Friday, December 31, 2010

FAA approves the iPad for pilots in-flight

The next time you're on an airplane, think about this story, and realize that technology is advancing so quickly, every day. Some pilots are using iPads while they're in the air. 

Pilot jeff curl has a one-and-a-half pound piece of cargo on board his lear jet that's helping change the face of aviation.   

"I knew it would come," he said. "Yeah, I saw it coming."   

A Tablet of titanium and technology that's putting pilots at ease. 

"I have the worldwide charts on the iPad right now. It's available with just a couple of finger swipes or touches."   

The FAA has approved the iPad's use, as long as it's strictly a secondary tool, along with the traditional paper charts.   

"I can see the route structure and decide what kind of route I want to file. I can also just pull up my radar, and see that I probably don't want to just go straight, 'cuz I've got a huge line of thunderstorms." 
 
Captain Curl says the technology will also help private and commercial airlines track maintenance problems on their fleets. it could eventually cut down on travel delays by saving pilots time.   

"It's collecting the information at the source, rather than in pen, and being mailed in, and having to be entered by someone else."   

But there are safety concerns that pilots say must be fully tested before the ipad could be considered a trusted resource. 

"Possible reports that some people have had issues with them overheating, and obviously that's a very big safety concern for us. I'm not going to jump on any technology that hasn't gone through thorough testing."  

That's why the closetful of paper charts aren't far away from captain curl's reach. but, he predicts the day is near.   

"This is what it's going to look like flying into
Aspen."

One aviation columnist says the iPad will eventually make it easier for pilots to keep track of information and ensure them the most up-to-date data.





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