Those of you with electronic manuals...

[md8pilot]

For those pilots whose carriers use electronic manuals, how do you receive revisions? Are you able to view manuals/revisions prior to reporting for duty? Thanks.

 

[AdlerDriver]

For those pilots whose carriers use electronic manuals, how do you receive revisions? Are you able to view manuals/revisions prior to reporting for duty? Thanks.

We get a monthly CD with the most current version of all manuals in PDF format. The CD is on all aircraft(along with a laptop) as well as hard copys. Since each aircraft has a set of worldwide Jepps(which we don't have to update), we have to carry no personal Jepps or manuals. Not bad.

 

[KC-10 Driver]

At JetBlue, the manuals on our laptops are automatically updated when we plug into the company intranet site upon checkin in the crew room prior to starting a trip. Additionally, whenever there is a major revision or information notice, we receive an email, to which we have to respond confirming our receipt of the information.

Just recently, we have a new system in effect, whereby we have to go to a specific site on the intranet, review major revisions and notices by way of opening a PDF file with a summary of the pertinent information (the opening of this file is logged as proof of review of the information), then take a short quiz (the completion of which is also logged).

The only manual which is not electronic is our Jepps. We receive revisions every couple of weeks in our file at the airport. The reason our Jepps are not electronic is because they must be accessible during takeoff, departure and landing. With the laptop screen open on the table at the pilots' seats, it is not possible to see the instrument panel. Hence, if the Jepps were on our notebook PCs, we would not be able to view them and the instrument panel at the same time.

The company is planning on installing tablet computers in the aircraft which will have all manuals (including Jepps) on them. The flat tablet computer will not interfere with viewing the instrument panel, hence allowing us to get rid of the paper Jepps. Not sure when this is going to happen -- haven't heard an update in a while, but it was supposedly going to be before the end of this year.

 

[ivauir]

We get a monthly CD with the most current version of all manuals in PDF format. The CD is on all aircraft(along with a laptop) as well as hard copys. Since each aircraft has a set of worldwide Jepps(which we don't have to update), we have to carry no personal Jepps or manuals. Not bad.

Nice where do you work?

 

[AlbieF15]

Might seem petty, KC-10 driver, but are you paid when you take these tests?

At my company, we've had some battles over computer based academics, etc etc. It might seem petty, but if company required you to take training should they also pay you for your time? Then again--your company gave you the computer and paid for your hotel and car in training--our leaves us on our own. Different culture, different set of work rules--I'm just wondering how the "ancillary" training is compensated where you work.

Also--as a guy who just had back surgery....GEEZ I wish WE had some kind of electronic pubs bag. I think our MD 11 guys will be there soon but us Jurassic guys will probably be SOL for the life of our fleet.

 

[habubuaza]

We get an email message saying there are revisions and we log in and sign off when we've reviewed them electronically.

 

[AdlerDriver]

Nice where do you work?

World Airways

 

[klhoard]

. . .<snip>. . .With the laptop screen open on the table at the pilots' seats, it is not possible to see the instrument panel. Hence, if the Jepps were on our notebook PCs, we would not be able to view them and the instrument panel at the same time.. . .<snip>. .

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That's why you set the laptop above the glare shield during takeoff. . . .
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[Diesel-9sRule]

Two words come to mind:



THEY SUCK!


The thing usaually crashes right when I've got a problem and I hate luggin' the thing through security. I'm no "techno-geek"; I'll take a paper manual any day.

P.S. Pardon the spelling errors.

 

[AlbieF15]

Is it worse than a 25 pound + Jepp bag? If you could get your Jepps auto-updated, I would think you'd be way ahead with the laptop. Then again...I ain't got one, so that is pure speculation.

 

[TriStar_drvr]

We get a CD with all the manuals on it about one a month. Then we just toss the old one. It has a page on it that indicates which manuals have been updated. On the aircraft are hard copies of the manuals, as the company doesn't have laptops on board the aircraft. All aircraft carry the neccessary Jepps, so there is no need for any pilot to update manuals, unless he chooses to (by requesting paper manuals rather than the CD).

 

[Diesel-9sRule]

Actually try to Find something on the laptop. It's next to impossible. Besides, lugging my 25 lbs flight bag around is an excellent upper body workout! Judging from some flight crew I've seen...they could use a physical fitness plan. Nothing more impressive that seeing a lumbering discrace waltzing down the jetway huffin' and a puffin' with his flight bag.

But then again...could be seniority enhancement?!
P.S. Pardon the spelling...product of a fine West VA education...