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iPads to Replace Paper Reference Manuals in All AA Cockpits

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The FAA has approved American Airlines to be the first commercial airline to have its pilots use iPads in "all phases of flight," rather than the 35lb paper reference manuals they're used to. Based on current fuel prices, The Next Web estimates that this will save the airline some $1.2M annually, across all of its aircraft. This month, AA's 777 fleet will be the first to get the technological upgrade; by the end of this year, all fleet types are expected to have approval for… (gizmodo.com) Altro...

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zcolescott
Like all things, these save money over time. I've been using the iPad with Foreflight and love it! I recommended it to the sales rep from our fueling company and he fell in love with it as well. Turns out, his company decided it was a good idea to equip the entire sales force with them. I believe that was 7 or 8 sales reps, each with their own aircraft. They were spending approximately $900 per year updating various charts and approach plates. The cost of the iPads were around $800 + the yearly subscription to Foreflight was $75. Once they got past the first year they were saving almost $7,000 per year! Not to mention the ease with which you don't have to carry around tons of paperwork now. I think this is a good progressive move.
dereklh
But they still have to turn them off between take off and 10,000 feet.
badbrad8500
Brad Jordan 1
Negative, sir: "all phases of flight"
unclebigpete
Does the 35lb of manuals really make enough difference in fuel costs to add up to $1.2M ? (I'm just guesstimating here, but ...) if AA did 300,000 flights a year, that equates to $4 per flight to carry the paper manuals. Can someone verify this?
zimmerfly
zimmerfly 1
Yes ! Very roughly, it requires 3% (fuel weight) per hour to carry extra weight.
600+ Aircraft flying 3500+ hours per year @ 1 lb (3% of 35 lbs) = in excess of 2.1 million lbs of fuel. [Current cost of jet fuel about $0.50 per lb]

Cost of 1200+ iPads ???
blake1023
blake1023 2
It’s more than just fuel. It’s the paper, labor, and distribution costs that add up. It's my guess the crews own the Ipads. Just like they own their paper manuals, so they're responsible for the revisions. The crews will go to the company's internal website to download the revisions.
blake1023
blake1023 1
Not to mention the Printer maintenance, and toner costs...
unclebigpete
the cost of updating/maintaining the paper manuals wouldn't be much different to the hardware costs of equiping the crews.
fllkap1
There is a lot of cost and time to upgrade all the manuals each time there is a revision change, 2 sets per aircraft. How many aircraft ?? Good cost savings !
Now you just hit the sync button and done! Nice.
joeyb767
I am surprised that the 777 fleet will be the first to incorporate the iPad. I thought that the 777 already has the electronic flight bag type of thing to the left of the Captain, (right of the F/O), which has all approach charts and runway maps, etc. I know that a backup should always be handy, but I would think they should start the iPad on an A/C without the existing technology. Any thoughts?
preacher1
preacher1 1
I'm a little confused. This article says AA is the first. Next to it on this page is an article about Qantas doing basically the same thing and I thought United was already in there somewhere several months ago. I think it is a wonderful thing and they work fine but somebody is behind the curve here. Most 135 operations have used them a good while. Can somebody shed some light here????????
Derg
Roland Dent 2
Wayne I have to tell ya..at our age NEVER admit that you are confused..I always go "hummm..interesting". LOL
preacher1
preacher1 1
Good Advice. I'll try and remember that. I am having a hard time admitting my age but certain things are cominalong where my CAN DO cannot keep up with my WANT TO. LOL
Derg
Roland Dent 1
Wou'll know when you get emails like "improve your manhood before it is too late" LOL.
Ljoneshi
Lloyd Jones 1
If eliminating 35lb of paper saves $1.2 m annually, is AA going to pay their skinny pilots more than their fat ones?
suz
suz -2
I suppose all passengers will be able to use their personal device(s) as well?
unclebigpete
Not necessarily, as surely the crew would use the iPads as eBooks, just for looking up checklists etc. They haven't got time for surfing the web.

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