Hysteria

Hysteria

Fact.

 

A few days ago, I left the China hotel in CAN. Flight plan was not available when we left the hotel which is pretty much ops normal just about everywhere. Had a long van ride. Arrived at CAN ops where there is no wireless internet available. So far, every Asian/Australian station I've operated in/out of on this trip has no internet available once we leave the hotel. Forgive my ignorance. How does this app solve the long van ride/no internet problem on an international flight?

When the flight plan is available before leaving the hotel, Documents by Readdle seems to be a pretty easy app to get the flight plan string from the release. It has it's own browser built in. You access the release via the browser, "print" the release which allows you to save it in the app as a .pdf and then you can highlight/cut/paste the string into Flightdeck Pro (plus now you have the release saved on your iPad).

Is this beta app going to make that process any easier?

 

This issue is being addressed. Wifi in the CAN hub is a dead end, but there is a real possibility that transportation in many of the Asian layover cities will be equipped with wifi soon.

 

Parklane limos in HK usually have wifi. Sometimes you have to ask the driver to reset the device. Still doesn't help when the release comes out 61 minutes prior to push.

 

Long before we had iPads, getting my release earlier was an issue of mine. I probably call the Dispatcher 1 in every 5 flights "asking if there is anything I can do help get my release earlier?" Due to my 50% seniority I frequently fly MEM day hub-turns. Typical day turns are 5 hours (sometimes longer). I'll get a sleep room for an hour, review my email for an hour, go somewhere for lunch for an hour ... then I only have 2-3 hours to waste. It would be nice if I could review my release!

When I've asked when they're supposed to be available the only answer I've received is, "We try to get International Flight Plans out 1.5 hours before departure so that you have a chance to review it prior to leaving the hotel."

I'm now convinced we're going to have to make this issue a contractual item!*? We shouldn't have to hold the freight hostage (i.e. late departures!) ... FedEx has a HUGE I.T. department. How hard would it be to have them write an app that would (based on your pairing flight numbers) automatically download everything you need to the iPad 2 hours prior to departure? A High School kid could probably do it?

 

Not to put a downer on this project, but the best place for this FPR route copy is the PFC webpage itself.
Pretty bad that a year into the iPad project the flight planning page still says that your browser is not supported when you are using the company iPad.
I have hope that the company is working on getting an iPad friendly page that will have a route strip that is in the correct format and is easy to copy over to Jepps.
Other things I do not hold my breath that they will fix.
This item is a black eye for them and has operational benefit.
I think they might do it fairly soon.

 

They should at least provide a prelim release (unsigned) 1.5+ hrs prior so you can review it. Once the Mx, ATC, fuel, wx/notam issues are resolved they can sign, you can review again at the ramp/jet, and review the differences if any and sign.

 

Didn't you have enough time to do the paperwork before the iPad?

 

Most places - Yes.

Some places - No! Now they have added the step of inserting everything into the iPad.

 

If Samsung made our Ipads we could just bump them. Doesn't Jepps do our flight planning? If you offer them enough money I am sure they already have a solution to get their flight plan into their app.