Electronic Flight Bags Massey University School of Aviation
What is an EFB?
Why use an EFB? On the Ground Easier to control documentation Reduced time, printing & postage costs In the Air Space & Weight savings in the cockpit Easier access to information Automated calculations reduce workload
Background Pilots used laptops in the 1990s First true EFB in 1999 by Angela Masson Now capable of storing charts for the entire world
EFB Hardware Class One Hardware Standard commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) equipment. Portable Electronic Device (PED). Cannot display the aircrafts position
EFB Hardware Class Two Hardware Range from modified COTS to purpose-built devices. Portable Electronic Devices. May be connected to and powered by the aircraft
EFB Hardware Class Three Hardware Considered "installed equipment Is subject to airworthiness requirements Eg. MFD on the Garmin 1000 system
Type A Software EFB Applications Static documents (PDFs, web pages) Operating manuals and guides SOPs and Expositions Weather & NOTAMs
Type B Software EFB Applications Documents that require interacting, panning and zooming Approach charts Maps Automated calculation apps.
Type C Software EFB Applications Software for installed equipment Class Three EFB s
The Apple ipad Which EFB for me? Commercial device Hosts Type A and B software Why choose the ipad? Simple Proven Quality Expanding
Air Mobility Command 18,000 ipads American Airlines Braathens Regional using ipad EFBs FAA Approval Air Nav Pro OzRunways Foreflight mobile Gama Aviation Web Manuals EFBNZ Sporty s ipad - Approval Process ipad Fokker Services ipad EFBs Airfields NZ FlyQ - ADSB GlobalNavSource ipad Decompression Testing Air Force Special Operations Command 3000+ ipads
Trials The Plan Time frame: 2 months 1 st month Staff use only 2 nd month Staff and students Hardware: 4 x ipad mini 3 x ipad (full size)
Trials Applications Operating system: ios 6 and above ibooks (SOPs, Route Guide, Pilots Notes, Exposition) EFBNZ (Aeronautical Information Publications) Air Nav Pro (Visual Navigation Charts)
Trials Measuring the suitability of the EFB Ergonomics Integrity Interference Limitations Additional Equipment Human Factors
Considerations General CAA Regulations (AC 91-20) Redundancy & Back Up Not used for Navigation Documents must be equivalent Verification of information
Part 91 Regulations Considerations CAR 91.7 - Portable Electronic Devices under IFR Electromagnetic testing carried out by EMC Technologies ipad was outside tolerances primarily in the low frequency bands Our Diamond Aircraft do not utilise the affected frequency bands
Part 91 Regulations Considerations CAR 91.111 Defines the 5 documents to be carried CAR 91.221 Requirements for charts
Human / Machine Interface Integration into the cockpit Workload Legibility Accessibility Layout of Information
What about the Human / Machine Interface?
Live Demonstration
Observations Size / Weight ipad mini for practicality ipad has a larger display Screen Easy to read and understand Reading at an angle difficult Screen protectors reduce glare Battery life 20% - 30% battery use during 2 hour flight Rapid charging Overnight charging used
Observations Integration into the cockpit Positioning Kneeboards easier to control Mounts reduced practicality ipad mini easy to stow Turbulence Kneeboards most practical Large gestures for App control Covers reduced damage Electromagnetic interference No occurrences of interference
Observations EFBNZ (AIP app) Easy to access pages Cannot favourite pages Updating quick and easy App Discontinued by developer Air Nav Pro (VNCs) Easy to pan and zoom Complex app Freezing issues on ipad mini Cannot mark pin points, divert tracks, calculations etc. ibooks (Documents) Easy to access and get to specific pages Document updates not controlled easily
Observations General comments from users Most preferred the ipad Mini Planning process was easy Each person needs their own device for viewing Expansion of current wireless network to be considered
Findings and Outcomes Hardware ipad mini chosen for use Software Alternative app required for AIP ipads cannot replace paper maps Dropbox app to replace ibooks Accessories Kneeboards and screen protectors. Covers an option SOPs Overnight Charging Minimum initial charge of 90% Limitations for operational use in flight
What s the next step?