Alaska Airlines issues iPads to pilots

Alaska Airlines said Friday it will issue iPad tablet computers to its pilots to replace up to 25 pounds of paper flight manuals.

The airline said the so-called "electronic flight bag" does not yet include navigational charts, but the company is exploring that possibility as well.

Alaska said the 1.5-pound iPad, to be issued to all pilots by mid-June, must be stowed during takeoff and landing — just as passengers are required to do.

Among the anticipated savings are "fewer back and muscle injuries caused by pilots carrying flight bags that can tip the scales at 50 pounds or more fully loaded," Alaska said.

The company said it's the first major U.S. airline to replace paper manuals with an iPad.

In February, Executive Jet Management, a unit of NetJets that flies small chartered jets, became the first commercial operator authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration to use iPads as the sole source of reference info while on the runway and in the air.