If there's one tool every pilot has to rely on, it's their flight navigation charts.  While these charts have traditionally been paper-based, American Airlines feels they can save $1.2 million by having their pilots try an alternative in the iPad.

Pilots will use iPads in place of bags of paper charts that can normally weigh up to 35 pounds or more.  The pilot program (no pun intended) will initially be used on two flights between Los Angeles and Tokyo and Shanghai.

American Airlines isn't the first to move paper flight charts to the iPad, as Alaska Airlines started a similar process back in May.

Initially the US Federal Aviation Administration had deemed the iPad as a "class 1" electronic device, which translates into it needing to be put away during takeoff and landing, including pilots.  Since then, the FAA has given the green light to using the iPad app which can provide tables as well as other data during all stages of flight, thus the first time a tablet can be used during takeoff and landing.

Interestingly, American Airlines had started to offer first class and business cabin customers Samsung-built Galaxy Tab tablets running Android for in-flight entertainment.  However, those tablets are not yet sufficient to be used as electronic flight charts, due to being unable to run the FAA-approved flight charting app.

via AppleInsider

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(Image courtesy of cheapoair.com)