Hi Dave,
You're free to do so, of course.
The article clearly states that paper charts are being eliminated by the iPad. The iPad is lead-free, ergo there's no backup to the iPad except perhaps redundancy as both the pilot and co-pilot bring maps on board so will both have iPads.
It's unlikely (but certainly possible) that both iPads will have whisker shorts at the same time or even have software glitches as they are, after all, commercial devices not intended for controlling the flights of airplanes so don't pass the same rigorous testing that avionics must pass. Why the airline isn't getting Boeing and Airbus to put the maps in their standard highly rugged and reliable non-RoHS avionics is a question I'd like answered. Why rush to adopt iPads?
You know there's no way to calculate the probability to whisker (i.e. that's why the GEIA gave up on a standard that calculated the reliability of lead-free assemblies (according to Ed Morris who I saw last week). Lyudmyla Panachenko at NASA says "sometimes tin whiskers" and that's good enough evidence for me to speculate that there will be a problem, especially as NASA and CALCE both found tin whiskers or the likelhood they will appear in Toyota's pedal assy and ECM. This is a scientific speculation based on the article's facts.
Its one thing to have cellphones that are lead-free but I'm not at all comfortable with the idea that United will be relying on iPads for approach plates, etc... I've had some stick time in general aviation (and 30 minutes in the right seat of a B-17). I'll continue to use paper maps until I can find a device that doesn't have a RoHS sticker on it! I prefer to fly on airlines that don't use lead-free commercial electronics!
That's why companies like Philips Medical Systems doesn't make lead-free defibrilators; they have to work the first time and every time they are used and that's what I want in the cockpit.
Bob Landman
LDF Coatings, LLC
H&L Instruments, LLC
________________________________
From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Friday, August 26, 2011 11:48 AM
To: Bob Landman
Cc: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] United Airlines Invests in 11,000 iPads
Hi Bob - sorry but I am going take exception to what you seem to be suggesting. United is replacing paper manuals and charts with a mobile electronic device - seems like a logical and sound approach to information/data management. The press release says nothing about tin whiskers nor contains information on the use or backup protocol for device operational use. Without additional information and explanation, suggesting there is a tin whisker problem is how rumors get started. We certainly don't need to cause added frenzy without adequate information. I suggest we get additional information before we plow down that road.
Dave Hillman
Rockwell Collins
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Bob Landman <[log in to unmask]>
Sent by: TechNet <[log in to unmask]>
08/26/2011 10:26 AM
Please respond to
Bob Landman <[log in to unmask]>
To
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cc
Subject
[TN] United Airlines Invests in 11,000 iPads
one slight problem - tin whiskers!
http://www.calce.umd.edu/articles/abstracts/2011/Tin_whisker_Toyota_throttle_abstract.html
Bob
United Airlines Invests in 11,000 iPads
All United and Continental pilots will be armed with iPads before the year is out.
Apple just this year replaced all of the paper signage across its Apple Stores with iPads and now it seems another major company has decided to take a portion of its business the paperless route.
United Airlines this week announced that it will adopt a paperless flight deck and distribute 11,000 iPads to United and Continental pilots as part of a new electronic flight bag scheme. United said in a statement that the electronic flight bags (EFB) will replace paper flight manuals, and, a first for major network carriers, provide pilots with paperless aeronautical navigational charts through a special iPad app, Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck.
"The paperless flight deck represents the next generation of flying," said Captain Fred Abbott, United's senior vice president of flight operations. "The introduction of iPads ensures our pilots have essential and real-time information at their fingertips at all times throughout the flight."
A conventional flight bag full of paper materials contains an average of 12,000 sheets of paper per pilot. United says that each 1.5 iPad will replace 38 pounds of paper operating manuals, navigation charts, reference handbooks, flight checklists, logbooks and weather information in a pilot's flight bag.
"The green benefits of moving to EFBs are two-fold-it significantly reduces paper use and printing, and, in turn, reduces fuel consumption," United said in a statement. "The airline projects EFBs will save nearly 16 million sheets of paper a year which is equivalent to more than 1,900 trees not cut down. Saving 326,000 gallons of jet fuel a year reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 3,208 metric tons."
Distribution of the iPads began earlier this month, with all pilots expected to have them by the end of 2011.
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/United-Airlines-ipad-flight-bag-maps,news-12273.html
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