Tag Archives: iPads

Iberia to use iPads in the cockpit as an “Electronic Flight Bag”

Iberia A321-200 EC-ILP Cockpit with iPads (Iberia)(LR)

Iberia (Madrid) will be the first Spanish airline to equip cockpits with the “Electronic Flight Bag”. The new iPads will replace the checklists, manuals, and other paper documents used in flight preparations and operations, and even to perform the calculations needed.

The devices will increase efficiency and safety, while reducing aircraft weight by some 60 kg., for overall savings in fuel worth an estimated 150,000 euros per month for the airline on short and medium haul routes.

According to the airline, “these electronic devices will provide instant access to all aircraft manuals, and to allow pilots to perform calculations of speed and distance during all phases of the flight. This application will enable the flight crews to view navigation maps and detailed airport maps.”

Iberia has already fitted one Airbus A321 (EC-ILP) with iPads for both the captain and the first officer. Iberia will soon equip an additional four short-haul and medium haul aircraft with the devices, which remain connected with the aircraft electrical system at all times.

Iberia:

Video (in Spanish):

JetBlue’s pilots to use Electronic Flight Bags (iPads) in the cockpit

JetBlue Airways (New York) has received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to give all pilots custom-equipped iPads that will add more real-time capabilities in the cockpit and save fuel by eliminating the heavy paper manuals that all pilots carry.

Following a successful trial phase with approximately 60 pilots over several months, JetBlue already has begun giving all 2,500 pilots a fourth-generation 16 GB Wi-Fi capable Apple iPad. While JetBlue has been approved for a decade to use a PC-based laptop in the cockpit – called an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) – the iPads will offer new capabilities and conveniences, especially as JetBlue implements Ka-Band satellite Wi-Fi.

“We are one step closer to a paperless cockpit,” said Jeff Martin, senior vice president of operations for JetBlue. “The iPads will have real-time weather capability and the ability to update safety and flight documents securely,” Martin said. “We expect to add digital chart capability, once it is approved.” With JetBlue’s coming Ka-band satellite capability enabled by LiveTV, pilots will be able to download weather imagery in seconds, while the same download might take several minutes with other systems.

“Our pilots will have the fastest real-time images in the air,” Martin said. JetBlue’s pilots will use WSI Optima application for weather briefings, the Comply365 app for digital documents and the AeroData DFP app for aircraft performance and weight and balance calculations. The Comply365 solution will be used throughout JetBlue. JetBlue is currently evaluating digital charting providers for implementation at a later date.

“Pilots will be able to make decisions to help improve the customer experience, such as having a more robust weather briefing that can be used to update customers during the flight about what to expect en route,” Martin said. JetBlue will implement iPad use during the next three months to ensure a safe transition.

Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 N598JB (msn 2314) with the Plaid tailfin departs runway 27R at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Jet Blue Airways: