Here’s an interesting little titbit that comes from the tech channels, with news that Federal Aviation Administration has granted permission to American Airlines to let its pilots use iPads in the cockpit in all phases of flight.
The main use for these on the flight deck will be documentation – an Electronic Flight Bag to replace the current paper based system which AA hopes will save it US$1.2 million a year – in fuel.
Now whilst this is all well and good at the front of the plane, down the back, you will still be required to turn it off for the safety critical phases of flight (to much moaning of some), but remember, iPads, iPhones, cameras etc at lower altitudes and at turbulence become wonderfully heavy and nastily shaped projectiles if they slip out of the hand. The other darn good reason is so that you’re alert when you touch down in case you have evacuate the plane in an emergency
Call it better safe than sorry.
American Airlines will start to use iPads in its Boeing 777 aircraft immediately and plans to stop issuing paper flight manuals for all of its fleet in early 2013. Cabin Crew will also be seeing them during tests as well for passenger data needs (as British Airways has rolled out).