iPad as an EFB

[siouxicide]

Yep, another EFB thread, but what I'm seeing this is quite the improvement. I'm wondering if anyone out there is using the iPad as a paper replacement and your pros and cons. I'll be getting hands-on tomorrow with one that has Foreflight installed. $75/year for for all IFR charts and then some. Looks amazing
My big concern would be mounting it or somehow holding it in place so it doesn't go falling off my lap or something.

30-day free trial if you have one already.

 

[TMMT]

I just started tinkering with Fore Flight, I've had my iPad for a few weeks now.

 

[ultrarunner]

As just a stand-a-lone chart reader and such in the aircraft, I think it would be fine, although you'd have to evaluate it in bright sunlight. I think having something that the capability do display the weather uplink would be more practical.

 

[JJET44]

I've wondered the same thing. I would think that it would be best to get an official approval as an EFB before sinking money into it if you're p135. After what happened late last year with the NW pilots overshooting the airport, there have been talks about banning all unapproved electronic devices from the cockpit. Other then that, I think the IPad would be a great platform as and EFB, performance computer and to install all of your flight manuals, SOP's and anything else job related.

 

[siouxicide]

We've got other units that display XM WX so we're not concerned with that. One thing I'll check out today is to see how easy it is to just from one chart to the next. i.e., switching arrivals or approaches last second. Not the best time to fumble through menus, etc.

 

[JJET44]

good point . Keep the input coming. would like to hear all the pro's and con's.

Sioux, what unit are you using?

 

[siouxicide]

Tried the iPad with Foreflight this morning and ordered one at noon. I can switch between approaches, arrivals, charts, you name it, faster than I could ever do with the paper. You can pull up the TFRs, Notams, Wx, etc., before flight and have them there onboard instead of printing off a sheet. I could keep going, but the best part was that its processor is fast and the subscription is cheap. The next question will be how to mount it.
For XM weather we have Garmin 500's and/or GMX200's.

 

[Headfake14]

I've wondered the same thing. I would think that it would be best to get an official approval as an EFB before sinking money into it if you're p135. After what happened late last year with the NW pilots overshooting the airport, there have been talks about banning all unapproved electronic devices from the cockpit. Other then that, I think the IPad would be a great platform as and EFB, performance computer and to install all of your flight manuals, SOP's and anything else job related.

That will NEVER happen. No way to enforce it...waste of time. How many "overflights" have there been....what, ONE out of millions of flights over the last decade at least?

sigh...anyway...

We...Jetblue...are looking into the iPad as well. All JB pilots are issued laptops. All our manuals...EVERYONE's manual actually, is on there. The only book(s) we carry is for the Jepps. Ship set Jepps are coming this year...some sort of EFB is on the horizon. The problem with getting the iPad is no Adobe Flash...causes problems with some of our intranet and travel...iPhone has same problems there.

Adobe and Mac better find a way to play nice and solve that issue.

 

[Nolife]

Don't know about iPad but for the iPhone use the app "GoodReader" for viewing pdf's. It's cheap and works well.

Thx for the post, I currently use a Kindle DX for approach plates and have paper enroutes. I wanted to switch to iPad but was unsure about foreflight; I'm sold now. What's your commision?

 

[OUPilot]

i have been researching this as well but also need to run perf numbers with ultra-nav. the ultra-nav creators do not seem like they want to write the software for the ipad, i am hoping they will change their minds soon though

 

[BN2A]

The Ultra-Nav Man is one (1) very smart guy sitting in his office in Amarillo or somewhere in Texas. I have emailed and called him numerous times (even offering money) for updates on curtailments for our 135 needs and he never gets back. Smart yes, too smart for his own good, maybe.

 

[LJ45]

Jepp has something coming for the Ipad soon, per email.

 

[ttflyer]

Jepp has something coming for the Ipad soon, per email.

Now that is actually interesting. As cool as "Foreflight" is, it's still providing NOS charts... I've been using Jepp for years. I like Jepp. Everybody I fly with likes Jepp... I haven't used NOS since I got my instrument rating in a 172...

 

[BoilerUP]

I'm no "iThing" fan, but I'm very interested in seeing the JeppView iPad app because that could be the PERFECT backup to our file server...

 

[JJET44]

Yeah, Ipad is a no go without Jepps for me. As far as Ultra-Nav is concerned if they don't jump on the wagon and soon they're going to loose a lot of business to APG who has said that Iphone compatible program (and I would assume Ipad as well) is on the way.

 

[siouxicide]

As far as the enroute charts go, I was initially not enthused with the cross section you see. Granted you can pinch the screen to zoom in or out, but finding a specific fix became a little harder zoomed out. But how many times do you stare at your charts for random fixes? Like your GPS/FMS, all you have to do is type in the fix, or even the clearance, and it'll draw the route right over the Hi/Low/VFR chart.

Here's someone's Youtube demonstration Beware, it's 9 min.

 

[Headfake14]

Don't know about iPad but for the iPhone use the app "GoodReader" for viewing pdf's. It's cheap and works well.

Thx for the post, I currently use a Kindle DX for approach plates and have paper enroutes. I wanted to switch to iPad but was unsure about foreflight; I'm sold now. What's your commision?

The iPhone/iPad will read Adobe PDF files...but it's the flash player thats the issue. Adobe doesn't make one for the iStuff...so I'm told. That is a problem for us (jetblue) since some of our websites require it. Could be a deal breaker for the iPad. Otherwise...they'd have an instant sale of around 2500 units.

 

[ttflyer]

The iPhone/iPad will read Adobe PDF files...but it's the flash player thats the issue. Adobe doesn't make one for the iStuff...so I'm told. That is a problem for us (jetblue) since some of our websites require it. Could be a deal breaker for the iPad. Otherwise...they'd have an instant sale of around 2500 units.

Don't worry. Steve Jobs has already found a solution for you. Just get every web site you use that uses flash to re-write their site in HTML5. Problem solved. And it didn't cost apple a dime!

I'm not a fan of apple's stance on flash or DRM for that matter... But that's a topic for different forum...

 

[siouxicide]

Picked one up yesterday and I have to say the more I use Foreflight, the more I love it. You can get everything from one spot and fast. No more paging through the AC-U-KWIK either. However, I do have a couple beefs with it. Here goes:

1. Downloads of all the charts took about 7 hours(slower hotel connection) and I had to individually select every state, etc. What they should have is a "select all" or "select region", but at least you don't have to babysit the download. Just let it go, and, you only do it once every couple months. If your connection drops or you close out, it will pick up where you left off.

2. I was mistaken when I thought you could type in V or J into the route feature and it would draw that route. It will not. Not a deal breaker, but it would be nice on the occasion you get that kind of clearance.

Honestly, that's it. After downloading for 7 hours with the screen on, it was at 45% battery and was still mostly cool to the touch. I have yet to try and file with it. I'm still impartial to my Fltplan.com for that, which btw, you can save an icon of it on the iPad's homescreen. Basically a bookmark right on your "desktop" page.

 

[khsgt]

Jepp has something coming for the Ipad soon, per email.

Any indication of a timeframe?

 

[jross]

I received this email this week from Jeppesen.

We’ve heard from many of you who have an iPad, or are considering getting one, and we agree that this would be the perfect platform for viewing Jeppesen terminal charts. Plus, if you have an existing subscription, or if you are thinking of increasing your coverage's, there will be no additional charge outside the JeppView subscription fee itself.

Look for additional e-mail status updates in the coming weeks and also check JeppDirect.com for the latest on our iPad app.

Best Regards,

Jeppesen Customer Service/Sales Team
Aviation

 

[siouxicide]

You definitely pay for Jepp's electronic charts, but being able to get worldwide charts is huge.

 

[Nolife]

So far after you've used it in-flight how do you rate it. I just want to make sure it's the right thing for me before shelling out nearly 1000 bucks.

 

[siouxicide]

Overall I still love it and I find more uses for it all the time, albeit not aviation related. Battery seems to go forever, too. I'll use it in flight, watch Netflix or surf at the FBO and use it again on the trip back with tons of battery to spare. Did I mention you can read full newspapers(i.e., USA Today which is free) in flight? Not that I do that, but you can as long as you opened the app when connected to wi-fi so it can cache the current news.
They've added an update so you can use the 3G model's GPS in-flight. They've demonstrated it in a Cirrus, but how well it works in aluminum...dunno. You do not need to sign up for a data plan with the 3G model. I've also seen people use it as an overgrown Tom Tom in their car.
Using it in bright light is just fine, but certain angles seem to wash it out more than others. Even then it's still legible.
If you're used to glass cockpits, you'll find it's just another screen staring at you at night. Dimmed all the way down it's not hard on the eyes. Personally, I like it almost black inside so what I do is invert the screen to white on black.
Don't leave it in the sun for hours and expect it to turn on. It will tell you it's too hot and needs to cool. Put it in the shade for 5 minutes and you're good to go.
I like using the radar in Foreflight better than WSI, especially when trying to see radar at small airports. Type in the identifier and it puts a push pin on the airport, then loop the radar. That or type your full route and see your track compared to the wx.
Lots of cool stuff. If you can get your hands on one before you buy it, do it. Everybody has their own likes/dislikes.

 

[Nolife]

Thx for the responce. I just ordered one. How do you like the case. It had mixed reviews on apple's site and the store doesn't have one you can check out.

 

[siouxicide]

The guy that first showed me the iPad had this case so I got the same: Leather case
Looks like a binder(instead of "hey look! an iPad!"), is sturdy, and holds it in super tight. I would NOT recommend using the iPad without a case. Feels like it's going to slide off your lap.

Just remember, if you're going to use it to replace paper, you need to be Pt. 91.

 

[JJET44]

Six months later, would like to hear more coments now, especially from jeppview users.

 

[BoilerUP]

Jepp Mobile TC is a good chart viewer - but it doesn't do nearly as much as Foreflight does.

...but reportedly an update coming after the first of the year will have enroute charts and possibly ship's position data.

 

[JJET44]

Jepp Mobile TC is a good chart viewer - but it doesn't do nearly as much as Foreflight does.

...but reportedly an update coming after the first of the year will have enroute charts and possibly ship's position data.

So does fore flight have ships position data?
I assume you mean on the ground only and only with the 3g unit?

 

[melndav]

Fore flight has position info....sort of. If your iPad has GPS it will show your position on the map, groundspeed, GPS altitude etc. We have found, though, that if you ever put it away and it loses it's position it will rarely reaquire it until it picks up some cell service. As long ad you keep it near the window it does fine, but most people seem to have at least a couple of moving maps in the panel anyway. We have Jepp and Foreflight and use both every flight.