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Three independent electronic devices (two tablets and a phone) running different operating systems would need to fail. And for this to then become an emergency

Three independent electronic devices (two tablets and a phone) running different operating systems would need to fail. And for this to then become an emergency, I would need to be in IMC, also have my onboard installed GPS fail, along with all installed radio equipment. Short of an EMP event or wildly bad decision making on my part, the risk of this is vanishingly small.

dogman144 3y ago
That is usually the response! From another angle, there’s a lot of hubris in refusing to carry analog backups that are a meaninglessly small addition to a packing list vs their risk benefits… which is the only ultimate job for a pilot. It takes one oversight to not charge a phone, or it gets cold in the cockpit and battery drops, suddenly you’re down to two systems, risk jumps, odds one fails… Military pilots still fly with paper charts and darts for a reason.
- histriosum 3y ago
  Military pilots are trained to fly in areas where electronic warfare is commonplace. That's not a risk that needs to be in my risk matrix as a GA pilot. I personally think it takes a decent chunk of hubris to believe that the likely out-of-date chart that you haven't picked up and actually used in years is going to help you and not impact your airplane control while you find the correct chart and then fold it properly. If we're talking VFR sectionals, I'd need to carry four charts to cover my state -- three, just to cover the area in which I typically fly. Good ole Michigan -- we lost the sectional lottery. I treat my electronics as required equipment, just like you would apparently treat your sectionals as required equipment. I check their battery level before every flight. If they aren't charged, I don't fly. If I don't have a way to charge them in flight, I don't fly (particularly if IMC is in any way a possibility). If one of them fails during a flight, I seriously consider whether it's safe to continue the flight as planned. I see paper charts providing a tiny amount of risk mitigation, which is easily outmatched by treating the electronics as an important checklist item and making sure to carry enough redundancy for the mission. You know who also doesn't carry paper charts anymore? Part 121 airlines. They take risk mitigation pretty seriously.
  - dogman144 3y ago
    Yes, you would have to be familiar with the charts, “training” etc.

dogman144 3y ago

That is usually the response! From another angle, there’s a lot of hubris in refusing to carry analog backups that are a meaninglessly small addition to a packing list vs their risk benefits… which is the only ultimate job for a pilot. It takes one oversight to not charge a phone, or it gets cold in the cockpit and battery drops, suddenly you’re down to two systems, risk jumps, odds one fails… Military pilots still fly with paper charts and darts for a reason.

histriosum 3y ago
Military pilots are trained to fly in areas where electronic warfare is commonplace. That's not a risk that needs to be in my risk matrix as a GA pilot. I personally think it takes a decent chunk of hubris to believe that the likely out-of-date chart that you haven't picked up and actually used in years is going to help you and not impact your airplane control while you find the correct chart and then fold it properly. If we're talking VFR sectionals, I'd need to carry four charts to cover my state -- three, just to cover the area in which I typically fly. Good ole Michigan -- we lost the sectional lottery. I treat my electronics as required equipment, just like you would apparently treat your sectionals as required equipment. I check their battery level before every flight. If they aren't charged, I don't fly. If I don't have a way to charge them in flight, I don't fly (particularly if IMC is in any way a possibility). If one of them fails during a flight, I seriously consider whether it's safe to continue the flight as planned. I see paper charts providing a tiny amount of risk mitigation, which is easily outmatched by treating the electronics as an important checklist item and making sure to carry enough redundancy for the mission. You know who also doesn't carry paper charts anymore? Part 121 airlines. They take risk mitigation pretty seriously.
- dogman144 3y ago
  Yes, you would have to be familiar with the charts, “training” etc.