Avionics News August 2013 - 37

Keith Williams, avionics install supervisor with StandardAero, uses his iPad to review drawings at the aircraft. Williams’ iPad rests in a toolbox mount,
which keeps it close to the work and safe from drop damage. The iPad will quickly snap out of the mount to use inside the aircraft.

Manuals, Tech Pubs, Research
With the iPad’s lightweight, untethered portability, you can
take it virtually anywhere, from a sales meeting to the shop floor
to the tarmac. Of all the ways you can use the iPad on the go,
accessing information easily tops the list.
“Our maintenance department uses them to access technical publications and research more information right where
they are, even while working on an aircraft,” said Genaro
Sanchez, director of marketing and communications for Cutter Aviation, which operates several aircraft service centers
in the southwestern U.S.
John A. Cogley Jr., StandardAero’s senior manager of avionics in Augusta, Ga., agreed. “Internet access at the aircraft is
helpful to research issues, view manufacturer’s technical information and look up vendor phone numbers,” he said. “The iPad
has 3G, which allows access even when a Wi-Fi signal is not
available.” StandardAero operates AEA-member aircraft service
centers in Arizona, Georgia, Illinois and Texas.
Need to see more detail? The iPad allows you to zoom in for
a closer look at any part of the document. And with its color
display, you can easily see components like wiring highlighted
in different colors.
“The PDF viewer app can view any PDF document at the
aircraft,” Cogley said. “This allows access to technical manuals, wiring and structural diagrams. The documents also may be
modified, which reduces the time required to update and return
red-lined drawings. Of course, not all manuals are available via
the iPad but any that can be converted and saved as a PDF can
be brought to the aircraft.”

In the future, manufacturers could take advantage of the iPad’s
functionality and create maintenance manuals with media-rich
options, such as putting information in motion, as well as embedding videos to show exactly how to accomplish a task.
As with their professional counterparts, aviation schools are
embracing iPads, too.
“Most of our students have iPads or laptops, and we do utilize
them in the program,” said Robert Laurie instructor at Mohawk
College’s School of Aviation in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
“Most of our maintenance manuals are online or electronic
format.”
To-do Lists, Troubleshooting, Testing
The iPad apps (short for applications) provide a variety of
useful options, from making to-do lists to troubleshooting to
testing equipment.
“The Wi-Fi analyzer app is useful for viewing aircraft Wi-Fi
system information,” Cogley said. “There’s a tool for testing
installed broadband systems, charging systems and XM Weather
Systems.”
Flight Planning
The opportunity to shed paper in the cockpit drew pilots to
the iPad from the beginning. At less than 1.5 pounds, the iPad
is much easier on your back, helping to reduce the amount of
paperwork to carry.
“Our pilots in the charter department use them to download
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Avionics News August 2013

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