Chapter AC No: 91-78A
Use of Electronic Flight Bags
The operator ensures the following for carriage and acceptable use of specific EFBs:
10.1 Portable EFBs.
These are:
- Not dependent upon a dedicated aircraft power source or input from navigation equipment to provide display functionality, although they may connect to aircraft power through a certificated power source;
- Not attached to an aircraft mounting device; and
- Not connected with or receiving data from any aircraft system.
10.2 Installed EFBs.
These may:
- Receive power from the aircraft that is derived from an electrical bus source protected against short circuits with an appropriately rated circuit breaker or fuse;
- Receive position reference from an onboard navigation system, provided such input is designed and integrated in such a manner as to not adversely affect the output of the navigation source to which they are connected; and
3. Be attached to a mounting device provided that such device is approved for installation into the aircraft (e.g., if intended for installation into a type-certificated aircraft, then such mounting device must meet the requirements of 14 CFR part 21, § 21.303).
4. Refer to AC 20-173, Installation of Electronic Flight Bag Components, for complete details for installation of EFB components.
11 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION.
11.1 Assessments.
The operator should carry out an assessment of the human-machine interface and aspects governing Crew Resource Management (CRM) when using the EFB. General considerations for the assessment include workload, integration of the EFB into the flight deck, display and lighting issues, system shutdown, and system failures. Attention must be given to the physical EFB. Some items to consider are placement issues such as stowage during takeoff or landing, and the operation of an unsecured EFB. Use of the controls and input devices may become more demanding in flight.
11.2 Training.
Training should include preflight checks of the system, the use of each operational function on the EFB, the conditions (including phases of flight) under which the EFB should not be used (if applicable), and procedures for cross-checking data entry and computed information.
11.3 Security Procedures.
Refer to AC 120-76, paragraph 12.5, for information on EFB
security.