Hi JB
Thanks for your excellent and knowledgable input on this thread particularly and AFF in general.
On a lighter note, the Fin Review says QF is going to issue iPads for all pilots.
Article states will include all charts and manuals (subject to regulatory approval.)
See
iPads flying high with Qantas pilots
Is the story correct?
Little bit less to lug around or are the charts and manuals kept permanently on board each aircraft?
And will you have to turn your iPad off for take off and landing like the rest of us down the back?
Yes, it was announced to us in a letter from the Chief Pilot a few days ago. The exact details are unknown, but apparently it will have the Jeppesen app, which completely replaces about four cubic feet of charts and docs that are carried on every aircraft. I gather the roll out will by aircraft type, with the 380 getting them last, presumably because it already has a computerised system (which we've discussed previously, and which basically doesn't work).
Other applications that will need to be incorporated will handle performance calculations, and the aircraft flight manuals. The current (Airbus written) 380 performance apps do work quite well, but have limited ability to handle complex failures (as per the 32), and so do need to be redone. The manuals were a bit of a first attempt at making a hyperlinked manual system, and whilst they work well in some instances, are almost impossible to study from, so again a rewrite is something that is needed.
Within the aircraft there are varying changes across the fleets. Most of the aircraft have laptops for use in performance calculations, whilst the 380 (in theory) has the laptop doing everything from performance, to manuals, to interfacing with the aircraft system for maintenance and ACARS access. The Panasonic Toughbooks that have been used are terribly slow, and often unreliable, as well as being very expensive. I suspect that from a maintenance point of view, getting rid of them would be a positive. That leaves us with access to ACARS, and maintenance...well the engineers can carry their own machines on board an use them to interface with the aircraft. Not sure about how to do the ACARS, but as it was accessed via an FMC in the 747, I'd be surprised if the same thing isn't possible with a software update on the 380.
Potentially, it makes the OIT and the keyboard redundant in the 380, but as neither are shining examples of technology, I doubt they'd be missed.
If we have to turn them off, it defeats the purpose, so no, I don't think we will. Remember though, that the exact piece of equipment is controlled, and there will be a test flight or two, with the gear in particular places on the aircraft, before being certified.
I gather that once they are fully issued to a fleet, that the books on board will be reduced to one set for a bedding in period, and then removed entirely.
The use of these systems opens up other options too. Flight plans can be sent to the crews. They will be 3G/wifi enabled....so they just need a system that places some wifi routers in useful places. Standing orders, and the various other notices that we get, plus manuals updates can be pushed out, instead of waiting for someone to visit their physical mailbox.
I doubt that it has been a simple project, but potentially it has a lot of upside....not the least of which old blind pilots (like me) can much more readily read an ipad than we can the tiny print on the paper charts.
We already have an example of how it can be done. A few of the pilots have created their own system, using 'Sugarsync' and 'Goodreader', that automatically updates around 5 gig of A380 related data. It works well, but isn't all that flexible. Given that it was done with a budget of zero dollars, it isn't a bad effort.
Downside? Well, there can't be too many. Some sort of power charging system will have to be provided, but all of the aircraft have a high voltage outlet somewhere in the coughpit, so they may be suitable. From a personal point of view it's something more for me to lug around, and depending upon just how things are implemented, I may, or may not, need to keep carrying my own personal ipad around as well. We'll have to wait and see on that. Issues like security, loss, breakage, etc also have to be addressed (I'm sure they have been, but I don't know the details).
. I had to clean my glass's to read that again !
