Charter Co. gets approval to use iPad as EGB

[bretthullrampage]

Edit title should read EFB...sorry for the typo.

Jeppesen, the company that produces most of the paper and electronic "Jepp charts" used by pilots for preflight planning and inflight navigation, announced late last week that jet charter operator Executive Jet Management has received authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration to use the Jeppesen Mobile TC App for iPad as an alternative to paper charts. According to online aviation website AvStop, this authorization allows Executive Jet Management to use the app and iPad as the sole reference for electronic charts at all times during a flight. Jeppesen, Executive Jet Management and local and national Electronic Flight Bag authorization authorities recently completed a three-month in-flight evaluation of the iPad-based solution. During the evaluation, pilots for the charter operator logged more than 250 flight segments using the app.
The configuration that was authorized by the FAA is a Class 1 portable kneeboard electronic flight bag solution, meaning that the iPad needs to be secured and viewable during critical flight phases. The iPad tests even included a rapid decompression test to 51,000 feet in altitude and successful non-interference testing on the evaluation aircraft.
While the authorization is only for one jet charter operator, this could signal a move for rapid acceptance of the iPad in the cockpit by airlines.

http://www.tuaw.com/2011/02/13/ipad-receives-faa-certification-as-an-electronic-flight-bag/

 

[EIR]

It's quite amazing how fast aviation gadgets are evolving. It feels like yesterday when handheld gps' were the latest and greatest.

 

[Air Pirate]

It totally is. I never would've imagined this as a student pilot 10 yrs ago. Since getting my iPad in August, I honestly haven't touched a paper chart since then, with the exception of the VFR corridor panel on the LA Terminal. It would be nice if ForeFlight could figure out a way to integrate that.

 

[Ayork62493]

I prefere old fashioned. I think all of this new stuff takes away the actual skill needed to fly. But that's just my opinion.

 

[Ollie]

I prefere old fashioned. I think all of this new stuff takes away the actual skill needed to fly. But that's just my opinion.

That's probably what Orville said when he heard about the aileron.

It doesn't mean that you have to fly with it, just that it's another available option and a pretty cool one at that.

 

[Ayork62493]

That's probably what Orville said when he heard about the aileron.

It doesn't mean that you have to fly with it, just that it's another available option and a pretty cool one at that.

I've never seen an Ipad in real life so I don't really know what to expect. I'm sure it is freakin sweet though and if I had the money I'd probably use it. For pre-flight information mainly

 

[Screaming_Emu]

I prefere old fashioned. I think all of this new stuff takes away the actual skill needed to fly. But that's just my opinion.

I can see what you're saying when you talk about glass cockpits and all but I think I'll have to disagree. Most accidents aren't caused by stick and rudder deficiency. They're caused by poor decision making. Learning how to use (or when not to) all these neat gadgets properly can greatly increase SA which makes it easier to make informed decisions. I will agree that many people use technology as a crutch. But when used correctly it helps a lot. This would be amazing if this tied into ACARS allowing a permanent and up to date display of the weather, a basically live chat with the dispatcher, and a million things I'm sure I've not even thought of.

 

[MidlifeFlyer]

I've never seen an Ipad in real life so I don't really know what to expect. I'm sure it is freakin sweet though and if I had the money I'd probably use it. For pre-flight information mainly

Hard to say what you would use it for when you've never seen one and do't know what to expect.

Just flew with one last weekend. I'll hang on for a while until I'm a little more confortable about it, but paper charts are probably a thing of the past for me.

 

[HeyEng]

We have been using them in the C-5M simulator recently. The technology is simply awesome. The AF is looking at a similar product (Apple isn't cooperating too much ) to use in the real airplane. Very cool...