WHAT IS AN EFB? An EFB is any device, or combination of devices, actively displaying EFB applications. EFBs are characterized by the following:

• An EFB hosts applications, which are generally replacing conventional paper products and tools, traditionally carried in the pilot’s flight bag.
• EFB applications include natural extensions of traditional flight bag contents, such as replacing paper copies of weather with access to near-real-time weather information.
• In order to qualify as an EFB application, the failure effect must be considered a minor hazard or have no safety effect.
• Acceptable EFB applications are listed in Appendices A and B. These EFB applications may be overlaid or integrated.
• EFBs cannot replace any installed equipment required by operational or airworthiness regulations.
• EFB applications have no certification requirements for installation under aircraft type design (refer to AC 20-173).

Electronic Recordkeeping Systems

There are 2 categories of FAA required pilot records; 1) Permanent Records and 2) Current Qualification Records. Examples of Part 135 pilot Permanent Records are:

• Airman Certificates
• Medical
• Initial training records and qualification

Examples of Current Qualification Records are:

• Current qualification, like check airman training and checking
• 135.293, 135.297, and 135.299 checks
• Currency, 90 day take-off and landing

Part 135 operators must also save the records for PRIA reporting and there are different retention period requirements. For more details of the requirements refer to the FAA inspectors handbook 8900.1 Section 3 Crewmember and Aircraft Dispatcher Records.

The flow chart below shows a summary of the advantages of using the myFLIGHTDATA.com electronic recordkeeping system for just entering flights and monitoring pilots electronically.

Electronic Manual System

To get your electronic manual system FAA approved you have to comply with Advisory Circular 120-76D. Set up includes creating a list of the manuals that will be electronic. Manuals should be secured from edits, so usually in PDF format. A description of how the manuals will be updated, distributed, and who will be responsible for updates is also required. This is called the Master Contents and Program Catalog.

Set up and Distribution

1, The operator organizes the manual system by creating directories, or commonly know as folders. Defaults are Company Manuals, Operations Specifications, Pilot Records, etc...

2. Once the directories are created then the manuals are uploaded, and assigned to the users.

3. The users recieve an email and a link and then download the manuals. Each time the operator revises a manual the user recieves a notification to download the new version.