The FAA recently gave the OK for iPads in the sky, but not for passengers. In fact, the iOS devices are only approved for the person running the vehicle – the pilots.
Pilots have the most important job – getting you from point A to point B safely -- but with that job comes a lot of paperwork and, because a lot of paperwork means more weight in flight, that means more fuel. According to ZDNet, eliminating paper on flights will save $1.2 million in fuel per year, a number not to scoff at. The iPad will replace all of the heavy stuff and, at its 1.33 pounds, will help keep all records in place.
American Airlines is the first airline to gain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to use tablets "as electronic chart and digital flight manual readers" in B777 aircraft, according to reports. This is significant, because current FAA rules say that tablets, even those of the pilot, need to be stowed away before a flight can take off.
The American Airlines iPad upgrade has been reported to start as soon as Friday, December 16, with inside sources indicating that Delta and United will also soon be jumping on the tablet bandwagon. Delta, in particular, however, has been reported to be seeking out an Android (News - Alert)-based tablet for their cockpits.
The use of tablets for in-flight calculations were widely tested in airlines, but so far only American Airlines have gained FAA approval. AA had tested the use of tablets back in June, in two flights from Los Angeles to Tokyo and to Shanghai.
Relatedly, actor and extreme Words with Friends enthusiast Alec Baldwin recently got kicked off an American Airlines flight for refusing to stop playing his favorite brain-teasing word game on his iPad.
Perhaps now that the iOS devices are FAA approved for the cockpit, they’ll eventually turn up for everyone else.
iPads are not strangers in the records-keeping kind of work. Medical professionals are opting to use the tablets for patient charts, amongst other records.
From a digital drug reference database apps to the Epocrates versatile diagnostic tool and everything in between, healthcare providers can find an app, or several, to better serve their patients.
Michelle Amodio is a TMCnet contributor. She has helped promote companies and groups in all industries, from technology to banking to professional roller derby. She holds a bachelor's degree in Writing from Endicott College and currently works in marketing, journalism, and public relations as a freelancer.Edited by
Rich Steeves
