Marine Corps aviators depend on iPad
Aviators for the United States Marine Corps (USMC) in Afghanistan have ejected heavy stacks of paper charts and grid reference graphics from their cockpits and replaced them with the iPad according to a report by Tony Osborne for The Shephard Group. The popularity of the iPad among marine flight crews took off last November when one Cobra pilot figured out how to load digital maps onto the device.
In Afghanistan, identifying compounds and landmarks from the air can be difficult. To eliminate guesswork and better coordinate missions with international ground forces, USMC pilots arm themselves with a plethora of maps of the region. Prior to digitization, paper charts and grids would fill cramped cockpits and require additional training and attention to read correctly. The iPad saves space and allows pilots to search for locations with a few quick taps of their fingers, making it significantly easier for aviators to identify compounds and quickly offer air support.
"It's a game changer," Capt. John Belsha told The Shephard Group. "It's all about sharing situational awareness and using the iPad is much better than using a paper chart."Work is reportedly underway to integrate the iPad into aircraft in the US to allow Marine aviators to receive flight training with digital maps.
USMC pilots aren't the only group embracing iPads in the cockpit. Earlier this month, Alaska Airlines announced plans to replace various flight, systems, and performance manuals (and eventually paper aeronautical charts) with digital copies on the iPad. Apple's tablet would eliminate up to 50 pounds of paper that its pilots must lug onto every flight.
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Work is reportedly underway to integrate the iPad into aircraft in the U.S. to allow Marine aviators to receive flight training with digital maps.
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@iGlad
If you're an American taxpayer, part of every dollar you pay in taxes supports the war. Who did you vote for in the last election? The current president? Guess what...he authorized the surge. Who are your senators and reps? Guess what...I bet they voted for the surge, too.
So, if the iPad gives them BETTER targeting data, and BETTER imagery, would you rather they work off paper maps and images while clipping along at 600 MPH, trying to hit a target? Or, would you want them to have MORE accurate technology in order to NOT have as much collateral damage/
Good to know people are still shooting their mouths off without thinking! Back to your hole, troll!
Well, at least your comforted there are American deaths as well.
May 31 2011 at 6:49 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyOh and just to be clear, I'm not taking a shot at "progressives." My intent is to call this person out (or at least their snide comment) as being anything but "progressive."
May 31 2011 at 5:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWhat an absurd comment, then again, I'm sure you're very "progressive."
May 31 2011 at 5:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyNew ad:
"If you ask a Marine fighter pilot, he might say call it 'kick-ass bitchen'"
This is an IA nightmare if these things start getting plugged in to live networks.
May 31 2011 at 3:38 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYou can't plug anything into the network that would have this data (maps and images). It would be moved from a network computer to a standalone computer via CD, and then transferred to the iPad from the standalone computer.
This WOULD be an IA nightmare, if the IA rules regarding classified networks weren't so draconian, especially post-Bradley Manning.
You have no idea how right you are. Currently no flash storage medium can be connected to a computer on the mil network. The only way to sync iPads would be to sync them with isolated boxes off the network.
June 01 2011 at 7:47 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyUh, why doesn't the plane have a screen and software to display maps built into it? You order a $2 billion plane and you have add a $500 iPad as an accessory? Didn't the designers of the planes watch "Star Trek" like Steve Jobs did?
May 31 2011 at 3:04 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyAn EMP would suck. Fighter jets (and not even all of them) are EMP-hardened. iPads... are probably not.
May 31 2011 at 2:45 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyNow this is an Apple commercial I would like to see.
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