wraggster
December 18th, 2014, 23:10
http://o.aolcdn.com/dims-shared/dims3/GLOB/crop/3264x2120+0+327/resize/630x409!/format/jpg/quality/85/http://hss-prod.hss.aol.com/hss/storage/midas/76a121987c8c27532bd67ef2c637c52a/201268977/14028189938_48922865ec.jpg (http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/18/airplane-autopilot-xavion-ipad-app/)
If the engine quits in a small plane, it's not the end of the world -- just glide to the nearest airport and make a dead-stick landing (http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/27/chip-yates-electric-plane-record-deadstick-landing/). Simple, right? Sure, if the pilot makes perfect, lightning-quick decisions. Since we're only human, there's now an iPad app called Xavion (http://xavion.com/) that can connect with a small-plane's autopilot, find the nearest airport and, if possible, fly you to the runway's threshold by itself. It'll even tell you if you can'tmake it, so that you can find a nearby farmer's field instead. According to Popular Science (http://www.popsci.com/xavion-ipad-app-can-make-emergency-airplane-landing-autopilot), the autopilot update will arrive in a few weeks for the app, which currently offers manual pilot assistance in an emergency (see the video below).
http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/18/airplane-autopilot-xavion-ipad-app/
If the engine quits in a small plane, it's not the end of the world -- just glide to the nearest airport and make a dead-stick landing (http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/27/chip-yates-electric-plane-record-deadstick-landing/). Simple, right? Sure, if the pilot makes perfect, lightning-quick decisions. Since we're only human, there's now an iPad app called Xavion (http://xavion.com/) that can connect with a small-plane's autopilot, find the nearest airport and, if possible, fly you to the runway's threshold by itself. It'll even tell you if you can'tmake it, so that you can find a nearby farmer's field instead. According to Popular Science (http://www.popsci.com/xavion-ipad-app-can-make-emergency-airplane-landing-autopilot), the autopilot update will arrive in a few weeks for the app, which currently offers manual pilot assistance in an emergency (see the video below).
http://www.engadget.com/2014/12/18/airplane-autopilot-xavion-ipad-app/