Previously, I reported that pilots were using special apps to help cut down on paper clutter in the cockpit by storing digital copies of flight charts. Now, the Federal Aviation Administration is going to allow for the expanded usage of iPads in the cockpit for the use and storage of charts and manuals as well as flight charts in the cockpit during flights, starting with American Airlines flights on Boeing 777 planes on Friday, December 16th. What’s curious is that even just by lightening flight loads by 35 pounds as iPad usage versus paper materials provides, airlines can save $1.2 million in fuel costs. For cash-strapped airlines like American Airlines, this is surely wonderful news.

This raises the question, of course, if pilots can now use their iPads in the cockpit, and if they can have them on during landing and takeoff as they conceivably could, what’s stopping the FAA from allowing people to use their own iPads at the same time, far away from the sensitive equipment? With little evidence to suggest that electronic devices offer any kind of risk, it might be time for the FAA to re-examine this policy.

NuOxygen has just released “The Racing 3D Flight Simulator,” Ikaro Racing HD for iOS devices, and it’s looking pretty neat. Players will race through a diverse set of environments (and 22 tracks), from sprawling cities to winding canyons, jockeying for first place. It won’t be easy, but it makes winning that much more satisfying.

The game is designed to steadily increase in difficulty, so that players adjust naturally to the curve. It’s meant to be more pleasant than panic-inducing, with cameras that highlight the beauty of the landscape or the details of the planes so that the visuals can truly be appreciated. Of course, spending too much time drinking in the details are a good way to end up face-planting into an obstacle. A danger that becomes even more real when the dynamic weather system opts to replace those clears skies with a thunderstorm.

Ikaro Racing HD was designed with the iPad 2 in mind, but it’s also available for most other iOS devices. It just requires some tweaking in the options menu first. Aspiring air jockeys can grab it off of the App Store right now for free.

$0.99

Ikaro Racing HD

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-10-15 :: Category: Games

Games involving flying down narrow corridors using only a single button for lift have been around almost as long as video tennis. Some of these iterations get around the stigma associated with “classic” formulas by using attention-grabbing visuals or funky music. Still others just go nuts and see what sticks.

Doodle Plane, from the minds over at Chitralekha Productions, mostly follows the example of the former. It’s pretty much flying through narrow spaces and tapping a button to climb, but the colorful chalkboard graphics (and “sketchy” animations) make it a bit more interesting visually. The addition of a throttle, however, adds a (basic) new dimension to the idea. Having to carefully monitor height and speed make the levels a bit more frantic, and it’s all too easy to accidentally fly past a parachuting office worker (?) when not being careful. If nothing else, it certainly ups the challenge.

It’s also interesting how Doodle Plane forgoes the typical endless corridor design of most similar titles and instead uses stages with a definitive start and finish. Shortly after taking off the levels fall into the expected “one wrong move and BOOM” pattern, but after a bit players will reach an actual end and have to ever-so-delicately try to land their scribbly aeronautical nightmare. It’s not as tough as it sounds, but as with the hapless skydivers it can be easy to overshoot the target when not paying attention.

I doubt anyone who doesn’t enjoy these kinds of games will jump at the chance to play Doodle Plane, but I imagine genre fans will have a good amount of fun with it. Especially as the addition of take-off and landing segments, as well as mid-air rescues, make it more than just a simple re-skinning of a classic.

$0.99

Doodle Plane

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-05-18 :: Category: Games

Ever want to fly around as a bat dodging cats and planes? It’s not something that immediately occured to me as a fantastic creature to become but The Night Flier ensures that such an experience is great and cutesy fun.

Flying is the name of the game here with 10 unique levels ensuring plenty of variety throughout. Simply glide from rooftop to rooftop avoiding the many obstacles while popping balloons and eating midges. As the levels go on, the bat gets faster and faster making for a frantic but addictive experience.

High scores are based around completing each level as fast as possible with GameCenter, Twitter and Facebook connectivity enabling players to compare their best scores.

The Night Flier looks set to be a fun distraction for both younger players and adults with its cute and loveable appearance. The bat even changes looks after each level.

The Night Flier is a free and universal app with in-app purchases also available.

$1.99

The Night Flier

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2011-05-13 :: Category: Games