Technology in Flight School

av8rnik · June 12, 2013

Several people have made the suggestion of getting a iPad or iPad mini to use throughout flight training for both aviation type applications but also to have pubs on instead of carrying around hard copies of the pubs. I wanted to put it out there to those who have been through it to see what your thoughts are and any input you might have. Thanks.

WaterRooster · June 12, 2013

You will be issued a laptop at Bco that you can put it all on. Our class was given the option to carry the laptop or the books for flight line. Personally the laptop stays in the bag and I carry hard copies with the digitals on my iPad. The laptop is newer, but it is slow to start and we aren't allowed to plug it in at the field, even to charge. I use my iPad for most of the questions cause I can search on it, but we still have to carry the paper versions.

SBuzzkill · June 12, 2013

They issue laptops now?

I never used most of the pubs that they issued us.

Velocity173 · June 12, 2013

They might allow them for studying but I just heard from and DAC at Lowe that they aren't approved for use in the cockpit yet.

WaterRooster · June 13, 2013

They might allow them for studying but I just heard from and DAC at Lowe that they aren't approved for use in the cockpit yet.

Oh Lord no in the cockpit haha They are dell tablets with the flip screen so it becomes a tablet. Its a new one, but is still heavy and pales in comparison to me Ipad. They have a few programs for use in BWS, but otherwise they are a waste of space to be honest. Maybe one day they might work like they should, but for now it collects dust.

av8rnik · June 13, 2013

So you keep the laptop through flight training? I thought we had to turn it in after WOBC.

SBuzzkill · June 13, 2013

Which is flight school.

Velocity173 · June 13, 2013

Oh Lord no in the cockpit haha They are dell tablets with the flip screen so it becomes a tablet. Its a new one, but is still heavy and pales in comparison to me Ipad. They have a few programs for use in BWS, but otherwise they are a waste of space to be honest. Maybe one day they might work like they should, but for now it collects dust.

What I'm referring to is smaller items like iPads. There's a new letter that's out specifically prohibiting PEDs. Around 2002 there was an AWR authorizing certain PEDs with battery voltages below a certain level. That letter just somehow disapeared and now it falls back on the -10 which says they're a no go. It's a rule that's regularly broken in a unit but at Rucker it isn't going to happen. A student isn't going to be allowed to use some moving map display on their iPad for NAV. Hopefully Redstone catches up with the rest of the world and will allow it in the near future. Edited June 13, 2013 by Velocity173

Dutch · June 13, 2013

Get an Ipad and the app foreflight. That's the only reason I got through instuments. Good reader is another good app for pubs, regs, -10 ect. The laptop thing must be new, but I would still rather have my own ipad that I setup with my stuff.

d10 · June 13, 2013

There's an AWR for using IPads in flight. My old unit is currently using them.

Velocity173 · June 13, 2013

There's an AWR for using IPads in flight. My old unit is currently using them.

Does it specifically list what PEDs are allowed?

Velocity173 · June 13, 2013

It appears there isn't a blanket AWR. Just asked a bunch of buds currently flying 60s and they all said the same thing, no blanket AWR. One guy said 101st has one though.

We all use things that violate the EMI warning in the -10 and most commanders look the other way. We used old Garmin GPS 12s in Iraq and Garmin GPS 496s in Afghanistan. You've got reporters in the back of your aircraft with video cameras. The crews all bring cameras and use them as well. As far as Rucker though, I'd say there's a good chance your IPs aren't going to let you use it in the cockpit. There is no Task-Conduct terrain flight NAV. Conditions-with an uncertified personal electronic device.

So basically it depends on how anal your SPs are in adhering to the rules. If they have common sense, they'll pretend not to know about it and look the other way.

akscott60 · June 13, 2013

Jeez. Fight school is changing and I havent been done for more than a year.

Velocity173 · June 13, 2013

Jeez. Fight school is changing and I havent been done for more than a year.

E6Bs and 1:50,000s maps.

WaterRooster · June 13, 2013

E6Bs and 1:50,000s maps.

Those are still here haha yah I dont see foreflight being used in the cockpit at rucker. I used it extensively in the commercial fixed wing side and ti is pretty awesome. Oh well. The laptop its self is just for study and is a waste that we have to have till we leave.

d10 · June 14, 2013

It appears there isn't a blanket AWR. Just asked a bunch of buds currently flying 60s and they all said the same thing, no blanket AWR. One guy said 101st has one though.

That's the unit I was referring to. I left just before they got it so I don't know all the details, but I've heard it's very specific. Like there are guys who have their own 16GB IPads that can't be used because the AWR only covers the 32GB version, or something like that.

Velocity173 · June 14, 2013

That's the unit I was referring to. I left just before they got it so I don't know all the details, but I've heard it's very specific. Like there are guys who have their own 16GB IPads that can't be used because the AWR only covers the 32GB version, or something like that.

Yeah a friend of mine at Belvour said they have to test each individual aircraft and his unit didn't have the money to get it done. Apparently 101st does. You'd think they would just test each model of 60 and If there's no interference just issue a blanket AWR.

vani58 · June 14, 2013

I just finished flight school, one of the last classes not to be issued a laptop. From what I understand, the laptops are great in terms of being able to do mission planning at home, but aside from that they are very cumbersome. I had all my pubs loaded on my iPad - in my flight line class, probably 2/3 of the students and IPs used their personal iPads to reference pubs.

DMoss · June 14, 2013

Are these apps available on Android tablets as well?

vani58 · June 15, 2013

For reading publications in PDF, yes. If you want to pay for ForeFlight or pretty much anything else, I don't believe so.

Lindsey · June 15, 2013

Foreflight rocks. Got an iPad mini, just scoutin' around for a kneeboard case now for civilian flyin'.

vani58 · June 15, 2013

Does anybody use any sort of logbook app on their iPad/iPhone/Android device/PC, even?

SBuzzkill · June 15, 2013

I take it you're looking for something that you can update from any of those platforms. I have an Excel program on my laptop that works great and I customized to fit the way I want to log time. If I want to access it from another computer I just e-mail it. It took me a couple of hours to format and write in the formulas but it's nice now that's it's done.

That said, I haven't used it since I got a paper logbook.

Edited June 15, 2013 by SBuzzkill

Velocity173 · June 15, 2013

While a logbook is important in keeping track of individual flights, I can tell you most employers just want to see your 759 printout. They don't have time to look at each flight you've done. Some don't even request to look at anything in the interview.