TNT Airways, TNT’s subsidiary airline, is to roll out paperless cockpits across its worldwidefleet of 50 aircraft by the end of this year using iPad Air tablets instead of 50kgs of flight
documents.The move follows approval from the Belgian Civil Aviation Authority to use the iPad Air tabletsas electronic flight bags.
TNT said it will remove paper documentation from its aircraft and flights by the end of2014. From 1 January 2015, TNT pilots will solely rely on iPads to access informationsuch as operating manuals, maps and navigation charts.
“TNT Airways is one of the first commercial airlines in Europe to receive the authorisation todeploy paperless cockpits. This testifies to TNT’s commitment to innovation and safety,” saidMartin Sodergard, Managing Director Network Operations, TNT.
All TNT Airways’ 274 pilots have received an iPad. The aircraft cockpits have been modifiedto house the devices and permit their use in all phases of a flight, including take off andlanding.
Each iPad will replace the 50 kgs of paper books and manuals carried by crews on each flight.Going paperless will also simplify the updating of flight documents, as updates are managedcentrally and electronically, regardless of the crews’ location.
MDM (Mobile Device Management) software provides TNT remote management and control of thetablets to ensure strict compliance with the company’s policies on security, content and data, thecompany said.
The approval was granted following a successful 6-month validation period. The Belgian CivilAviation Authority investigated whether all safety requirements and conditions were met.
