Delta to Equip Pilots With the Microsoft Surface 2 Tablet

Amazon’sBigSpringSaleisHere → Shop Deals

Posted September 27, 2013 at 8:27pm by Shalom Levytam

Delta Airlines has decided to equip its pilots with the Microsoft Surface 2 tablet; rather than the iPad or the Nokia 'Sirius' tablet, reports WindowsITPro.

"In less than two years, Delta cockpits will be paperless as we roll-out the Microsoft Surface 2 tablet running Windows 8.1 RT as our company-issued device," the airline alerted its employees recently. "The 757/767 fleet will be the first to make the transition with the 777, 747 and MD88 as fast followers. Look for an announcement from Delta and Microsoft in the coming days about our partnership on the initiative."

Notably, pilots can currently bring their own iPads for use on flights; however, that could also be changing. Delta reportedly wants "current iPad Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) users to transition to a company-issued device."

Microsoft just announced the Surface 2 tablet. More details on it can be found here.

Read More

Delta to Equip Pilots With the Microsoft Surface 2 Tablet

Get the iClarified Daily Newsletter

Apple news, rumors, tutorials, price drop alerts, in your inbox every evening, free.

Unsubscribe at any time.

Fritz - September 28, 2013 at 7:31pm

It is important to understand the difference between the Surface RT and the Surface Pro. The RT model does not run x86/64 programs as it is an ARM-based device. This distinction is key for understanding flight software compatibility.

Phil - September 28, 2013 at 11:43am

Nobody called it failed marketing when Apple sold iPads to airlines. Now that Microsoft is doing it, Windows 8 is being criticized. There seems to be a double standard in the tech community regarding these corporate deals.

dude10000 - September 28, 2013 at 12:32am

Well, it's the only reasonable and safe choice because none of the other OS comes close to being an actual computer capable of running the advanced flight applications pilots use. Plus most of those software the airlines use are only Windows compatible to begin with. Until other OS are fully adopted by the airlines industry, it's just not safe to fly using any other OS.