I recently got an e-mail asking about ForeFlight’s plans to add synthetic vision and asked myself if that even made sense. Is synthetic vision really supplemental, backup or simple information, or does it enter the realm of primary navigation for which these devices are (supposed to be) forbidden?
Picture yourself checking e-mail on a consumer tablet computer and it freezes for a moment as you open an attachment. You’re perhaps annoyed, but not really surprised. You shrug your shoulders, recognizing that such things happen and you move on. Fortunately, such things do not happen often, but we have come to expect minor little glitches from our consumer electronics.
Portable vs. Panel
Key Takeaways:
- Consumer tablets and portable aviation devices, while excellent for supplemental information like charts and weather, lack the reliability and certification necessary for primary navigation, especially for advanced features like synthetic vision.
- The author warns against the inherent unreliability of consumer electronics and the dangers of allowing these devices to become a de facto primary navigation source, even when a certified system is present.
- Pilots should maintain perspective, understanding that certified panel-mount avionics meet rigorous standards that portables do not, and therefore portables should only be used for supplemental information, not critical flight guidance.
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