The Connected Cockpit
Aviation has an epigram for everything, but one of the classics is, “when the weight of the paperwork equals the weight of the pilot, you’re cleared for take-off.”
While the mighty EFB has certainly lightened our load in terms of having to carry maps, charts, ERSA, printed weather, weight and balance and the AIP, our flight bags aren’t necessarily becoming any lighter with the abolition of paper, whizz wheels and protractors. Add to your bag a potential portable GPS, ADS-B receiver, portable VHF radio, personal ELB, mobile card reader, along with the requirements for EFB back-ups, portable battery chargers, mounts, cases and charging cables and there is still a blooming future for flight bag manufacturers. But before you dash out and buy a new flight bag with wheels, let’s take a look at the enormous range of external devices on the market today and whether you need to buy them all.
We’ll take it as a given you’ve already purchased a mobile phone and tablet device, as well as a Bluetooth capable headset – items you’re most certainly not going to want to leave the ground without. But if you’re flying with technology, you’re going to also need your back-up device, your portable charger (if your aircraft isn’t fitted with USB ports – and even if it is, it might still be worth taking one for
