United Airlines launches paperless flight deck with iPad

Marina Freri
Wednesday, 24 August 2011 14:03

Business IT - Technology

United Airlines has claimed to be the first network carrier to adopt paperless flight decks, announcing earlier this week that it will deploy 11,000 iPads to replace traditional aeronautical navigation charts.

The American airline yesterday announced that all United and Continental pilots would be given an iPad by the end of the year. The so-called electronic flight bags (EFB) will replace paper flight manuals, reference handbooks, flight checklists, logbooks and weather information; navigational charts will be accessed through an iPad application. United Airlines’ announcement came a week after rival carrier British Airways revealed its iPad trial to manage inflight customer service.

United’s senior vice president of flight operations, Captain Fred Abbott, said the move to abandon paper-based navigational charts would help pilots in their duties. "The paperless flight deck represents the next generation of flying," he said. "The introduction of iPads ensures our pilots have essential and real-time information at their fingertips at all times throughout the flight."

The iPads, deployed by United Airlines, are loaded with Jeppesen Mobile Flite Deck, an application which sports interactive, data-drive en-route navigation information and worldwide geo-referenced terminal charts. Jeppesen president and CEO, Mark Van, said: "Jeppesen and United share a long and storied history that includes development of numerous innovations for the aviation industry. We look forward to continuing this partnership in integrating our digital mobile solutions that increase efficiency, reduce costs and optimise operations."

On the green side, United Airlines stated in a press release that the deployment of the iPad would reduce paper use and printing, which in turn would decrease fuel consumption. According to the airline, the EFB will save more than 1,900 trees, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by about 3,2 metric tonnes.

Also the American carrier says pilots will benefit from a lighter carry bag. “By eliminating bulky flight bags loaded with paper, pilots will have less to lift and carry through airports and onboard the aircraft, reducing the risk of injury while on duty,” it says.