American Airlines Using iPad For Electronic Flight Charts

Alexander Udalov — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 17:19:49 +0000

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted approval to use iPads during all stages of flight for the passenger planes of American Airlines. This means that pilots and flight engineers will use it right in their cockpits, and not just for playing Angry Birds during the rest breaks.

American Airlines (AA) conducted the first tests of iPads for all phases of flight on Thursday.

AA pilots received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approval to test iPads with electronic charts this summer. American Airlines will be the first airline in the world to be fully approved to use iPads throughout the whole flight. The first iPad-flights are set to take off on Friday.

“On Friday, American Airlines is the first airline in the world to be fully FAA approved to use iPads during all phases of flight. Pilots will use iPads as electronic chart and digital flight manual readers. The airline will begin iPad operations on B-777 aircraft, and then implement across all other fleets. By using electronic charts and manuals, the safety and efficiency on the flight deck is significantly enhanced. Both the iPad I and the iPad II have been approved for use. Other airlines such as United, Alaska, and UPS are also reviewing this potential, but none have been approved to conduct flight operations in all phases of flight except American. This FAA approval cumulates the results from a 6 month test period whereby American flew thousands of hours with iPads to test and evaluate the product.”

The obvious target here is saving on many pounds of paper documentation and manuals: Seattle Pi notes that a 1.5 pound iPad replaces about 35 pounds of paper saving an estimated $1.2 million worth of fuel per year.

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Honda flies its HondaJet advanced light business jet with FAA conformity

Michael Kwan — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 14:43:56 +0000

The FAA-conforming HondaJet just successfully completed its maiden voyage over the skies of Greensboro, North Carolina, the site of Honda Aircraft Company’s world headquarters. The bird was in the air for just under an hour and it seems that everything is peachy keen on the FAA conformity front. This places the plane that much closer to commercial viability by 2012, just as Honda had planned.

The jet has an interesting design, similar to that of a hummingbird, Honda must have been playing in the wind tunnel for some time. It’s a shame there’s no hybridization for the HondaJet, reading the press release below it appears to be a typical fuel burning sky flyer. It can up to as far as1400 nm (1611 mi/ 2593 km) and carry 2 crew + 6 passenger with 57 cubic feet of cargo.

[Honda Jet]

Honda Achieves First Flight of FAA-Conforming HondaJet

Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., today announced that it has successfully completed the first flight of its FAA-conforming HondaJet advanced light business jet. The event is a significant step in Honda’s aerospace program leading to delivery of aircraft in 2012.

The first conforming HondaJet lifted off yesterday, December 20, 2010, at 15:31 EST from Honda Aircraft Company’s world headquarters facility at the Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro, North Carolina. The HondaJet remained aloft for 51 minutes, during which time the aircraft’s flight characteristics and performance were analyzed and systems checks were conducted. Various test data gathered during the flight were transmitted real-time to Honda’s flight test telemetry operations base within the company’s world headquarters facility.

“This is a very important milestone for the HondaJet program,” said Michimasa Fujino, Honda Aircraft Company President and CEO. “This aircraft was assembled and tested under strict FAA certification processes, and we are very pleased to have achieved this successful first flight. Our team has worked extremely hard to reach this critical step in the HondaJet program, and these results reflect Honda’s focus and determination to develop a class-leading aircraft.”

“We are very encouraged by our initial review of the flight data, which indicates the conforming HondaJet performed as expected. As we move forward, we will continue to focus all of our efforts and energy to deliver to our customers the most advanced light business jet yet created,” said Fujino.

To support the company’s certification program, Honda has completed its second FAA-conforming aircraft, which already has undergone numerous structural tests required for commencement of certification flight testing. Honda also has completed mating of main assemblies for its third FAA-conforming aircraft, which is now in the systems installation phase of completion. This third conforming aircraft, to be used mainly for mechanical systems flight testing, is scheduled to be completed in early 2011. A total of five FAA-conforming aircraft, including one additional flight test aircraft and one additional structural test aircraft, are planned to support the HondaJet certification program.

While Honda enters the flight test program with its conforming HondaJet, the company also nears completion of its aircraft production facility on its Greensboro campus. The 266,000 ft2 HondaJet production facility is scheduled for completion in early 2011, with the final phase of interior build-out now underway. Upon completion of the production facility, Honda will begin the process of moving equipment and personnel into the facility and undertaking pre-production preparations and training necessary to support HondaJet production ramp-up beginning in 2012.

About HondaJet
Honda Aircraft Company, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Honda Motor Company, Ltd., has amassed orders for well over 100 HondaJet advanced light business jets. Scheduled for first delivery in the third quarter of 2012, the $4.5 million HondaJet is Honda’s first-ever commercial aircraft and lives up to the company’s reputation for dynamic performance together with superior efficiency. The HondaJet proof-of-concept aircraft has accumulated more than 500 flight test hours and attained both a top speed of 420 knots (483 mph) and a maximum altitude of 43,000 ft. in flight testing.

The HondaJet incorporates many innovative technological advances in aviation design, including a unique over-the-wing engine-mount configuration that dramatically improves aircraft performance and fuel efficiency by significantly reducing aerodynamic drag in flight. This innovative approach to airframe design also lowers ground-detected noise when overhead and allows for a more spacious cabin and greater cargo capacity. The HondaJet is powered by two highly fuel-efficient GE Honda HF120 turbofan jet engines.

The production HondaJet flight deck features a Honda-customized Garmin® G3000 next-generation all-glass avionics system incorporating a class-leading layout with three 14-inch landscape-format displays and dual touch-screen controllers for overall avionics control and flight plan entries. The HondaJet Avionics Suite is the most advanced glass flight deck available in any light business jet and provides state-of-the-art integrated avionics functionality featuring split screen MFD capability, satellite weather, graphical synoptics, digital audio, and optional Synthetic Vision.
Learn more about HondaJet at www.hondajet.com.

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American Airlines Using iPad For Electronic Flight Charts

Honda flies its HondaJet advanced light business jet with FAA conformity