Apple has just released its latest must have gadget, the iPad, and already it has garnered some positive reviews from pilots who purchased one for cockpit use. In fact, Greg Hughes has written a post entitled: Why the Apple iPad Tablet will find a home in my airplane cockpit (and in my life). His main point was the fact that the iPad screen is so much bigger than that of an iPhone and hence, it could contain significantly more useful information for a pilot.
Meanwhile, Max Trescott has also written a review of the iPad. In the post, Max listed what he thought were the pros and cons of the iPad and even more importantly, suggestions on how to mount it depending upon its in intended use. For example: If a pilot intends to use an iPad as a moving map, it could be mounted on a side window with suction mounts while pilots who intend to use it for route planning and for checklists might want to consider strapping it to their leg. However, the worst thing to do would be to leave an iPad unsecured on the seat next to you as it could easily end up some place you don’t want it should you encounter turbulence.
Max concluded his post by saying that while its still to early to tell whether the iPad will become mainstream, early reviews from pilots show that it has the potential to become mainstream in the cockpit. In other words and if you already use an iPhone on a regular basis in the cockpit, perhaps you should consider upgrading to the new iPad.
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There’s already an iPhone app that displays UK CAA charts (which you still have to pay for) called MultiMap. If this worked on the iPad it would be a very nice moving map type display. It would be excellent if you could get Jeppesen plates on it and upload all your POH type documents and checklists too. The battery life makes it plausible for long flights in the way that tablet PCs aren’t. It’ll be interesting to see how it works out in practice.
I’m still waiting on my 3g/gps iPad to arrive. There are many flight planning and moving map applications already for the iPhone, why not get an iPad for the cockpit?
I am a software developer interested in creating the best tool for the cockpit.
I know there are currently many systems like the Garmin 696, and combinations of various software (ForeFlight, Xwing) with the iPad.
Do you think you can build a better system and application? I think so.
Please spend 12 minutes on the following survey to help me understand your needs and your thoughts on the limitations of existing solutions.
http://kellogg.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_0i9J5FSxbYZryUk