Market Trends
iPad makes its way to the Airbus cockpit
After the Less Paper Cockpit and Paperless Cockpit program, both which use the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), Airbus continues innovating by introducing the iPads to its cockpit.
Airline pilots are very enthusiastic about using tactile-friendly and lightweight information-management system.
Airbus CEO Tom Enders said the iPad was “changing the way pilots interact with the aircraft” and Airbus will be the first to offer more operational benefits to airlines with powerful applications on iPads.
FlySmart with Airbus (FSA) is the system in today’s Electronic Flight Bag and is already made available by Airbus on all its current production aircraft. Now, the same programs will be available on iPads applications.
The first ‘wave’ of these applications will be ready as early as this summer. Pilots will be able to consult operational manuals (i.e., FCOM, AFM, MEL) via a Library Browser. They will also be able to handle performance calculations through the Take-off and Landing performance applications.
The next ‘wave’ will add more performance as well as Load Sheets, Flight Folder and Navigation Charts applications. And to continue with its long-established approach of commonality between aircraft types, Airbus will propose the same interface in all current production aircraft.
In the words of Tom Enders at the 2011 Aerotech Conference in Toulouse: “The impact of such products, from outside the world of aviation, are starting to dictate what people expect from us and we can’t ignore that.”
For more information contact:
Gisele Gemon Saintemarie
Technical Marketing Manager
gisele.gemon@airbus.com
