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 apps, despite their utility for supplemental information like charts and weather, lack the reliability and rigorous testing of certified avionics, making them unsuitable for primary navigation.
- Advanced features like synthetic vision on consumer tablets risk crossing the line from supplemental information to primary navigation, which is problematic given the potential for glitches in critical flight situations.
- Pilots are cautioned against over-relying on powerful tablet-based tools as primary navigation, as this can divert attention from certified systems and compromise safety by treating uncertified devices as essential.
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