursday, I'd say it just may be the case.

 

[thatsmyaibo]

Considering rumors have it set for this week, and "next month" is this Thursday, I'd say it just may be the case.

I sure hope so. I was just worried that it wasn't stated as "next week". I'm crossing mynfingers for an update this week.

 

[tigress666]

Now imagine those charts in the palm of your hand. It's a lot safer and less of a mess.

Heh, that's the one reason my roommate *almost* wants an ipad (and he's sure his dad would buy one soon as he saw some program my roommate was showing me for the ipad).

But my roommate only wants a wifi ipad he could tether to his iphone (it's not worth it to him if he has to pay extra for tethering). So, no ipad for him.