Alaska Airlines has just announced that everyones favorite tablet computer is going to replace paper flight manuals for pilots operating their aircraft. The move to the 1.5lbs iPad is intended to improve efficiency and reduce environmental waste by replacing up to 25lbs of paper flight manuals.

Here are some more details, courtesy of AlaskaAir:

The iPads contain an app called GoodReader that is loaded with PDF versions of 41 flight, systems and performance manuals, reference cards, and other materials. The electronic manuals include hyperlinks and color graphics, enabling pilots to find information faster and easier. Updating these reference materials can now be accomplished with one tap on the iPad screen instead of the former, labor-intensive process of replacing individual pages with new ones. The iPad is considered a Class 1 electronic device, meaning it is stowed during takeoff and landing under Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

The transition into the digital age will be complete by mid-June of this year, and is expected to save 2.4 million pieces of paper overall.

First the iPad became a restaurant menu, and now the iPad is replacing paper manuals for pilots on Alaska Airlines, is there anything this little device won’t do? Maybe Alaska Airlines will equip the iPads with the G-Form Extreme Sleeve so if a pilot accidentally tosses it out the airplane window it will survive? Whatever they do, let’s hope they keep those batteries well charged!



Fascinating news via Engadget