iPad Certified by the FAA for Use in Cockpit as Electronic Flight Bag

[Maura]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_o8r0UcGSlw[/ame]​

TUAW reports today that Jeppesen, the company that makes the paper and electronic “Jepp charts†that pilots use to plan before and during flights, has just has its iPad app authorised by the Federal Aviation Administration for use by charter operator Executive Jet Management. This means that the app, called the Jeppesen Mobile TC App for iPad, can now be used by that particular charter company in the cockpit instead of paper charts, and in fact, the ruling actually enables the company to use the iPad and the app as the sole electronic charts reference point in-flight. According to TUAW, Jeppesen, Executive Jet Management and regional and country-wide Electronic Flight Bag authorisation authorities have just spent three months evaluating iPad charts in-flight, with Executive Jet Management’s pilots undertaking over 250 flight segments using the app. Tests carried out include rapid decompression at 51,000 feet in altitude and non-interference testing. The authorisation requires that the iPad is fixed and viewable during important flight phases.

As TUAW notes, although this authorisation is only for one charter company, it could herald the beginning of the iPad becoming a mainstay in the cockpit, if all the other airlines start to adopt it as well, which seems a distinct possibility.

Source: TUAW: iPad receives FAA certification as an electronic flight bag

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

Thanks for this; I'm a PPL/IMC/Night so I'll certainly be looking into this.

Tim
Scotland

 

[col.bris]

Thanks for that now all I need is a new jet plane so I can try it....lol

 

[iPadCharlie]

I'll also be checking this out! Last December 15th was the 31st anniversary of the first time I was allowed to fly an airplane all by myself!

 

[beendala]

As TUAW notes, although this authorisation is only for one charter company, it could herald the beginning of the iPad becoming a mainstay in the cockpit, if all the other airlines start to adopt it as well,Thanks for this; I'm a PPL/IMC/Night so I'll certainly be looking into this.

 

[Prasius]

...and I can't see the UK CAA following this lead too soon.

I still wouldn't be comfortable without having paper charts as well, in the same way that I won't go onto the mountains without a map & compass as well as a GPS.

 

[Tim SPRACKLEN]

I agree; I don't think anyone would want to entirely rely on their iPad (or GPS) - the strength of the way in which navigation is organised for aviation is the successive fall-back position - lose GPS, then there's VOR, lose VOR then there's NDB etc...you never want to rely on just one navigation or approach method. But the iPad might be a great supplement.

Tim
Scotland

 

[lenrand]

Actually several 135 guys are using them w/ FAA/FSDO blessing and several of the 121 folks are looking at them. The key is that they are requiring 2 to guard against failure. This is really no different (really a LOT better) that the Windows tablet based EFBs they've allowed for years. Also with geo-location for approach plates and taxi diagrams it's really a big improvement in SA (check out the ForeFlight app for the iPad).

 

[wolf99]

woow amazing that

 

[scott95]

I think Jeppessen is really putting themselves out of business. I called and spoke with a sales rep yesterday and the cost of their "ipad app" is $787.00!! Plus, they won't offer the georeference function like foreflight and wingX do. Just my two cents but they are doing themselves any favors!