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Ipad

TA910

"Spoon"
pilot
That's good to know. Thanks for the in site! I'm starting on learning the EPs now since I have a month wait before getting down there
 

zippy

Freedom!
pilot
Contributor
As an IP I flew with an iPad any time I left the local area in the T-6B and had it with me all the time in the T-34c.

It came up once or twice while I was an IP but I wouldn't let students use an iPad in flight. The iPad with the Jep app gives you the location on the chart and approach plate feature which is an awesome SA tool. Part of RIs is maintaining SA along airways and in the terminal environment using the aircrafts navigation equipment. I can't effectively grade you on something you didn't do, and I need to know that you're able to do it without the use of something that's not an aircraft system.

I had no problem with students bringing their iPad in the plane, and actually encouraged it in case they forgot the chart needed on the road (its happened on multi leg/ day trips) or had a loss of the nav equipment. It's a great backup tool, but Shouldn't be relied on as a student who is building the basic foundation of knowledge and skills.

Early on as an IP a few of the self annointed NAVAIR nazis gave me shit for having an iPad since it wasn't specifically authorized in flight and I was one of the small group of IPs that used one. I was able to just LT salute my way through it, thank them for their input and ignore them when it happened. Most students won't be able to do so, especially if the end up flying with them.

I'd have your iPad stocked up with all the plates you think you might use and all the charts for the U.S., and use it for flight planning etc., but wouldn't count on being able to use it in flight. As a student I probably wouldn't even ask unless maybe I was on cross country... maybe...
 

Tycho_Brohe

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
All the instructors I flew with at VT-35 were awesome, very casual and helpful. I didn't experience both squadrons, but from what I heard from those who did, -35 is a bit more laid back, as roflsaurus mentioned. But the -44C may make the transition to glass easier. That said, the P-8 is an entirely different kind of flying altogether, no matter which plane you're coming from.

As for iPads, my recommendation is, if you're gonna bring one, give it to the observer. That way, you don't build a reliance upon it, you get a chance to become accustomed to it when you're the observer, and it's still providing great SA; the observer can chime in if something doesn't look kosher.
 

Flash

SEVAL/ECMO
None
Super Moderator
Contributor
...That said, the P-8 is an entirely different kind of flying altogether, no matter which plane you're coming from...

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wlawr005

Well-Known Member
pilot
Contributor
I don't know...You don't get to level off, push back, and drink coffee in flight school.
 

TA910

"Spoon"
pilot
Found the pubs on Vt31 website. They tons of information there. Anyone up on fore flight? I will take the iPad if allowed. Would be nice to have updated weather in the plane too
 

jugg34naut

Active Member
pilot
In RI in vt31 now. I used the ipad in the sims the other day and it was helpful. The IPs will let you use it from what I've seen as long as you're not using the GPS function to give you SA of where you are on the map/approach plate. The FMS is basically the same one as the t-6 in function. You're SA isn't that much better. It's the MFD that is a moving map that makes more of an SA difference. The autopilot/flight guidance/fms are just more shit to know and screw up. It gets better with time I suppose.
 

Swanee

Cereal Killer
pilot
None
Contributor
My flight partner used an Ipad for almost every instrument flight in advanced. The instructors always said that if he relied on it too heavily they would take it away. He just kept a plate open at all times and no one ever pulled the "simulate your battery just died" card. Honestly though, it will probably only help if you fly the C-12. The 44Cs FMS is pretty gucci. Using the IPad is a little redundant.

I've always thought that was a stupid and pointless maneuver. There are reasons to learn how to fly using a paper chart/plate (see Zippy's post above), but simulating a dead battery on an e-kneeboard is like simulating that you dropped your paper plate off of your knee. Carry your paper pubs when you have to (because the guys making the decisions now didn't grow up in a world where portable technology was reliable and useful) and preflight your battery. If you're on an 8+ hour mission you might not be able to have it on full brightness for the duration but for the standard 1.5 sortie I'd be more worried about loading the stuff you need on it rather than the battery running out.


FYSA we use KILSWITCH android tablets in the UAV world and haven't had an issue with a battery not lasting for our 6-8 hour sorties.
 

Ken_gone_flying

"I live vicariously through myself."
pilot
Contributor
From the airline perspective... I am pretty happy to be using an ipad in lieu of carrying around pubs. I have gotten into the routine of doing the required updates prior to flight (downloads that sync with Jeppesen and our company publications), download all my weather products via our weather program and the brief, and then download the flight plan/NOTAMs etc. I don't think I have ever been below 50% of battery life even on long flights to south America. But we are required to carry around a hyperjuice battery in case that happens. If the ipad died in flight, then the other pilot (or pilots) have theirs, and we also have a paper copy of our inflight QRH to handle emergencies. A lot of redundancy there. I hope we still are on track for our tech refresh this year to a newer ipad, and that we also get chart capability with JEPPESEN.

Glad to see that the Navy is utilizing this resource more in flight school, and hopefully the fleet.
Do a lot of guys use ForeFlight in the airlines?
 

roflsaurus

"Jet" Pilot
pilot
In RI in vt31 now. I used the ipad in the sims the other day and it was helpful. The IPs will let you use it from what I've seen as long as you're not using the GPS function to give you SA of where you are on the map/approach plate. The FMS is basically the same one as the t-6 in function. You're SA isn't that much better. It's the MFD that is a moving map that makes more of an SA difference. The autopilot/flight guidance/fms are just more shit to know and screw up. It gets better with time I suppose.

Load every approach you shoot in the FMS and direct your instructor to bring up 120 Map mode. Way better SA than the MFD. It definitely sucks learning all that crap, but the sooner you do it the better. Getting the A/P to fly for you in review stage is clutch while handling complex EPs.
 

TA910

"Spoon"
pilot
In RI in vt31 now. I used the ipad in the sims the other day and it was helpful. The IPs will let you use it from what I've seen as long as you're not using the GPS function to give you SA of where you are on the map/approach plate. The FMS is basically the same one as the t-6 in function. You're SA isn't that much better. It's the MFD that is a moving map that makes more of an SA difference. The autopilot/flight guidance/fms are just more shit to know and screw up. It gets better with time I suppose.

Very great gouge! Thanks. Autopilot/flight guidance/fms are something's learned early on? Or is it sometime after contacts?
 

TA910

"Spoon"
pilot
Load every approach you shoot in the FMS and direct your instructor to bring up 120 Map mode. Way better SA than the MFD. It definitely sucks learning all that crap, but the sooner you do it the better. Getting the A/P to fly for you in review stage is clutch while handling complex EPs.

120 map mode is apart of the FMS?
 

roflsaurus

"Jet" Pilot
pilot
120 map mode is apart of the FMS?

Yeah, it's just a mode you can set your HSI to. Nothing you should worry about until RIs. If you show up to ground school knowing your EPs and Ops limits you'll be better off than I was. Enjoy your time off.
 

TA910

"Spoon"
pilot
Yeah, it's just a mode you can set your HSI to. Nothing you should worry about until RIs. If you show up to ground school knowing your EPs and Ops limits you'll be better off than I was. Enjoy your time off.

Thanks. I already have the systems FTI and have started reading it since everyone says it's the most difficult test. Will also look at the EPs and Ops limits. I have three more weeks before I report. Might as well get a head start
 

djj34

Member
pilot
I'll just say my entire class at VT-35 made our winging date. Of our cohorts in VT-31... only 2 did from our original class start date.

The TC-12 might be old and busted but you'll have a blast flying it if you do go to 35. You'll be able to go farther, faster on cross country and out and ins. The fact that it doesn't have glass doesn't really mater. The instructors were class acts and have enough teaching skill that they could probably teach a monkey to speak Japanese in 5 hours. I didn't dislike a single one. The new CO is awesome and my class had not a single negative thing to say about the squadron during our check out debrief. I really hope I get into a squadron that's as good, and I would happily come back as an IP.

Wrt to the original question: it is going to be IP dependent. I asked one if he cared if I used it for plates and plates only, and he said he didn't care as long as I had my paper pubs. I used it on cross country to file and occasionally to navigate. I didn't have a suction cup so I kept it on my kneeboard under my scratch pad, so it was out of sight about 98% of the time. He would occasionally ask me where we were on the charts and have me point on the paper where we were (which is insanely easy with 2 VORs... *cough* T-6 cripple) and if I thought we were where we really were, he didn't really mind me using the GPS.
 
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