Loading ...
Honestly, the current iPad is not for me. I have an Apple Macbook Pro that I can not do without, but it has a keyboard and more features like USB ports and a CD/DVD drive that are essential in my mind. However, I finally found a use for the iPad that has made it more attractive. FAA/NOS charts in their typical paper form can be burdensome to flip through while flying a single-pilot aircraft. Although I’m used to using Fltplan.com to print out the charts I’ll need for each individual flight for easier access, I believe downloading charts to the iPad would be very efficient and they can be permanently stored for future use.
An application called ForeFlight is currently available for immediate use. Not only are the approach plates available, but VFR/IFR charts, airport maps, and flight rules are as well.
This provides for a less cluttered and more organized cockpit, which I believe to enable less fondling several paper charts and more attention can be given to flying the airplane. I believe the iPad would be a great supplement to have in addition to hard copies of the paper aeronautical charts, which should be kept up to date and stored in the aircraft at all times to be considered legal.
13 Responses to “Apple iPad in the Cockpit”
What a fantastic blog for people who love aviation!!! Congratulations!!!
Please visit a portuguese blog which shows aerial picturesfrom Portugal taken during my flights:
Third Dimension – Aerial Photography from Portugal
Thanks
Thanks for the app recommendation! I have been looking for one. I feel the same about the iPad, with many people suggesting that using it for charts would be great. People need to remember, like you said, to keep hard copies to stay legal.
Laura Thompson
CFI, CFII
UsedAirplanes.com
I think that this app is a revelation simply because it can save lives.
The pilot needs to stay focused on flying the plane.not to mention also that it is gonna save trees.
As far as staying legal with FAA rules and regulations Laura i cannot argue your point that is absolutely right.
Wow, very impressive. It’s nice to know that the ipad can be used for more than just entertainment
It is great whenever i stumble on a superb blog post like this. Getting a tad tired with the garbage posts some writers write on their blogs. Continue the good work. You have a regular subscriber now!!
I spoke with an FAA official about the electronic charting on the iPad in July during EAA Oshkosh. He stated that it is fully legal to use the iPad for charting exclusively and that you are not required to cary paper charts in the aircraft as long as you keep a spare fully charged external iPad battery while in flight. Chart downloads are free from the FAA website.
We have replaced ALL the charts in our Lear with two iPads (64GB Wifi/3G). We are using the Foreflight app which costs approx. $130 for two tablets and one phone per year. Yes, charts are available free from the FAA or fltplan.com or…, but only as individual downloads, not as databases. (If I am misinformed here, please let me know!!)
FWIW, with a little research, I have found all the Pilot’s Guides or User Manuals for all the equipment in the airplane (wx radar, FCS, Flite Phone, FMS, EFIS, etc.) and am looking into an e-AFM and e-POM. The .pdf files have to be loaded into the iBooks app. We will gain back tons of real estate in the airplane, save 70+ pounds (mostly from Jepps) and the iPads pay for themselves in less than 2-years of Jepp subscriptions.
Curious if two iPads equals one with a spare battery? If anyone can site some official FAA sources (written that is), I would be grateful!
Ipad in the cockpit is a must have if you ask me. I have an Ipod Touch and it does everything you would ever need in the cockpit. An Ipad would be the same if not better. Please visit my blog to see some good deals in Ipads and alot of other cool stuff.
Thanks for that facts, were looking a few days just for this.
Notify NTSB is another great app for pilots in the APP Store. One of those you hope you never need but glad you do when and if you ever need it.
Rudy,
For the other documents, try our Aviation Docs app – we have fleets with several thousand documents loaded on their iPads, and it’s a completely wireless, AC-91-78 compliant load.
I am a software developer interested in creating the best tool for the cockpit.
I know there are currently many systems like the Garmin 696, and combinations of various software (ForeFlight, Xwing) with the iPad.
Do you think you can build a better system and application? I think so.
Please spend 12 minutes on the following survey to help me understand your needs and your thoughts on the limitations of existing solutions.
http://kellogg.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0i9J5FSxbYZryUk
i need which manuals or which features that the ipad application have… or what kind of application we need for that ipad? even i love aviation n i wanna know about flight manual n operation of pilots… if anybody know pls forward it to my mail anandh.kdm@gmail.com.
advance thanks…