FlightPrep - Using Motion Tablet PCs for Safer, More Efficient Flights
Background: Providing a Technology-Based System for Airplane Navigation
To save time and fuel and remain safe in the air, accurate navigation is of utmost importance for pilots. Until recently, the only option the more than 600,000 small-plane pilots in the United States had was to carry every map and chart the Federal Aviation Administration required at all times – up to 60 pounds of paper.
Executives at Stenbock and Everson, Inc. — an aviation firm providing pilots with flight accessories, and aircraft supplies — realized that pilots wanted the paper out of their cockpits. They formed a division called FlightPrep in 2001 and developed a software program to provide pilots with every chart and map mandated by the FAA in CD-ROM format. In 2002, they released Chart Case software, which pilots download to their personal computers for use in-flight. They then receive CD-ROMs in the mail every 28 days with chart and map updates required by the FAA.
Chart Case software performs all of the flight planning and mapping functions for a pilot. It contains all maps and charts published by the government, working with a GPS system to keep the plane on target, and helps pilots to accurately view an approach. In addition, the software enables satellite downloads for weather updates while in-flight and can instantly plot a mid-flight change in course.
Challenge: Need for a Cockpit-Friendly Computer
With a strong format for electronic flight planning and mapping, FlightPrep needed to find a computer that would be effective for use in the cockpit. Laptops block instruments when in a pilot’s lap and are dangerous anywhere else in the cockpit. Tablet PCs — which are small enough to be used in flight without obstructing the pilot’s instruments and are just as powerful as laptops — became the first choice for FlightPrep to run Chart Case software.
In 2003, FlightPrep began selling Electronic Flight Bags — convertible or slate tablet PCs loaded with Chart Case software for in-flight use. Pilots readily accepted the tablet format for use during flight. The tablet’s mobility and light weight let the pilot attach it to the control yoke or on a knee board. But while Electronic Flight Bags were being steadily adopted, FlightPrep realized the tablet models it was selling had shortcomings, primarily that the screens could not adapt to changing light and brightness conditions while in the air.
Solution: Wireless Navigation with Motion Tablet PCs
FlightPrep started a search for the latest in tablet PC technologies to offer its customers. When the Motion Computing LS800 tablet arrived at the FlightPrep offices for trial, company executives knew they had found the right fit.
The Motion tablet solves FlightPrep’s primary concern with its View-Anywhere® display technology, which enables pilots to read and navigate applications whether they are in clouds or direct sunlight. In addition, the Motion tablet provides ease-of-use and an ergonomic design, lending to quick integration into the cockpit. FlightPrep customers can choose either a Motion LE1600, a full-sized, 12.1-inch slate tablet weighing 3.1 pounds, or an LS800, which at 2.2 pounds and with an 8.4-inch display, is the most compact slate PC available.
“We had a need for a small, light, bright, and economically feasible tablet PC,” said John Bouyea, director of marketing for FlightPrep. “Motion hits all of those sweet spots. The screen, which is an extremely important feature for a pilot, is far superior to anything else we’ve seen. The Motion tablet has a usable form-factor in a fairly-priced package.”
Results: Electronic Navigation Increases Safety and Efficiency of Flights
FlightPrep now offers only Motion tablets to its customers, and has seen an increase in both profits and number of units sold since offering Motion tablets in November 2004. In fact, according to Bouyea, the Motion tablet helped business increase in the hundreds of percent over last year.
FlightPrep customers are pleased with how the combination of the Motion tablet and Chart Case software aids with navigation and overall safety. The Motion tablet’s processing power allows for multiple programs to run simultaneously and permits access to large quantities of information at one time. Rather than flipping through a 400-page flight book searching for an answer, a pilot can have an instantaneous view of flight maps, weather updates, alternative approaches, and emergency checklists, and can easily tap on the tablet’s screen to look up different information.
Also, without 60 pounds of FAA-required charts and maps in the plane, a pilot can carry 10 extra gallons of fuel – enough for an hour of flying time. This time can mean longer trips and, more importantly, an extra hour of time in case of bad weather or other flight mishaps.
“The Motion tablet with FlightPrep software allows me to fly from terminal to landing using only one device,” said pilot Don Taliaferro.
In addition to increased safety, pilots using Electronic Flight Bags realize a favorable cost-benefit ratio in their investments. Buying paper charts from the FAA costs $1,400 to $1,700 annually. An Electronic Flight Bag is a one-time investment with a low annual fee to update charts, providing a return on investment in less than two years – much less than the lifespan of the product.
“Pilots are very open and curious about ways to apply new solutions to problems they’ve been facing for a long time,” said Bouyea. “That’s why the Motion tablets and the Chart Case software are so popular – they’re an answer to these problems.”
This document has been written using information provided by FlightPrep, an authorized reseller of Motion Computing, Inc. products. The use of Motion products described here is not endorsed or approved by Motion.
