[FullRangeMan]

Airline pilots will use Ipads, no more paper flight manuals:
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/10/the-f-a-a-flip-flop-on-electronics-continues/
But you, passenger can not use Ipads, phones or games etc...
This is interesting news...

[SlushPuppy]

My company has been providing flight plans, weather briefings, customs paperwork and much more to iPad users for almost two years now. Almost every flight package we send out has at least one delivery customized for iPad viewing. It's much cooler than carrying around a 40 page fax 

[mr_bill]

Alaska Airlines has been doing the Ipad with pilots for awhile now.

[wilsynet]

Here's an update to the earlier article:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/12/30/f-a-a-rules-make-electronic-devices-on-planes-dangerous/

[Tubeburner]

All of this is presently being tested and will be the norm in the future. Wifi will be on the new planes. You are dealing with a government entity(FAA) and who wants to bring down a plane for the sake of using your Ipad or device just for your selfish convenience. 

[FullRangeMan]

When pilots use iPads it is safe and when passengers use ipads is dangerous and they are arrest and sued.

[Tubeburner]

Is the Ipad on WiFi or is it used as a flight bag only? I don't know the scenario. The new planes have an on board flight bag built in. Are the Ipads used in the air or just for initial flight information? I don't know who broke the rules and was prosecuted. If the FAA has the rule, then we have to follow. It will change one day when the testing is done.

[randytsuch]

They have been using laptops as EFB's for years, an IPAD is just a variation of that (at least IMHO).

And I see the argument that there could be a difference between a couple, or even 10 iPAD's in use by the crew versus hundreds in use by the passengers (exageration but it could happen).

Myself, although I doubt using an iPAD or a laptop would cause a problem during takeoff or landing, I would rather turn them off for 10 mins versus taking a chance that it could cause a problem.

Randy

[wilsynet]

I think it's fine that they're testing this stuff now.

But it should be noted that the FAA has no evidence that 1 or 100 or 1000 iPads, iPhones, Androids, Kindles, etc pose any risk at all.  While its fine to say "I'd rather turn it off for 10 minutes rather than cause an accident", its disengenuous that the FAA is saying it could pose a danger when there is no evidence, none, nada, zilch which suggests any danger at all.

How about we ban blue jeans and corduroy pants from flights?  How do we know denim and corduroy don't pose problems for sensitive navigation equipment?  Better to ban denim than to cause an accident.

Anyway, glad they're looking at it.

[sharpsuxx]

It is probably more for liability than any legitimit safety, they don't want you disengaged and with headphones in or chatting it up on your cell while they are giving a pre flight safety briefing.  Makes sense to me with the way some people use their electronics these days.

[Guy 13]

Hi all Audio Circle members.
So, important information will be on the pilot's iPad.
What happen if the iPad stop working, battery problem, crash of the memory chip, etc...
Printed (Hard copy) manual, don't stop working,
unles there a fire and if there's afire,
then the printed manual will be usuless because the airplane will have crashed...
Yes to iPad, but with somejind of printed manual as back up.
I also agree to turn off all electronic devices on take off and landing.

Guy 13

[jtwrace]

What happen if the iPad stop working, battery problem, crash of the memory chip, etc...

It's an Apple product so that never happens.     If it did though, I'm sure they have a cloud.   

[Guy 13]

It's an Apple product so that never happens.     If it did though, I'm sure they have a cloud.   

Hi jtwrace and all Audio Circle members.
Is that something new?
Is that something that only apply to Apple products.
Any product that can go wrong, will go wrong one day !
To me, that includes Apple products.
My iPod went wrong a few weeks back, there you go, you see !

Guy 13

[golfugh]

Just some info:

All new aircraft have some form of an EFB (Electronic Flight Bag).  A lot of airlines are retrofitting there older aircraft with EFBs due to ease of updating the database (departure, arrival and approach procedures change regularly).  All aircraft are required to have accessible paper copy backups in the event of EFB failure.

The Ipad has not been approved by the FAA for EFB use as of yet in commercial airlines, it will/should be once testing is complete.  The choice of an Ipad for use in aviation will be up to the individual airline after approval.  Jeppesen and LIDO (Lufthansa) are 2 of the major databases available for use and they both have Ipad apps for their respective database.

IMO an EFB is way better than digging through tons of paper in the complex airport environment (think JFK, Charles De Gaulle. etc.), it is also safer.

PS: I fly for a major cargo carrier.  The reason you are not allowed to use your Ipad after the door is closed until above 10000 feet, or when below 10000 feet is safety (in the event of a return to base for an emergency they don't want your cranium buried in a movie, etc.)

[Don_S]

Does anybody know if pilots and copilots actually use an iPad while taking off and landing?  My thoughts are that at those times they are hands firmly on the steering wheel at the 10 and 2 o'clock positions with eyes forward or on the control panel.

In CA it is illegal to text and drive.  Same makes sense for pilots. I think arguments comparing pilots and passengers using iPads during take off and landing may be moot.

Also it is probably a good idea to have heavy electronic equipment firmly stowed during take off and landing. Flying iPads anyone? 

Lets hope they also refrain from using iMaps. 

[golfugh]

Don_S, The short answer is NO.  The EFB is within sight, but not being looked at during critical phases of flight.

[FullRangeMan]

DON_S: In most theses airliners there is no more steering wheel, the previous generation had a joystick yet.

Someone guesses what the real reason to prohibit passengers from using electronic equip??

[golfugh]

Fullrangeman

There is either a yoke (your steering wheel) or a side stick controller (your joystick) in ALL commercial aircraft.

The side stick is that thing by his left arm in the photo.

[FullRangeMan]

OK, sorry my fault.