Qantas to launch Boeing's onboard performance solution for iPad

SEATTLE, Sept. 8, 2012. Boeing [NYSE: BA] has announced that Qantas will be the launch customer for the Boeing onboard performance tool (OPT) for iPad. The OPT gives pilots the ideal speeds and engine settings for any aircraft, with options that include different types of weather and runways. It helps to create gains in efficiency, range and payload. This marks the first time the OPT application has run on iPad. The Australian carrier will deploy the OPT for iPad on 130 of its Boeing airplanes in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The mobile OPT may be used as a standalone solution or as backup to class 2 or 3 electronic flight bag (EFB) applications. An EFB replaces the pilot's traditional, heavy flight bag with a light hardware and software package that calculates performance, displays charts, improves taxi positional awareness, provides video flight deck entry surveillance and allows electronic access to documents. Use of an EFB improves flight data accuracy, ground reports and paper handling and storage costs. The original OPT application for EFB solutions has been available since early 2000 and has more than 120 customers.

The mobile OPT is the part of Boeing's digital airline solutions suite.

Since the initial offering in mid-July, more than 80 airlines have requested quotes or more information about OPT for iPad.

Boeing is currently planning on transforming a number of its existing and new applications to be deployed via mobile devices, such as tablet computers, in addition to developing entirely new applications for these devices.