iPad makes the jump from part 91 aviation to commercial ops...

[Baradium]

http://www.padgadget.com/2011/02/14/faa-authorizes-jet-charter-to-use-jeppesen-mobile-iPad-app/

FAA Authorizes Jet Charter to Use Jeppesen Mobile iPad App
By Roberto | February 14, 2011 | no comments The love affair between the iPad and aviation community continues to be a big flight tech story.

Jeppesen, a well known company that produces paper and electronic charts used by pilots for pre-flight planning and in-flight navigation, recently announced that private jet charter Executive Jet Management has received authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to use the Jeppesen Mobile TC iPad app.

We’ve also recently seen how non-commercial pilots are using a suite of iPad apps that range from study guides to weather and dedicated navigation tools, in order to assist them while flying. Pilots of light duty airplanes seem to love the iPad for its convenient GPS navigation capabilities, and its dedicated apps featuring instruments such as airspeed indicators, artificial horizons, altimeters and compass.

Last year, we saw how the folks at SportAir USA refurbished a 1930 Piper Cub (called the iCub), and started using an iPad as the glass panel display in front of the pilot. SportAir USA has even gone far enough to install an iMonitor EMS system in the new Savage iCub bush plane, which accepts engine performance information from engine sensors and transmits each line of data through an on board wireless system to any iPad or iPhone running the TruTrak iMonitor software.

Now, the FAA has started authorizing the use of the iPad as an aviation tool in some areas. According to AvStop, the FAA has authorized private charter operator Executive Jet Management to use the Jeppesen Mobile TC app as the main reference for electronic charts during a flight. This is certainly a big story. In case you’re wondering, Jeppesen, Executive Jet Management and local and national Electronic Flight Bag authorization authorities have completed a three-month in-flight evaluation of the iPad-based application. The private charter operator has logged more than 250 flight segments using the Jeppesen app.



AvStop also talked about the FAA authorization of the iPad and some of tests that were conducted:

“The authorized EFB configuration is a Class 1 portable, kneeboard EFB solution that is secured and viewable during critical phases of flight as defined in FAA Order 8900.1. Information obtained from this evaluation will also be useful in gaining future authorization for Class 2 mounted configurations utilizing iPad.”

“Jeppesen commissioned a successful rapid decompression test on iPad to 51,000 feet in altitude. Executive Jet Management completed successful non-interference testing on the evaluation aircraft. The project followed established FAA EFB authorization requirements applicable to an air carrier.”

The iPad seems to be gaining ground in the aviation business. This is not surprising, according to pilots who used the iPad and have shared their views about how surprisingly precise and accurate the device is for light duty flights.

My company has been talking about the possibility for our part 121 operations for a while now.  With this jump, it may be a lot closer.  I won't believe it until I see it, but there are rumors about a couple other airlines with programs in the works as well.    I believe the cost difference between an iPad and a traditional EFB is around $20,000 or more per unit.

[G-man]

Not sure what FSDO you are in, but has allowed their use for a while already.

[Baradium]

Not sure what FSDO you are in, but has allowed their use for a while already.

I think you left a word out there...


Part 91 has been allowed the whole time.  Part 91 you can pretty well do whatever you want with stuff like this.   In fact, they mention the cub marketed with an ipad mount in the center of the panel.  I understand a large number of part 91 pilots are using iPads for their own efbs and just carrying paper charts as backup, but the commercial side gets a lot more complicated.

This was the first part 135 operation to get approval. There are NO part 121 operators being allowed to use iPads at this time, although mulltiple companies have expressed interest in it.

I had the opportunity to talk to the wichita FSDO chief a while ago while he gave us an enroute getting back home and we talked about the iPads.    You'll note that they have now approved them under an FAA order,  these different certifications aren't required for part 91, but under our commercial operations we can't even use the thing if it isn't certified.   It's been a national FAA thing to look at this and run tests, so I'd be very surprised if there was a FSDO out of the loop enough to verbally tell someone they thought it was ok to use an iPad commercially without certification on it.   

Another big hurdle they had to clear for commercial use was the iPad had arbitrary temperature and altitude limits that would be exceeded in the event of a loss of cabin pressure (or even an unpressurized plane flying at higher altitudes).   Even ground ops could exceed some temperature limits, so a lot of testing was done to satisfy the FAA on reliability for a commercial operator.   

Even with execjet having approval, it will likely still require jumping some large hurdles for other commercial operators to get approval for their use.  A big positive is that a lot of the initial testing is already done for anyone following.

[Busdriver]

Here's an article from Flight International about the use of iPads as Class 2 EFBs:
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2011/02/01/352305/fokker-50-operator-tests-ipad-as-electronic-flight-bag.html

I'd love to have decent hardware as an EFB, right now we are using crappy tablets, if the sun shines you hardly see anything on the screen and at night it's not possible to dim them enough...

[G-man]

I think you left a word out there...

Nope...Part 135. Our inspector has been doing it himself for a while now. You have to disconnect the wi-fi and 3G portion and have the maps pre-loaded and just use the GPS portion.

[4X-NTY]

I've heard the IAF is working on implementing the iPad in the F-16 and the Beachcraft Kingair for navigational uses and communication with ground forces, which already use the iPad for various tasks.
I think it's pretty cool how Apple created such a versatile line of products (iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch), although most of the people are using it for playing games and listening to music, I find them under-appreciated, I use my iPod Touch as a keyboard and control surface for my digital audio workstation, I use it for remote controlling my PC, navigation and as an extra keys for flight simulator.

[Ragwing]

Alaska Airlines becomes first major U.S. airline to receive in-cockpit iPad approval


The iPads contain an app called GoodReader that is loaded with PDF versions of 41 flight, systems and performance manuals, reference cards, and other materials. The electronic manuals include hyperlinks and color graphics, enabling pilots to find information faster and easier. Updating these reference materials can now be accomplished with one tap on the iPad screen instead of the former, labor-intensive process of replacing individual pages with new ones. The iPad is considered a Class 1 electronic device, meaning it is stowed during takeoff and landing under Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

In conjunction with replacing paper manuals, Alaska Airlines is exploring the replacement of paper aeronautical navigation charts with electronic versions on the iPad, eliminating the need for every pilot to carry their own copy. The two initiatives, dubbed “Bye, Bye, Flight Bag,” will save about 2.4 million pieces of paper.

The cost is offset by reduced printing costs, less fuel burn and reduced back and muscle injuries.
------------
It is nice to hear that the FAA can move beyond the 1930's.
Today I am replacing tires.  The inner tubes are natural rubber and are priced accordingly.