Airline announces first iPad navigation system

Posted on: 24 August 2011

Holidaymakers booking low cost flights with United Airlines may be among the first to be piloted by an iPad app replacing paper flight manuals and navigational charts.

The airline emphasised the efficiency and safety improvements it believes this move will bring about. Pilots will now be able to check reference material instantly, rather than being obstructed by thousands of sheets of paper.

In addition, it claims there will be significant positive environmental benefits, with an estimated 1,900 trees a year no longer cut down for paper production. A total of 326,000 gallons of fuel will be saved as well, culling the company's greenhouse gas output by 3,208 metric tons.

Vice president of flight operations for the airline Captain Fred Abbott stated: "The introduction of iPads ensures our pilots have essential and real-time information at their fingertips at all times throughout the flight."

This comes shortly after the airline announced a mobile boarding pass app for passengers.

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