B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 120; Flight Crew Total 30000; Flight Crew Type 10000
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy
I see that the SkyPath Turbulence Application is now an 'official App' and is required to be used on all flights ('SkyPath shall be used as an additional data source'). I have used this app for quite some time now and find it of little use. In fact the only thing I find it does well is to rapidly drain the iPad's battery. Many of our [aircraft] still do not have a power panel on the Captain's side of the aircraft and when required to fly multiple legs in a single day our iPad batteries deplete quickly. The only way the company has provided to deal with this is to run a 10 ft. power cord across the aft floor of the flight deck to the power panel on the right side of the aircraft. This is not an acceptable means of powering the iPad as the long cord on the floor creates its own hazard with pilot seats and access to the flight deck door. Until all aircraft are retrofitted with power ports on the Captain's side panel I would recommend that this power-sucking worthless app be 'optional' rather than mandatory. This is one pilot's opinion who has a great deal of experience using this app.
Captain reported that use of a company-required app on iPad depletes the battery rapidly.