Is Your iPad An EFB?

Is your iPad an EFB? Yes, is the fast and quick answer. It has been since it was first announced and delivered last year. There has been a lot of talk lately about the FAA approving the iPad as an EFB. To our understanding, if you read the whole text, the FAA approved a very big part 135 operator (Executive Jet Management, part of the NetJets umbrella) to use iPads as EFB platforms for viewing paper documentation like approach plates. That is fantastic for them, and it cuts down on the countless paper documents they must burn through each update cycle.

Is this something new? No, the FAA has been approving the use of computing devices like Windows Tablet PCs for interested part 135 operators for years. Systems from companies like ADR, FDR, NavAero, CMC, Goodrich, Paperless Cockpit, and FlightPrep have gone through these processes for 135 operators for many years. What is new in this situation is the FAA gave the nod for a 135 to use an iPad this time.

So what about the typical part 91 flight department or operator? Do they need the FAA to approve their iPad? If you're flying part 91, AC 91-78 spells it out pretty clearly that COTS (consumer off the shelf) devices like the iPad can supplement or replace paper reference material and other documents that you would normally use or obtain in paper format. The decision to use these devices in lieu of paper lies with the PIC, not the FAA. The PIC must also ensure that they are following FAR 91.21 which discusses electronic devices in flight.

What about backups? Well, those are a good idea too and that same AC 91-78 recommends that you have a paper or additional digital backup.

Does the iPad really have what I need for an EFB? It depends on what you use now, or for some, what you know you should use now. For most pilots what they use in paper format is a Sectional, Enroute chart, and TPP's (Approach Plates/SID/STAR/Diagrams) or some combination of those. The paper versions of these charts have margin and legend data included on them that in many cases are just as important as the pictures of airports and other information. For example, if you are using a paper Sectional you have MOA hours, contact info, special use airspace descriptions and hours, and more. It would be a good idea to ensure that if you switch to an electronic version of that same chart you can still get to that information. It would be a tough explanation to the FAA how you just didn't have the MOA or restricted area info in your application after you got an escort to a field near you. You may enjoy one of the great iPad games while you wait, but even the Angry Birds Eagle couldn't get you out of that one.


The approach we would recommend and the litmus test for your EFB and flying paperless is this:

First, does it give you all of the information you would take on a check-ride? If yes, you're on your way to a great setup. Check what you have again and see if there is anything else that would be nice to have. Remember applications and digital data add nothing to your take off weight. If you don't have the data you need, that lack of information could be in the same category as the altitude above you and the runway behind you when you get in a pickle.

Second, do you know how to use it and access the information as fast or faster than the paper version? If yes, you have done some training or have a very good feel for your iPad. If no, it's time to do some scenario based easy chair flying and ensure you take the paper stuff with you until you are a whiz at finding what you need.

Third, what happens if your iPad, or any EFB for that matter, quits, overheats, dies, or you mistakenly delete something you need off of it? You should have a backup plan. For some a backup is an iPhone or another phone or computing device. For others its that spare set of paper charts in the back seat. As PIC this choice is up to you.

So is the iPad up to the job? That question is not black and white but a bit more gray in color. It really depends on a few factors:

• What type of climate do you fly in? The iPad does not have an on board cooling fan. This may not sound like a big deal, especially to those that fly in the Northern states like us in Oregon. But we still have hot days from time to time. Last summer we had a few hot spells and on one occasion we didn't even make it to the airplane before the iPad we were going to take flying shut down for a few minutes. How hot was it? Just about 90F or so. And the interior of the airplane was going to be well above that, at least until we got the engine turning and some air moving.
  
  Flying Magazine's Robert Goyer wrote a piece a few months ago that included his description of his iPad shutting down on him while flying, and many more have also experienced the problem. So will the iPad 2 that was announced on March 2nd fix this problem? Probably not. But as stated, the new iPad was announced on the 3rd and as many of you know it doesn't ship until the 11th so we haven't used it or tried it out. Our iChart application runs wonderfully on the new version of the iOS operating system and the faster hardware means faster apps. The new iPad runs 5 times faster, has much more video capability, and is thinner, so from the description it may actually heat up faster than the old one but we will try it out and see. There are a lot of cool new features and specs on the iPad 2, but it's probably not the answer to the cooling problem.
  
  So what can be done about these hot iPads? Well a few things, and almost all start with the pilots that use them. We can keep the devices in a bag or something that gives the iPad a layer of air between it and the hot sun. Just like how its actually cooler to wear clothes outside in the extreme heat of the sun, it's cooler for your iPad to have a layer of air between it and the elements when not in use. Also, do not put the iPad on the glare shield as you get prepped for your flight, it'll bake it faster than your microwave could heat up a frozen burrito. This should go without saying, but do not mount your iPad in something metal. We have had a few customers show us their own creations or have bought metal kneeboards that partially or almost fully enclose their iPad. You or I wouldn't be caught dead sitting in a metal box in the sun, why would your iPad fare any better? If you have air vents in your airplane, direct at least one towards your iPad. The air running over the surface will help dissipate heat. All in all, be aware of the temperature, and what it may be doing to your equipment. If you find that your other devices have overheated or you fly where ramp temperature is regularly very hot you may want to consider an EFB option that has a fan, like our ChartBook-S EFB.
  
  
• What do you want to do with the EFB? If you want to access your POH through Reader, use specially made software for your airplane type, stream XM Weather, stream data from a Zaon XRX to your EFB, be able to run Word or other Microsoft programs and have at least 1 USB port for any reason then the iPad is probably not the bag for you. It is a wonderful device that can do amazing things in a great user interface but does have its limitations. There are hundreds of thousands of apps out there for your iPad, but there are literally millions of other software titles. If you are okay with what the iPad can do for you, go for it. One extra recommendation would be to shut off your iPad prior to prepping for a mission and fire it up as you prep for your flight. The iOS operating system can switch between apps very well, but all those background apps are costing you some performance and the more you have chugging along in the background the less memory you have for doing what you or your mission require.
  
  
• Think about the display. Some love it and some hate it. We think it only works well with a good screen/glare protector. We tried quite a few before finding a good one and we have our top pick for sale now (send an email sales@flightprep.com if you're interested in purchasing a protector). If you don't use one of these display films the reflection of guy or gal in the headset staring back at you can really get in the way of seeing your data. Also, do you fly with gloves on or use them in pre-flight? Capacitive touch screens like the iPad do not work with anything other than capacitive touch capable gloves. To our knowledge there are no nomex capacitive touch gloves available for sale but you could modify a set with some after market sensors (they look like tiny little flakes out of your 3 hole punch) and a sewing needle.
  
  
• Where are you going to put it? The iPad is a lot of things but yoke mountable is hardly one of them, so its going to need to go somewhere else. We strongly recommend against suction cup mounts for iPads and other EFB's because there is no indication they're loose until they're off and broken. In our testing in the bumpy Columbia River Gorge even the best suction cup mounts had problems. So a kneeboard, swing over yoke bar mount, seat rail mount, side rail mount, or maybe some high tensile strength velcro on the empty part of a panel should be considered. All of those options would turn your iPad into a class 2 EFB, even if its mounted to you. If you keep it lose on your lap (the technical term is a class 1 EFB when its not mounted to anything) it may work very well just beware that at less than 2 pounds the iPad may become airborne out of your lap at inopportune times.

We hope this sheds some light on the iPad and our take on using it as an EFB. We use both iPads and PC based EFBs regularly, so please send your questions to support@flightprep.com. We'll be glad to respond to you.