An actualy flying related post: eFlyBook

Previously I had purchased an eFlyBook from MyAirplane.com, based upon
reports from OSH. It is a small (around 8x10inx0.5) plastic cased screen
that utilized a new technology of digital ink (black and white only at this
time, compared to Sony's proprietary product)/

On it in the memory are ALL of the approach plates and lo altitude charts
for the entire country, along with the FAR-AIM, and AFD! They are
periodically updated by either download online or disk by subscription.

The actual screen product is made by Irex (I believe Belgian), while the
guys at MyAirplane.com developed the compression software to fit all of
these documents on a reasonable amount of memory. For example, a PDF of a
similar document might generate a file many times larger. The company Arinc,
a large conglomerate, is apparently the middle man in the operation, and I
suspect provides a lot of the capital (is it "capitol?" I always forget)
investment.

Anyway, when I first got the unit I was very enthused. It is very readable,
although not backlit. I downloaded a number of classic books, like some old
Sherlock Holmes texts that I hadn't read in years. It was great to have
multiple texts available at any time to read, and extremely convenient.

The software also uses a stylus technology like on Wacom drawing tablets.
You can copy and write down clearances and flight plans, and take notes,
etc.

All in all it looked like a great new technology, that someday might replace
paper texts. However, on my first use I diverted to an airport that was VFR
rather than shooting an ILS approach to minimums due to an autopilot
failure. Of course, this ended up being in another state, where I had not
bought or printed the plates ahead of time, thinking that the eFlyBook would
fill the job.

However, when looking for the right plates, the screen had gone black
(permanently). The remainder of the flight was uneventful, since I had
sectionals and IFR GPS backup, etc. so a functioning eFlyBook was not
necessary.

Multiple calls to Dennis at MyAirplane.com proved fruitless. I returned the
unit per his directions, and did not hear anything at all. Phone calls and
emails were unreturned. Finally, I learned that Irex, the parent company,
would not support the screens, and that I would have to pay $300 to repair
the unit, even though it failed on its first use in the field, and had never
been damaged.

Arinc ultimately came to the rescue, and I just received a new unit.

So, this is great new technology- no hard drives, easy to read, lightweight
and portable. Don't hold your breath for Sony, who are only interested in
their own proprietary software. The fragility of the screen may be an issue-
it is large and probably should be protected somehow from pressure or
impact. I had only kept mine in a flight bag, uncased, and perhaps it needs
more protection than that.

There were some minor software and documentation glitches, since the
technology is advancing rapidly. Except for the customer service issues,
which I hope MyAirplane.com, Arinc, and Irex have worked out, I definitely
would purchase another unit, and anyone who flies widespread IFR to multiple
airports should take a look. The technology is so new and radically
different, it is a very exciting look at the future of paperless printing.

Doc,
Please keep us informed on the eFlyBook's performance on future IFR flights.
I'd love to know how user friendly it is when route deviations are required
and or when you need to switch approaches.
Thanks!
Jim

Viperdoc wrote:

I definitely
would purchase another unit, and anyone who flies widespread IFR to multiple
airports should take a look. The technology is so new and radically
different, it is a very exciting look at the future of paperless printing.

Thank you for taking the time to post this report. I also am interested in
this tool and look forward to reading any follow-ups you can provide as you
continue to use it.

--
Peter

Thanks for the followup posting.
Did ARINC offer any explaination as to further warrenty claims if the
new screen fails?

No. I suggested that they should have figured out some of the customer
service items prior to bringing the product to market, but they were so busy
just getting it off the ground that it was not addressed.

Apparently, eFlyBook is making only a few dollars on each unit purchased
from Irex, so any failed units cut into their already narrow profit margin.
On the other hand, pricing each unit higher might discourage potential
buyers.

The key would be to arrange sufficient capitalization (from presumably
Arinc) to provide adequate customer support. Once the technology takes off,
manufacturing costs should decrease, and profits correspondingly increase.

The business cost of broken units should have been figured into their
original business plan, as well as defining a return/support policy.

As a consumer, all I really care is that the unit work as advertised and is
supported. I suspect that this is being handled on an individual basis by
Arinc representatives, not MyAirplane.com.

They are at a critical juncture in their business venture. Overall, I still
think the unit is really revolutionary. Most of the stuff we see at OSH is
evolutionary or a carbon copy of something from the previous year.

This represents an entirely new technology that in itself is very exciting,
and will have widespread application beyond aviation.

"Viperdoc" wrote in message
...
Previously I had purchased an eFlyBook from MyAirplane.com, based upon ...

Thanks for the summary. I'm glad you had a good outcome. I have been using
mine on a daily basis for e-reading and have flown about a dozen approaches
with it - about 1/2 under VFR conditions and about 1/2 under real IFR. I
have been keeping paper charts handy as a backup but have not had to use
them.

The user interface is a bit awkward and switching approaches under pressure
would be risky. Selecting the airport or switching airports takes quite a
bit of stylus pecking. I have every confidence that myairplane.com will
improve the user interface over time. They've already promised improvements.

My only hope is that this is hugely successful and provides them enough
working capital to make the software truly production-ready and robust.

The screen technology is fragile. Both the eFlyBook and iRex forums are full
of complaints of failed screens - DOA and after lite use. The screen
technology is made by eInk not iRex. I wouldn't expect ARINC to be suffering
from early failure. They should be passing the burden on to iRex who should
be passing it on to eInk. Of course, I have no idea how good their lawyers
are.

Doc, you mentioned protecting the screen. I seriously doubt that your
all-black failure was the result of physical trauma to the screen surface. I
suspect the technology is more sensitive to vibration and shock than we,
iRex and eInk would like to admit.

Sadly, after daily use for about 4 weeks, my screen has now failed as well.
It failed in an interesting way. It has geometric patterns of white and
black but the displayed image is still visible as shades of grey. That tells
me that the connections to the screen are still intact and that the failure
is due to an inherent weakness in the screen technology not the design of
the eFlyBook. It was tempting to try to "erase" it by shaking it like an
etch-a-sketch.

I have yet to hear back from myairplane.com about returning it for repair.
I'm back to paper charts for a while but I'm going to hang in there for a
repaired unit and paperless approaches.

There is a related thread discussing hard disk failures at altitude. The
eFlyBook has no hard disk. Of course, it also doesn't have moving map GPS
capability so it isn't an all-in-one solution for electronic cockpits. I get
by with my panel mounted, IFR approved (yes, I know it doesn't matter) GPS
and the eFlyBook for approach plates.

Fly safe!

-------------------------------
Travis
Lake N3094P
PWK

Good luck with your unit. I suspect it was seeing these posts that prompted
Arinc to push for the repair/exchange. I completely agree with your
assessment.

The user interface is slow, and the low altitude charts on my unit suffer
from gaps in the scan and are difficult to read. It is nearly impossible to
find a specific intersection or VOR unless you track your flight moment by
moment. It definitely will not be adequate for replacing the low altitude
charts. It would be nice to somehow scale the charts, which is not yet
available.

Approach plates are OK, but do not show the whole sheet of paper at once.
You either see the approach minimums or the missed approach procedure. Which
is more important?

I'm still going to carry paper for all planned trips, and use the eFlyBook
for backup in case I need to divert.

Contact me offline and I can send you the email address of the contact
person at Arinc who made the replacement possible.

"Viperdoc" wrote in message
...
Good luck with your unit. I suspect it was seeing these posts that
prompted Arinc to push for the repair/exchange.

That or the fact I sent your post to their customer service as an "FYI". I
doubt they monitor this group! :~)

Dennis of MyAirplane has been of frequent contributor, and does in fact
follow this group.