B747 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Other / Unknown
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy; Aircraft; Human Factors
I want to make everyone aware that the new RAM mount for the iPad is dangerous and a threat because of the flawed design; making it unsafe to use by pilots shorter than the average height. I am short and while I am able to safely control the aircraft due to adjustable seats and controls; when it comes to this RAM mount I cannot view it without jeopardizing safety of flight. You see; in a proper seat position close enough to use the rudder pedals and grip the control yoke; the RAM mount is well behind me. Meaning that in critical phases of flight; particularly in low visibility approaches; I must turn away from looking forward and crane my head around to try to see the all-important approach plates. Not only is this obviously hazardous; pulling attention away from critical flight duties; it can induce the leans with all the head swinging. I have tried mounting the RAM on the front window but when doing so it blocks out enough of the forward view that it doesn't feel safe to me. For all the decades of flying I have clipped an approach plate to the yoke. In the air force I was able to strap it to my thigh. Now; I am being presented with no safe options to be able to view the information needed to fly a safe approach. Because of my height. Because my legs and arms aren't as long as the 'average pilot.' Which means shorter pilots will be forced to run copies of the approaches on a printer and bring them to work and hope they won't have to divert to an airport they haven't prepared for. Or; they will find themselves trying to memorize the approach instead of simply being able to view the plate at will; as it should be. Clearly this is a poor and downright dangerous design; and even more so now that one considers that it was designed and tested by those taller than the average person.
B747 First Officer laments the location of the iPad when it is attached to its mount. First Officer is short and cannot see the iPad well when the seat is in position to reach the controls.