iPad Policy

[bizjet800]

For part 135 there are a ton of rules. There has to be training for crews, a 6 month "trial" period in which you have to carry paper charts. They have to be charged to a specific level before departure, they have to be EMI tested per airplane, they have to be serial numbered per airplane, they cannot be yoke mounted without an STC, if no yoke mount, they must be "secured for critical phases of flight," which means they have to strapped to a kneeboard..to name a few.

Part 91, very few rules.

 

[minitour]

For part 135 there are a ton of rules. There has to be training for crews, a 6 month "trial" period in which you have to carry paper charts. They have to be charged to a specific level before departure, they have to be EMI tested per airplane, they have to be serial numbered per airplane, they cannot be yoke mounted without an STC, if no yoke mount, they must be "secured for critical phases of flight," which means they have to strapped to a kneeboard..to name a few.

This is not entirely accurate.

We don't have a minimum charge requirement nor a kneeboard requirement nor a serial number requirement.

That said, we have yet (in very few flights with the new company) to take the iPads out of the chart cases. Usually we just use the MFD.

-mini

 

[bizjet800]

This is not entirely accurate.

We don't have a minimum charge requirement nor a kneeboard requirement nor a serial number requirement.

That said, we have yet (in very few flights with the new company) to take the iPads out of the chart cases. Usually we just use the MFD.

-mini

It is true, it MUST be on a kneeboard or secured during critical phases of flight, assuming you are using it for primary charts. (Google InFo 11011) The 8900 addresses that it has to be charged. If you are to plug it in during flight, it becomes a Class II device with a whole new set of rules.

 

[minitour]

It is true, it MUST be on a kneeboard or secured during critical phases of flight, assuming you are using it for primary charts.

The AC doesn't specify kneeboard. Just securing the device. Our approved program is based on placing the units where we'd normally put one of about twenty jepp binders. You can probably fit three in there, though we only carry two.

That's all I was saying is that you are not required to use it as a kneeboard. As long as you have a way to secure it from movement during a critical phase of flight you're good. That means it has to be secured when the wheels roll onto the pavement and also when they separate from the pavement. So at 200', the PM slides his unit into the slot (giggity) and after "gear up yaw damp on" the PM removes his unit from the slot (giggity goo). No kneeboard. It's magic.

-mini

 

[bizjet800]

It must be "secured and viewable"

http://www.faa.gov/other_visit/avia...afety/info/all_infos/media/2011/InFO11011.pdf

 

[CA1900]

It must be "secured and viewable"

From AC 120-76A:

"(1) The operator should provide evidence to the PI demonstrating that the Class 1 EFB is properly stowed or mounted for takeoff and landing."

 

[BentOver]

Concerning back-ups in case of power failure. I think we're planning on using NOS charts..Much cheaper than Jepp updates...

I'm not especially keen on using the IPADS..Besides the whole keeping them charged.. Who's butt will be on the line when they get broke or end up missing..? Sure they can be tracked down via GPS, but I don't want to be responsible for the thing...just one more pain in the butt thing to have to do.

I see nothing wrong with using paper... always have done it, no issues to date....Especially for our little operation and same 5-7 airports... Some people are just slaves to technology. Nice avionics upgrades etc. Are great. full glass cockpits are great. But I don't need an IPAD to get to an airport.

 

[svcta]

Just amazing how something so simple and useful can be over-thought and complicated in to futility.

Bottom line: It works.

And this is a corporate forum....the 135 regs are more suited to the charter section. Not to be surly, but they are two different worlds and the iPad discussion gets confusing when we blend the two.

Sent from my iPad....where I keep my charts.

 

[bizjet800]

From AC 120-76A:

"(1) The operator should provide evidence to the PI demonstrating that the Class 1 EFB is properly stowed or mounted for takeoff and landing."

Wrong, the InFo supersedes the AC. Read the link above.

 

[bizjet800]

Just amazing how something so simple and useful can be over-thought and complicated in to futility.

Bottom line: It works.

And this is a corporate forum....the 135 regs are more suited to the charter section. Not to be surly, but they are two different worlds and the iPad discussion gets confusing when we blend the two.

Sent from my iPad....where I keep my charts.

That's the FAA for you.

 

[svcta]

That's the FAA for you.

So true. Maybe they'll have a little vacation time soon to relax and reflect.

 

[minitour]

Wrong, the InFo supersedes the AC. Read the link above.

[one last "corporate" hijack from me, sorry]

The InFo states that you must comply with FSIMS "and/or" AC120-76A. I didn't see in the InFo where you have to have the thing strapped to your knee. Can you site a reference?

We'd rather be "in line" with the federales from the get-go rather than hustling to get into compliance when/if someone decides we're doing it wrong. If, in fact, we DO need to have it on a "kneeboard" those mounts are very inexpensive, so I can't imagine having too much of a problem with going that route if we needed to.

[/corporate hijack]

FWIW, our "policy" (one plane two pilots about 95/5 on the 91/135 ops) as written is to plug them in at our office at the FBO when we leave.

If we're on an overnight, each pilot takes one to the hotel to plug in. That means if I'm single pilot on the trip, I only have to charge one at the hotel.

With power in the cockpit, plugging the second one in with the GPU on prior to departure usually does the trick for charging it. And as others have said, battery life isn't a problem. I flew a weekend trip single pilot last weekend and with the 2nd unit in the plane all weekend, I came back to preflight with the fully charged unit and the 2nd unit was at 98%. That was 70-ish hours unplugged.

Our policy for updates is to check during every preflight. We do have 3G if we needed it for updates, but like others, we don't seem to have a problem finding wifi. I'll agree that simpler is betterer.

-mini