Narrative:

This report summarizes the limitations and restrictions the ipad imposes during use as encountered during flight. While providing crews with electronic access to flight manuals; fom; etc; it has multiple document viewing limitations that hamper use; and causes frustration and distractions within the cockpit. Limitations are; 1. Only one document can be viewed at a time. This is extremely cumbersome as it takes time to close down and open document; find the next document; look up information needed; close it down; locate the previous document; open it; and re-find the previous information. 2. Auto time out - this is currently set to auto lock the ipad at 5 minutes; and a maximum time out of 15 minutes before requiring re-entry of pass code. This causes distractions as one must stop and re-open the ipad if not touched within that time and if left longer than 15 min; the large pass code lock must be re-typed to open the device. This is unacceptable during critical phases of flight if a document page or flight plan has been called up for reference; and the auto system times out. This occurred numerous times during flight; and was a source of major distractions. 3. Multiple apps must be used to reference the applicable documents utilized during flight - one app contains the flight manuals and fom; however to view the sabre flight plans which can be downloaded; one must utilize the ibook reader or the offline browser. Unlike current paper cockpits; one can have the flight plan open for viewing; as well as a reference page from the flight manual; as well as an approach chart; and easily view all three. Not so with the current capabilities of different apps for different documents limitations of the ipad. 4. Inability to highlight; underscore; etc; sections of documents that may quickly be returned to later if needed. One can bookmark a page; but when switching between documents; this only returns the user to the last bookmark even though multiple bookmarks may have originally been selected; effectively rendering multiple page referencing useless. There is an index; but no way to quickly find one of the many pages one might have bookmarked.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air Carrier First Officer describes the limitations of his iPad EFB that he is now required to use; as he sees them.

Narrative: This report summarizes the limitations and restrictions the iPad imposes during use as encountered during flight. While providing crews with electronic access to flight manuals; FOM; etc; it has multiple document viewing limitations that hamper use; and causes frustration and distractions within the cockpit. Limitations are; 1. Only one document can be viewed at a time. This is extremely cumbersome as it takes time to close down and open document; find the next document; look up information needed; close it down; locate the previous document; open it; and re-find the previous information. 2. Auto time out - this is currently set to auto lock the iPad at 5 minutes; and a maximum time out of 15 minutes before requiring re-entry of pass code. This causes distractions as one must stop and re-open the iPad if not touched within that time and if left longer than 15 min; the large pass code lock must be re-typed to open the device. This is unacceptable during critical phases of flight if a document page or flight plan has been called up for reference; and the auto system times out. This occurred numerous times during flight; and was a source of major distractions. 3. Multiple apps must be used to reference the applicable documents utilized during flight - one app contains the flight manuals and FOM; however to view the SABRE flight plans which can be downloaded; one must utilize the iBook reader or the offline browser. Unlike current paper cockpits; one can have the flight plan open for viewing; as well as a reference page from the flight manual; as well as an approach chart; and easily view all three. Not so with the current capabilities of different apps for different documents limitations of the iPad. 4. Inability to highlight; underscore; etc; sections of documents that may quickly be returned to later if needed. One can bookmark a page; but when switching between documents; this only returns the user to the last bookmark even though multiple bookmarks may have originally been selected; effectively rendering multiple page referencing useless. There is an index; but no way to quickly find one of the many pages one might have bookmarked.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2013 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.