The iPad is taking off—literally.

United Continental Holdings, Inc. will be giving 11,000 iPad computers to its United and Continental pilots. The handheld computers will be used to replace paper flight manuals.

"The paperless flight deck represents the next generation of flying," said Captain Fred Abbott, United's senior vice president of flight operations, to MarketWatch.com. "The introduction of iPads ensures our pilots have essential and real-time information at their fingertips at all times throughout the flight."

Rather than continue to fumble with 38 pounds of paper flight material, the iPads, at 1.5 pounds each, will be loaded with Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck, an interactive navigational application. Switching to the computerized flight manual will save 1,900 trees and 326,000 gallons of jet fuel. Pilots will now be able to find information more quickly.

"We are proud to partner with United Airlines on a project of this magnitude with Jeppesen Mobile FliteDeck," said Mark Van Tine, president and CEO of Jeppesen. "Jeppesen and United share a long and storied history that includes development of numerous innovations for the aviation industry.”

United Continental started giving out the iPads earlier this month, with plans for all pilots in the company to have the computers by the end of the year.