FAA to limit EFBs in cocpit?

Dave Siciliano

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Dave Siciliano
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Sounds like a certain Chicago based aircraft company that owns a charting company is having a bit of butthurt over a certain Cupertino based company getting all the EFB business of late.
 
I do not want to go back to buying (and updating) paper charts, AF/D, etc.
 
Bah, it's an AC, not a reg. I'm not going to worry about it.
 
Given the existing A061 OpSpec approval granted to a number of commercial air carriers using iPads with ForeFlight and/or JeppTC, I don't think they are going to be restricting the use of these devices anytime soon or at least without a fairly in depth discussion with a number of vendors who supply software for the iPad. That said, it is the FAA and they are here to help. :goofy:
 
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Well it depends how much money Jeppesen throws at the FAA.

Oh did I say that out loud?
 
I know, I just had the cajones to say Jeppesen. :D
 
perhaps Jepp could give them enough $$ to prevent a shutdown
 
Re: FAA to limit EFBs in cockpit?

This seems to be directed at things like the I-pad being used in the cockpit.

Best,

Dave
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http://tinyurl.com/42aldsb

Proposed AC
http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/ ... d_Copy.pdf

Existing AC that it would replace
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guida ... 20-76A.pdf
In the Purpose, they say "[Non subpart F and K] part 91 operations do not require any specific authorization for EFB operations provided the EFB does not replace any system or equipment required by the regulations, but these operators must still comply with the portable electronic device (PED) regulation (part 91, § 91.21)."
Unless they consider paper charts to be a "system or equipment", I don't see how this is intended to affect what the majority of us fly for fun or our own businesses.
 
2/5/09



89001 CHG 47

VOLUME 4 AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT AND OPERATIONAL AUTHORIZATIONS

CHAPTER 15 ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAG AUTHORIZATION FOR USE

Section 1 Electronic Flight Bag Operational Authorization Process

4-1641 GENERAL. This section contains specific policy, guidance, and procedures to be used by principal operations inspectors (POI) for processing an operator’s request for “authorization to use” an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB). All POI specialties should coordinate the review of an operator’s EFB program. Once the POIs have completed their review of an EFB application, and have determined that the request is valid, authorization to use an EFB will be made by issuing the appropriate operations specifications (OpSpecs)/management specifications (MSpecs) paragraphs. The final result will be an authorization to use an EFB without issuing any sort of approval to any particular hardware system or software application. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) evaluation process for an EFB follows the general process for approval and acceptance as described in Volume 3, Chapter 1, Section 1.

4-1642 APPLICABILITY. This process for EFB authorization is to be used in combination with the current edition of Advisory Circular (AC) 120-76, Guidelines for the Certification, Airworthiness, and Operational Approval of Electronic Flight Bag Computing Devices, and the issuance of an OpSpec or MSpec, in accordance with paragraph A061, as described in Order 8900.1. The processes described in this section may also be used to determine if an EFB may be substituted for aeronautical charts and data used within aircraft operated under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 91. No written authorization is required for part 91 operators except those conducted under part 91 subpart K (91K).

Luckily most of us are P91, at my company we are supposedly getting the I-Pad2 for xmas, hope the opspec is obtained easily
 
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Sounds like a certain Chicago based aircraft company that owns a charting company is having a bit of butthurt over a certain Cupertino based company getting all the EFB business of late.


Yeah, wait to see what happens when Apple takes on Garmin with the iPanel....:rofl:
 
Yeah, wait to see what happens when Apple takes on Garmin with the iPanel....:rofl:
iMonitor-PR-image-72dpi.jpg
 
No kidding. If you read the AC, it's clear that only folks who come under the regs requiring opspecs (121, 135, and 91<K>) folks have to have operational approval for their EFBs, and that's not anything new.

I do agree though that showing own-ships position in flight can be a distraction, if your airplane isn't already equipped with a moving map. If all you've got are a pair of NAV/Coms and you're navigating on the airways, that magenta line on an iPad gets REALLY tempting to use for navigation.

But, dammit, the same problem existed/exists with a handheld GPS, whether it was the GPS90 or the latest 696. Pilots need to have the discipline to use their certified gear for primary navigation. There's nothing magical about the iPad or other EFBs.
 
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