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{{Short description|Flight Information management device}}{{multiple|{{overly detailed|date=February 2019}}{{more citations needed|date=February 2019}}}}File:N150GA Gulfstream Aerospace G150 (6485933503).jpg|thumb|Electronic flight bag showing the airport diagram of Avalon AirportAvalon AirportAn electronic flight bag (EFB) is an electronic information management device that helps flight crews perform flight management tasks more easily and efficiently with less paperWEB, 23 June 2019, Electronic flight bag,weblink Australian Government Civil Aviation Authority, 27 October 2020, 1 March 2022,weblink dead, providing the reference material often found in the pilot's carry-on flight bag, including the flight-crew operating manual, navigational charts, etc.PATENT, Integrated communication and application system for aircraft, 2014-02-27,weblink In addition, the EFB can host purpose-built software applications to automate other functions normally conducted by hand, such as take-off performance calculations.NEWS,weblink Amazing Apps, Matt Thurber -, January 25, 2019, AIN online, The EFB gets its name from the traditional pilot's flight bag, which is typically a heavy (up to or over {{convert|18|kg|lb|abbr=on|disp=or}}) documents bag that pilots carry to the cockpit.WEB, 2013-09-06, An Introduction to Electronic Flight Bags EFBs,weblink 2020-10-27, RocketRoute, An EFB is intended primarily for cockpit/flightdeck or cabin use.WEB, Federal Aviation Administration, Guidelines for the Certification, Airworthiness and Operational Use of Electronic Flight Bags,weblink US Department of Transportation, For large and turbine aircraft, FAR 91.503 requires the presence of navigational charts on the airplane.BOOK, Pilots Guide to Avionics 2012-2013, Aircraft Electronics Association, 2012, If an operator's sole source of navigational chart information is contained on an EFB, the operator must demonstrate the EFB will continue to operate throughout a decompression event, and thereafter, regardless of altitude.

History

The earliest EFB precursors came from individual pilots from FedEx in the early 1990s who used their personal laptops where are referred as Airport Performance Laptop Computer to carry out aircraft performance calculations on the aircraft (this was a commercial off-the-shelf computer and was considered portable).WEB, Suppiah, Saravanan, Liu, Dahai, Lee, Sang-A, Dattel, Andrew, Vincenzi Ph.D., Dennis, Impact of Electronic Flight bag (EFB) on Single Pilot Performance and Workload,weblink live,weblink 2021-01-18, The first true EFB, designed specifically to replace a pilot's entire kit bag, was patented by Angela Masson as the Electronic Kit Bag (EKB) in 1999.USPTO Patents # 17,974,775 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118092703weblink |date=2017-01-18 }} Masson; Angela Electronic kit bag; and, # 27,970,531 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201031438weblink |date=2017-12-01 }} Masson; Angela Electronic kit bag In October 2003 KLM Airlines accepted the first installed EFB on a Boeing 777 aircraft. The Boeing EFB hardware was made by Astronautics Corporation of America and software applications were supplied by both Jeppesen and Boeing. WEB, First Boeing 777 for KLM in Final Assembly,weblink 2023-06-06, MediaRoom, In 2005, the first commercial Class 2 EFB was issued to Avionics Support Group, Inc. with its Constant Friction Mount (cfMount) as part of the EFB.WEB, Careless, James, Mounting Options for Modern EFBs By James Careless,weblink live, Aerospace Tech Review,weblink 2021-04-11, The installation was performed on a Miami Air Boeing B737NG.In 2009, Continental Airlines successfully completed the world’s first flight using Jeppesen Airport Surface Area Moving Map (AMM) showing “own ship” position on a Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag platform.WEB, 25 March 2008, Jeppesen Airport Moving Map to Improve Runway Safety by Reducing Incursion Risk,weblink AviationPros, The AMM application uses a high resolution database to dynamically render maps of the airport.As personal computing technology became more compact and powerful, EFBs became capable of storing all the aeronautical charts for the entire world on a single three-pound (1.4 kg) computer, compared to the 80 lb (36 kg) of paper normally required for worldwide paper charts.{{cn|date=June 2023}} Using EFBs increases safety and enhances the crews’ access to operating procedures and flight management information, enhance safety by allowing aircrews to calculate aircraft performance for safer departures and arrivals as well as aircraft weight and balance for loading-planning purposes accurately.WEB, Moorman, Robert, EFBs: More Than Paper Replacers,weblink live, Avionics International,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20181222121329weblink">weblink 2018-12-22, The Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) purchased an initial supply of over 3,000 iPad-based EFBs which were launched in December 2011.WEB, Brewin, Bob, Air Force Special Operations Command revises iPad purchase plans,weblink Nextgov, In a similar acquisition, Air Mobility Command initiated a contract for up to 18,000 iPad-based EFBs.WEB, Robertson, Adi, US Air Force places order for up to 18,000 iPads,weblink live, The Verge,weblink" title="web.archive.org/web/20120304154957weblink">weblink 2012-03-04, The Air Force Special Operations Command internally developed a secure method of transferring the National Geo-Spatial Intelligence Agency's (NGA) monthly Flight Information Publications (FLIP) dataset to all its users worldwide.After trialing cockpit iPads as EFBs in 2011, Delta Air Lines announced in August 2013 it would replace a policy allowing pilots to use personal tablets as EFBs.WEB,weblink Delta Airlines to distribute Surface 2 to pilots after iPad trial, Cole, Shane, 27 September 2013, appleinsider.com, 30 September 2013, WEB,weblink Delta Airlines to equip pilots with Surface 2 tablets, Gandhe, Shreyas, 27 September 2013, Neowin, Neowin, 15 November 2014, Delta planned to provide new certified EFBs to all of its pilots by May 2014,WEB,weblink Here's The Microsoft Surface 2 Tablet Delta Bought 11,000 Pilots Instead Of IPads, Bort, Julie, 10 January 2014, Business Insider Australia, Allure Media, 15 November 2014, after FAA approval in February.WEB,weblink Microsoft's Surface 2 cleared for takeoff in cockpit, Reising, Don, 11 February 2014, CNet, CBS Interactive, 15 November 2014, WEB,weblink FAA clears Surface for takeoff in US cockpits, Dent, Steve, 11 February 2014, Engadget, AOL Tech, 15 November 2014, WEB,weblink Microsoft Surface 2 approved by FAA for use in airline cockpits, Walker, James, 11 February 2014, Neowin, Neowin, 15 November 2014, Early risk of breakage to iPads used as EFBs was addressed through rugged case design.WEB,weblink The perfect iPad case and mount for pilots?, Zimmerman, John, 2015-03-23, iPad Pilot News, en-US, 2019-02-08, However, the purchase of iPad from AFSOC was cancelled in February 2012 due to security concerns, where Russian-made software procurement issues may cause potential risks to expose end users.WEB, Brewin, Bob, Air Force Special Operations cancels iPad buy,weblink live, Nextgov,weblink 2018-05-21,

Design features

EFBs were initially divided into a number of hardware classes and software types.JOURNAL, Schwartzentruber, Jeff, 2017, A Usability Study for Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Flight Planning Applications on Tablet Devices for Ab-initio Pilots, International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics, and Aerospace, 10.15394/ijaa.2017.1162, 2374-6793, free, However, later EFBs simply were categorized as "Portable" (PEDs) or "Installed".WEB, What are the classifications of EFB?,weblink live, bytron,weblink 2021-01-26, Portable can be considered to consolidate the previous Class 1 and 2 distinctions, while Installed is equivalent to Class 3. These simplifications made to reduce confusion and to harmonize with already-released EASA and ICAO guidance.Legacy EFB hardware classes were:

• Class 1 – Standard commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment such as laptops or handheld electronic devices. These devices are used as loose equipment and are typically stowed during critical phases of flight (below 10,000 feet). A Class 1 EFB is considered a Portable Electronic Device (PED). Class 1 EFBs, such as Cockpit iPads, may be used to display Type B applications in critical phases of flight provided that they are 'secured and viewable'.
• Class 2 – Portable Electronic Devices, and range from modified COTS equipment to purpose-built devices. Mounting, power (ship's power as primary) or data connectivity of an EFB typically requires the application of an STC, Type Certificate or Amended Type Certificate. (ref: FAA Order 8900.1)
• Class 3 – Considered "installed equipment" and subject to airworthiness requirements and, unlike PEDs, they must be under design control. The hardware is subject to a limited number of RTCA DO-160E requirements (for non-essential equipment—typical crash safety and Conducted and Radiated Emissions testing). Class 3 EFBs are typically installed under STC or other airworthiness approval.

EFB may host a wide array of applications, initially categorized in three software categories.

• Type A
  • Static applications, such as document viewer (PDF, HTML, and XML formats);
  • Flight Crew Operating Manuals, and other printed documents like airport NOTAM;
• Type B
  • Static or dynamic electronic "charts" to include (though not requiring) panning, zooming, and scrolling;(AC120-76(), Appendix B)
• Type C
  • use as a Multi-function display (MFD); in at least one case as part of an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast system. Type C applications must run only on Class 3 EFB.

Initially Type C applications were considered as subject to airworthiness requirements and as such must be developed in conformance with DO-178/ED-12 objectives and run on Class 3 EFB. Later, with release of AC 120-76D in 2017, reference to Type C applications were removed, and their functionality no longer an EFB functions.WEB, FAA, 27 October 2017, AC 120-76D Authorization for Use of Electronic Flight Bags,weblink live,weblink 2019-04-10,

Regulations

United States Federal Aviation Administration

While FAR Part 91 OperatorsWEB, Authority, Civil Aviation Safety, 2021-03-27, Rules and regulations for using EFBs,weblink 2022-03-22, Civil Aviation Safety Authority, en, (those not flying for hire, including private and corporate operators) can use their pilot-in-command authority to approve the use of EFBs which are PEDs, operator with OpSpecs (Part 135, Part 121) must seek operational approval through the OpSpecs processFAA: EFB operational authorization and airworthiness/certification requirements based on the following requirements:

• PEDs used as EFB configuration must meet the rapid decompression testing requirements of standard RTCA DO-160E."Guidelines for the Certification, Airworthiness, and Operational Use

of Electronic Flight Bags", 6 January 2012, p.12., FAA: EFB operational authorization and airworthiness/certification requirements, U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Aviation Administration,. Retrieved 6 November 2020.

• Any mounting or attachment or data connectivity of PEDs used as EFB to aircraft systems shall be performed in accordance with an approved data (such as Supplemental Type Certificate, Type Certificate or Amended Type Certificate).BOOK, Dubet, 22nd Digital Avionics Systems Conference Proceedings (Cat No 03CH37449) DASC-03, Aeronautical charts for electronic flight bags, 2003,weblink 13.D.1–13.1, IEEE, 10.1109/dasc.2003.1245955, 0-7803-7844-X, 108649188,

European Aviation Safety Agency

For guidance on airworthiness and operational considerations for Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) for operators within Europe, EASA AMC 20-25 applies.

United Kingdom Military Aviation Authority

The UK Ministry of Defence takes the approach of clearing the airworthiness of EFB on specific aircraft types as 'Equipment Not Basic to Air System (ENBAS)' as described in Regulatory Article 1340. The Type Airworthiness Authority (TAA) and supporting Delivery Teams are responsible for this clearance to ensure that the EFB device in and of itself does not negatively impact the airworthiness of the aircraft in question. Regarding the approval of use of specific applications, this is the responsibility of the Aviation Duty Holder (ADH) chain.

See also

• Index of aviation articles
• Moving map display
• Quick Reference Handbook (QRH)
• Flight Management System (FMS)
• ForeFlight

References

{{Reflist}}

Further reading

• BOOK,weblink Doc 10020. Manual of Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs), ICAO, 2016, 978-92-9249-887-0, Montreal,
• FAA AC 91-78 (July 2007 – Use of Class 1 and 2 EFBs)
• FAA Order 8900.1
• WEB, FAA, 27 October 2017, AC 120-76D Authorization for Use of Electronic Flight Bags,weblink
• AMC 20-25 (February 2014)

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