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:
- The article questions whether synthetic vision on uncertified consumer tablets and apps should be considered supplemental or if it crosses into primary navigation, highlighting the dangers of relying on glitch-prone devices during critical flight phases.
- While tablets and apps are excellent for supplemental information like charts, weather, and situational awareness, they lack the rigorous design, build, and testing standards of certified panel-mount avionics required for primary navigation.
- Pilots risk over-reliance on uncertified devices, potentially treating them as primary navigation despite their supplemental legal status, which can divert attention from certified systems and increase aviation safety risks.
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