It's doubtful that even the late Steve Jobs would have seen this coming. The FAA has just approved the use of iPads as electronic flight bags for American Airlines' crews.
Jeppesen provides the software that American's iPads run.
Lots of airlines are trialling them, thousands of pilots use them unofficially, business aviation pilots organise their lives and work with iPads, general aviation pilots navigate with them
But this is the first really big official blessing for a new way of managing information in a cockpit.
Any modern laptop with the right app can do the job, so why the iPad?
Its compact tablet format, touch-screen control and one-touch access to a plethora of functions from flight information through performance calculation to charts make it easy to use in an environment where there's very little space and a lot going on. The iPad's long battery life and high definition display also help.
It's a no-brainer really. The question now remaining is whether anything more than a cockpit-dockable tablet computer is going to be required for the EFB function in the future.
on September 14, 2012 3:53 PM | Reply
Comments from AA B-757/67 Skipper David Saxton of KBOS to myself on this subject. I was operating CCA965/66 in the interim period cycle.
He is the forecast PIC of AAL171-wingletted-B-757 from KJFK to EBBR on Sat/Sun Sept 15/16. Speaking of David L's crossed straws, it is the only one of their fleet with single cue command bar flight directors, rather than dual cue precision straws, that I always grasp at, with gunsight precision. Lastly on CCA965 on EDDF's 25L yesterday @03:34Z, 9hrs 27mins ,off-on, in 2 km fog, very autumnal indeed, so early.
Also AAL are ending their KJFK-EBBR service in November, despite full loads. EK's Tim Clark and AA's Tom Horton have clearly been having talks as QF's Alan Joyce parted amicably with IAG's Willie Walsh.
I'll discuss this important issue with him over a glass or 17 then. Hoping for CAVOK then as it was in nearby Waterloo last Sunday.
-----Original Message-----
From: David Saxton [mailto:dosaxton@me.com]
Sent: mardi 11 septembre 2012 14:56
To: David Connolly
Cc: John Pagan Scott
Subject: Re: IPAD EFB
Can't Believe the iPad has finally been approved. Wow, no more revisions and Big Kit Bags!!
Glad the VOR or GPS 13 L or R was still on paper. Pagan has already shown me his Swiss Backpack for transporting EFB to the Upper Deck via Skinny Ladder, where no man could maneuver with a Big Kit Bag. Glad I held off buying one, AA is purchasing for all pilots a 16GB with AT&T service available. Room for lots of photos.....hmmm maybe a few from Belgium !
Sent from my iPhone
On Sep 11, 2012, at 2:28 AM, David Connolly wrote:
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Ansdell [mailto:p.ansdell@comcast.net]
> Sent: mardi 11 septembre 2012 00:11
> To: David Connolly; Frank Billand; john.hope@comcast.net
> Subject: IPAD EFB
>
> The (FAA) has approved American Airlines (AAL)'s expansion of its iPad
> Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) program, making it the first commercial carrier
> to receive (FAA) approval to use the iPad in the cockpit during all phases
> of flight.
>
> (AAL) pilots (FC) will use the (FAA)-approved Jeppesen iPad application to
> replace the 35-pound standard bag from each (AAL) airplane, which will save
> (AAL) an estimated $1.2 million of fuel annually.
>
> "This is a very exciting and important milestone for all of us at (AAL) as
> we work to modernize our processes and best meet the needs of our people,"
> said Captain John Hale, American's VP Flight. "With this approval from the
> (FAA), we will be able to use iPad to fully realize the benefits of our
> (EFB) program, including improving the work environment for our pilots (FC),
> reducing our dependency on paper products and increasing fuel efficiency on
> our airplanes. We are equipping our people with the best resources and this
> will allow our pilots (FC) to fly more efficiently."
>
> (AAL) said its pilots (FC) will begin using iPads immediately on its 777
> fleet, and expects to have (FAA) approval for use on all of its airplane
> types by the end of the year.
>
> Flight attendants (CA) on (AAL) flights have already begun using iPads on
> flights to give them better information about passengers and their travel
> needs.
>
> "Jeppesen mobile solutions will deliver our industry-leading flight
> information through the thousands of iPads that will be integrated by
> (AAL) in its operations," said Thomas Wede, Senior VP & General Manager of
> aviation at Jeppesen. "We fully support (AAL) in this process and our mobile
> data software solution will work to increase operational efficiency, enhance
> situational awareness and reduce airline costs."
>
>