A320
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 16; Flight Crew Total 22000; Flight Crew Type 16825.60
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
Flight Crew Overcame Equipment Problem
Aircraft
4 hours into 5 hour flight; [my] iPad flashed brightly; shut off; and began an endless loop cycle of attempted start-ups followed by attempted shut-downs. iPad never recovered from this malfunction. Fortunately; [I] had just finished a review of NOTAMS and arrival procedures; and had printed a paper copy of the flight plan before takeoff. [I] also took out what paper Jeppesens we still carry; incomplete and hardly sufficient; but better than the iPad we've adopted. Thank God the flight conclusion was normal and uneventful and we still carry hard copy QRHs so we at least had peace of mind that; if need be; we had a trustworthy source for emergencies and contingencies. The iPad remained worthless for the rest of the flight. Let's hope we never foolishly rely on iPads as sole source for anything. They belong as convenience items only. We should never bank on them for any safety of flight items. As I type this from the layover hotel; my trusty iPad continues it endless cycling on and off. Hopefully before long the battery will expire and with it another iPad will go to the landfill. Good riddance.
A320 Captain reported an enroute iPad failure and reliance upon backup printed materials to safely complete the flight.