Air New Zealand to Use Toshiba Tablet PC in Long Haul Flights

Air New Zealand has decided to adopt the Toshiba Tablet PC technology for use onboard the flight deck of their new Boeing 777 aircraft during long haul flights.

The Tablets are to be used by a third pilot on board each craft to monitor fight plans and procedures within the cockpit.

Each of the eight new planes in the Boeing 777 fleet has two pilot crew stations with in-built computers and technology for pilots to use during flight. The addition of the Toshiba Tablet PCs allows a third pilot to effectively monitor flight progress and performance independently from their crew seat.

Ten Toshiba Tablet Port�g� M200 notebooks have recently been implemented within the aircraft, following the RTCA DO-160E certification to enable operation in the cockpit (above 10,000 feet). Eight will be used on board the planes with two hot spares in the pool, one to be held in Los Angeles and one in New Zealand.

Callum Eade, New Zealand Country Manager for Toshiba ISD, said he was excited to see Toshiba Tablets being used by Air New Zealand for this type of application.

�Tablets are a very versatile tool and perfectly suited to this environment where space is at a premium. Already the Life Flight Trust, (operators of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter in Wellington) and the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Foundation use Toshiba Tablets and Moving Map software. They have proven their reliability, have excellent screen visibility under various lighting condition and good battery life. They can also power directly from the aircraft�s power bus.�