The iPad 2 has been widely adopted by the mainstream consumer market and we have heard of lawyers, IT professionals and even car salesmen adopting the product to help with their jobs. Earlier this week the New York Times reported that The Federal Aviation Administration have also cleared a selection of carriers to use the tablet computer now as an electronic flight bag.

Jim Freeman, director of flight standards at Alaska Airlines, and a pilot himself said “The iPad allows pilots to quickly and nimbly access information, When you need to a make a decision in the cockpit, three to four minutes fumbling with paper is an eternity.” They have given iPads to all their pilots.

Technically, it seems like a good move, as pilots can lose a lot of paper weight on their travels. The iPad allows them to consult digital flight, systems and performance manuals – quickly and without having to hunt through paper literature. The project won't end here, as the next stage of the project (to read aeronautical charts) means that pilots could lose another five pounds of paper weight, per person. You can read more on this, over here.

Kitguru says: We would also assume that the stewards and stewardesses don't ask the pilots to turn them off, during takeoff.

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