Pilots Rely on iPads to Fly Planes, But What Happens When the App Fails

An iPad that American Airlines pilots use for their flight plans. On Tuesday night a number of American Airlines aircrafts were grounded after the flight plan software on the iPads stopped working. (American Airlines)

There was a time when all pilots carried over 35 pounds of paperwork on each flight. For some pilots, those days ended when their airlines have adopted iPad apps such as FliteDeck to carry their flight plans.

However, the use of the technology comes with risks. On Tuesday night dozens of American Airlines planes were grounded after the iPad app carrying the flight plans stopped working.

The paperwork American Airlines pilots used to carry on a flight next to an iPad carrying the App that replaced most of the flight plans. (American Airlines)

A spokesperson for the airline told the BBC that “In some cases, the flight had to return to the gate to access a Wi-Fi connection to fix the issue.”

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