Do you use an iPad in the cockpit? Would you?

[Flash]

Since I dropped my IPad 2 about 3 feet and it now has a crack in the screen, I wold say there may be some durability issues with IPads.

I would equate it to the Toughbooks the Navy bought for the maintainers. There were rated for a 6 foot drop, so all we have to do is make sure we don't buy any aircraft over 6 feet tall and we'll be all set!

Buy a better case! My little one has roughed ours up several times but with the case it's in it has fared very well.

 

[Hozer]

especially if an AW gets anywhere near them

True, but can you imagine the quality porn?
All that lovely gibberish about integrated/synthetic/network stuff is great, but as of late last year the mighty war pig was showing up to an OP (usually late) in the 'stan with no GRG's, much less relevant imagery. But I imagine the P-8 will cure all of that...
Now, about that comms brevity....

 

[helolumpy]

I mean it's not like we're plugging them into the Link or something. Not to mention iOS is a few security generations ahead of the god damn Windows XP we insist on running.

The problem isn't the iOS, it's the apps. I heard from a coworker that some apps are made in countries that may be on the "other side" geopolitically. One more common app, GoodReader was designed in Russia so the Air Force cancelled the buy.

http://www.teleread.com/chris-meado...lectronic-flight-bag-program-over-goodreader/

 

[Gatordev]

Gatordev: Skids have been using iPads in country for awhile, and I haven't heard of any durability issues (not that that doesn't mean there aren't any).

Like I said, I have a hard time believing they'll hold up (in their current form), but if there's additions to the unit to help (like Rob mentioned), then great. I think the idea is great, but I question the practicality of it, especially on cruise when trying to get updated charts/pubs from NGS (with your CAC, of course) over BoatNet. I hope I'm proven wrong, but I think it will take a while to be wide-spread.

 

[jtmedli]

Maybe I'm dumb, but I don't see the requirement. Paper is easy, you can write on it, highlight it, they have a hundred copies of the things in Pubs, it fits in your bag. To me, it's easier to flip through a book, turn a page, highlight something I'm interested in looking at later, etc. Even on my Kindle, it's tough to flip through something and find something on a specific page, or a picture. Also, it's tough to look at a huge chart on a small screen unless you are already pretty familiar with the chart. Plus, like Brett said, the Navy isn't going to get rid of paper pubs. You'll still have to carry them as backups in case your battery dies, screen fails, coffee is spilled on it, etc. Nothing ever goes away in the military, shit just gets added on. Not to mention the fact that you'd be upgrading/changing the thing every 4-8 weeks, just like we do with paper pubs. I think it would be harder to upgrade 20 iPads than it would be to throw three boxes of pubs in the recycle bin and put new ones on the shelf. Paperless isn't always better, just ask the FDO's that have to deal with TIMS on a daily basis. As soon as it crashes or slows down they can't update the schedule, planes can't get issued, gradesheets can't be submitted. It's a clusterfuck.

CNATRA sent out a survey asking about the e-bookbag and what we thought about switching to e-FTIs and other stuff. I personally don't like it...again, I like to have pages to flip through, highlight, and study later rather than flipping through page by page on a screen.

Wait until YOU have to start paying for those 1000's of copies of PUBS. Gets expensive quick which is why the civilian world has adopted them so willingly. No more paying $10/plate or chart every 3 months. Also, ever consider how many pubs it takes to fly long-distances? We did a CCX up to D.C. when I was in primary and had 2 grocery bags full of sectionals, high/low charts, TACs, approach plates, and Supps to get us up there. My Ipad holds all that AND highlights it for me AND files my flight plan for me AND kicks out a Jet Log via the FltPlan.com app in about 5 mins.

As far as E-FTIs goes...I haven't touched a paper FTI since I got my Ipad. Not to sound redundant, but the 'MyEditor' will open the PDF files and allow you copy/paste/highlight/save whatever you want. Not to mention that magical CTRL-F function. That noise works wonders when you're digging through the NATOPs for some weird-ass NatopsQOTD.

As with all things, dont knock it 'til you try it. Having the paper copy is nice sometimes, but 9 times out of 10 my Ipad is faster and lighter.

 

[jtmedli]

Like I said, I have a hard time believing they'll hold up (in their current form), but if there's additions to the unit to help (like Rob mentioned), then great. I think the idea is great, but I question the practicality of it, especially on cruise when trying to get updated charts/pubs from NGS (with your CAC, of course) over BoatNet. I hope I'm proven wrong, but I think it will take a while to be wide-spread.

I agree that durability would be the biggest issue, but with that said, wouldn't it still be cheaper to give out/fix tablets than pay for 10000's of copies of each PUB every 3-4 months? That's pretty much where my head was at on the matter.

 

[phrogdriver]

My opinion is that the current culture in naval Aviation would be to use electronic pubs as a backup to paper pubs, so that muddies the water a bit too.

Using the e-version as a backup to paper? Really? That's the inverse of all that is holy. That's like using sterilization as a backup to the rhythm method.

If the iPad or equivalent can be appropriately hardened and made secure, it is the answer to so many problems.

We are stuck in the past in so many ways. Why not relieve some self-imposed pain?

As for the boat, it's still got to be easier to send electrons, however slowly, than several hundred pounds of paper pubs. I think that the speed of light is still faster than a helo or COD.

 

[Gatordev]

I agree that durability would be the biggest issue, but with that said, wouldn't it still be cheaper to give out/fix tablets than pay for 10000's of copies of each PUB every 3-4 months? That's pretty much where my head was at on the matter.

It's pretty easy to build a $500 C2D computer, but EDS (and whoever took over for them) can't seem to do that without going over budget with NMCI. So call me cynical.

As for the boat, it's still got to be easier to send electrons, however slowly, than several hundred pounds of paper pubs. I think that the speed of light is still faster than a helo or COD.

This assumes the electrons can get to the boat. Something, historically, I've found to be a problem. But everyone has brand new DDGs and DD21 ships now, so we should be good, right?

 

[lowflier03]

If nothing else, then get the pubs on CD on the boat. We would save a shit-ton of money, waste and asspain by moving to these. I'm trying to look up the IFC right now as I would love to use an iPad in flight (officially of course). Throw out a contract request, or just a polite question to Otterbox about making a case with an NVG screen and I'm sure they would jump on it. (and we would already be 20 years ahead of anything PMA decides to try and develop.)

 

[HueyCobra8151]

NVG screens are out, they are relatively expensive though.

Someone talked about it, but the maps are geo-refrenced, so as you zoom in you go from JOG to Sectional to Tactical Map (1:50,000), etc...

The problem with putting a super rugged case around the ipad itself is that it potentially interferes with the leg strap that is designed for just the tablet.

 

[pilot_man]

These things are huge in a tactical sort of way. The only issue is that if you give me a iPad, I will want it to be a Secret iPad. Then you run into all kinds of issues with getting a Secret type iTunes. Being able to put every map, and town, and building in my cockpit and in a JTAC's hands is priceless. But in order to do so, I need it to be Secret. I'd hate to see this go through normal Navy procurement. They'll take a normal $400 iPad and turn it into a $6,000 one. Give me a standalone Secret machine that I can load both Secret tactical data, and Unclass flight pubs on and this thing will be invaluable.

 

[Brett327]

Using the e-version as a backup to paper? Really? That's the inverse of all that is holy.

Strike that, reverse it.

 

[Pags]

If you could get the iPad to work with JMPS, that'd be best, since that's the way the wind is blowing. Plus, JMPS DAFIF is already updated, it would just have to be pushed to the iPad.

If all you used the iPad for was maps and pubs, there would be no need for it to be classified, since it's not like our nav bags are classified. But as soon as you start putting freqs and targeting info, now you'll need to classify the thing and it will thn forever be a classified asset.

 

[squorch2]

Slap a red sticker on it - boom, secret?

 

[hscs]

If you could get the iPad to work with JMPS, that'd be best, since that's the way the wind is blowing. Plus, JMPS DAFIF is already updated, it would just have to be pushed to the iPad.

If all you used the iPad for was maps and pubs, there would be no need for it to be classified, since it's not like our nav bags are classified. But as soon as you start putting freqs and targeting info, now you'll need to classify the thing and it will thn forever be a classified asset.

I am in staff hell right now, but isn't JMPS classified?