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A kneeboard is an accessory (usually made from cloth, plastic or metal) with various types of clips or mounts to hold objects for
A kneeboard is an accessory (usually made from cloth, plastic or metal) with various types of clips or mounts to hold objects for pilot
An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...
s during flight.
While their dimensions, material and specifics vary from model to model, a kneeboard, by definition, includes the following components:
* flat plate, approximately 4 to 6 inches in width, 8 to 11 inches in length.
* an elastic strap, attached to the plate, to hold fast to the pilot's upper thigh.
* a binder clip
A binder clip, less commonly known as a paper clamp or foldover clip or bobby clip or clasp, is a simple device for binding sheets of paper together. It leaves the paper intact and can be removed quickly and easily, unlike the staple.
In the U ...
, mounted to the plate, for holding items.
Models vary from a small clipboard
A clipboard is a thin, rigid board with a clip at the top for holding paper in place. A clipboard is typically used to support paper with one hand while writing on it with the other, especially when other writing surfaces are not available. The ...
with thigh straps to more elaborate designs with multiple panels that fold much like a wallet
A wallet is a flat case or pouch often used to carry small personal items such as paper currency, credit cards; identification documents such as driver's license, identification card, club card; photographs, transit pass, business cards an ...
(usually with a means to hold the folded board closed such as a snap or velcro
Velcro, officially known as Velcro IP Holdings LLC and trading as Velcro Companies, is a British privately held company, founded by Swiss electrical engineer George de Mestral in the 1950s. It is the original manufacturer of hook-and-loop fast ...
.) As the kneeboard is designed to keep flight-pertinent information close at hand, it may have charts and information (such as IFR references) printed directly on it, or include pockets and clips to hold maps, approach plate
Approach plates (or, more formally, instrument approach procedure charts) are the printed charts of instrument approach procedures that pilots use to fly instrument approaches during instrument flight rules (IFR) operations. Each country maintain ...
s, and aids to calculation such as the E6B Flight Computer. The popularity of cockpit iPads
Cockpit iPads are iPads used in the aviation industry as part of an electronic flight bag to replace paper charts and manuals. This technology is currently being used by both private and commercial aircraft pilots.
History and testing
The iPad ...
has necessitated kneeboards designed to hold tablets.
See also
*Lap desk The lap desk is a desk set in the lap. In the European tradition, it can be considered a modern form of the portable desk.
Antique lap desk
As an antique the lap desk is a smaller variant of the writing slope. It is also called a writing box or ...
References
External links
Aircraft operations {{Aviation-stub