Paperless pilots save millions on jet fuel

Going paperless has helped airlines save in one unexpected area: jet fuel costs. According to a recent Wall Street Journal MarketWatch podcast, pilots have begun to eliminate paper manuals and navigational charts in favor of iPads and other devices which allow them to easily store flight information in one place.

American Airlines alone reported that it has saved more than $1 million since making the switch to a paperless system, which eliminates more than 3,000 pieces of paper – 35 to 40 pounds worth of material – per pilot. The Wall Street Journal also stated that there are plans in the works to link the tablets to WiFi, giving pilots access to even more information while in flight.

"Ultimately, the idea is to have these devices really link the pilots in real time to all sorts of new data streams coming from the ground," reporter Susan Carey explained to MarketWatch.

The FAA approved American Airlines' plan to go paperless in March, according to travel website Skift. American Airlines was the first U.S. airline to receive such approval, but it won't be alone for long. In another MarketWatch podcast, the Wall Street Journal reported that a number of other airlines have received approval to begin using iPads and phase out their heavy manuals.

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