25 13 EFB PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION. An operator under part 91K, 121, 125, or 135 seeking to develop an EFB program must submit an application for the applicable OpSpec/MSpec/ LOA A061. FAA inspectors will use the following guidance in addition to this AC to evaluate and process the application for an initial A061 issuance and program modifications:
• FAA Order 8900.1, Volume 4, Chapter 15, Electronic Flight Bag Program Evaluation and Authorization;
• FAA Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 1, The General Process for Approval or Acceptance of Air Operator Applications; and
• FAA Order 8900.1, Volume 3, Chapter 18, Section 3, Part A Operations Specifications—General.
13.1 Modifying an Authorized Program.
13.1.1 M inor Program Modifications . OpSpec/MSpec/LOA A061 authorizes operators to evaluate and incorporate minor modifications to their authorized EFB program without FAA review or assessment. Minor program modifications include:
• A dding/updating Type A EFB applications.
• Updating Type B EFB applications.
• Incorporating OS updates.
Note 1: Type B EFB application upgrades and EFB OS upgrades may incorporate significant changes to crewmember training, procedures, and use. If any doubt exists about whether or not a program modification is considered minor or significant, the operator should consider it significant, unless they determine, through contact with the FAA PI/CSI, that it is minor.
Note 2: EMC testing may need to be performed, depending on the portable EFB EMC demonstration method utilized.
13.1.2 S ignificant Program Modifications . Modifications determined to be greater than minor program modifications require formal FAA review and evaluation before they can be authorized for incorporation into an EFB program. Unlike an evaluation of an initial EFB program application, applications for modifications to an authorized EFB program can be tailored at the discretion of the FAA inspector.
13.1.3 Non- EFB Applications and Other Proposals Not Addressed in This AC. Proposed EFB program modifications for the addition of applications not listed in Appendix A or B , or means of compliance not addressed in this AC, must be routed by the responsible Flight Standards office to the Flight Technologies and Procedures Division for further evaluation, as specified in paragraph 8 of this AC.
13.2 Authorization Process for EFB Applications as Approved Software. Software with an airworthiness approval performing an EFB application may be utilized to support operational requirements without further PI evaluation of the software.
OpSpec/MSpec/LOA A061 is issued when all applicable EFB program requirements are considered satisfied.
13.3 Operator Coordination Responsibilities. Use and performance of portable EFB hardware and EFB applications is the responsibility of the operator. An operator should coordinate closely with the responsible Flight Standards office. It is the operator’s responsibility to consider all applicable sections of this AC when designing their EFB program.
14 AC FEEDBACK FORM. For your convenience, the AC Feedback Form is the last page of this AC. Note any deficiencies found, clarifications needed, or suggested improvements regarding the contents of this AC on the Feedback Form.
H ugh Thomas for Lawrence Fields Executive Director, Flight Standards Service
Appendix A A-1 APPENDIX A. TYPE A ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAG (EFB) APPLICATIONS A.1 Type A EFB Applications.
1. Airport diversion policy guidance, including a list of special designated airports and/or approved airports with Emergency Medical Service (EMS) support facilities.
2. Flight management system (FMS)/Flight Management Guidance System (FMGS) problem report forms.
3. Aircraft parts manuals.
4. Airlines for America (A4A) 100-format maintenance discrepancy write-up codes.
5. Required Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range (VOR) check records.
6. Minimum equipment lists (MEL).
7. Configuration Deviation Lists (CDL).
8. Nonessential Equipment and Furnishings (NEF) lists.
9. Federal, state, and airport-specific rules and regulations.
10. Chart Supplements (formerly the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD)) data (e.g., fuel availability, land-and-hold-short operations (LAHSO) distances for specific runway combinations).
11. Noise abatement procedures for arriving and departing aircraft.
12. International Operations Manuals, including regional supplementary information and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) differences.
13. Aeronautical Information Publications (AIP).
14. Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).
15. Pilot flight and duty-time logs.
16. Crewmember-required rest logs.
17. Flightcrew member qualification logs (such as aircraft qualifications, Class II flightcrew member qualifications, Category (CAT) III qualifications, high minimums logs, night currency logs, pilot-in-command (PIC) qualifications for special areas, routes, and airports for Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 121 certificate holders (CH) and special airports qualifications).
18. F lightcrew member qualifications recordkeeping, including aircraft qualifications, landing currency, flight time and duty-time, PIC currency requirements, etc.
19. Captain’s report (i.e., captain’s incident reporting form).
20. Crewmember survey forms (various).
21. EMS reference library (for use during medical emergencies).
22. Trip scheduling and bid lists.
23. Aircraft captain’s logs.
Appendix A A-2
24. Antiterrorism profile data.
25. Hazardous materials (HAZMAT)/oxidizer lookup tables.
26. Customs declaration and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) agriculture inspection/clearance form.
27. Special reporting forms, such as near midair collision (NMAC) reports, National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), bird and wildlife encounters, owner-initiated Service Difficulty Reports (SDR), etc.
28. Incidents of interference to aircraft electronic equipment from devices carried on board aircraft.
29. Current fuel prices at various airports.
30. Computer-based training modules, check pilot, and flight instructor records.
31. Airline Policy and Procedures Manuals (PPM).
32. Title 14 CFR.
33. Lookup and completion of various reporting forms (e.g., company-specific forms, NASA’s ASRS reports, NMAC reports, and wildlife strike and hazard reports).
34. Passenger information requests—some are directed to the gate or to the agent meeting the flight (e.g., special meal requests, wheelchair requirements, unaccompanied minors, gate information for connecting flights, and flights being held for connecting passengers).
35. Service Bulletins (SB)/published Airworthiness Directives (AD), etc.
Appendix B B-1 APPENDIX B. TYPE B ELECTRONIC FLIGHT BAG (EFB) APPLICATIONS B.1 Type B EFB Applications.
1. Airplane Flight Manuals (AFM) (or Rotorcraft Flight Manuals (RFM)) and Airplane Flight Manual Supplement (AFMS) (or Rotorcraft Flight Manual Supplement (RFMS)).
2. Flight attendant (F/A) manuals.
3. Flight Operations Manuals (FOM).
4. For smaller aircraft, pilot’s operating handbooks (POH), including POH section IX supplements.
5. Company General Operations Manuals (GOM).
6. Maintenance manuals.
7. Aircraft maintenance reporting manuals.
8. Company standard operating procedures (SOP).
9. Aircraft operating and information manuals (performance information, Weight and Balance (W&B), systems, limitations, etc.).
10. Aircraft performance data manuals (fixed non-interactive material).
11. Airport performance restrictions manual (e.g., a reference for takeoff and landing performance calculations).
12. W&B manual, if a separate manual (fixed non-interactive material).
13. W&B calculations.
14. Takeoff, en route, approach and landing, missed approach, go-around, etc., performance calculations. Data derived from algorithmic data or performance calculations based on software algorithms.
15. Other aircraft performance data manuals, including specialized performance data for use in conjunction with advanced wake vortex modeling techniques, and land-and-hold-short operations (LAHSO) predictions, etc. (fixed, non-interactive material for planning purposes).
16. Operations specifications (OpSpecs), management specifications (MSpecs), or Letters of Authorization (LOA).
17. Power settings for reduced thrust settings.
18. Runway limiting performance calculations.
19. Cost index modeling/flight optimization planning software.
20. Master flight plan/updating.
21. Interactive plotting for oceanic and remote navigation.
Appendix B B-2 Note: A depiction of EFB own-ship may be included on this EFB application if the aircraft has a navigation moving map display (navigation display) providing concurrent display of the active flight plan, aircraft position, and aircraft trajectory (e.g., heading if a heading is selected). The EFB application may display additional, unique data elements, such as other oceanic routes, but should have sufficient common data to allow the crewmember to resolve discrepancies to qualify as a Type B EFB application.
22. Maintenance discrepancy signoff logs (maintenance discrepancy logs need to be downloaded into a permanent record at least weekly).
23. Cabin maintenance discrepancy reporting forms/location codes (maintenance discrepancy logs need to be downloaded into a permanent record at least weekly).
24. Electronic aeronautical charts (e.g., arrival, departure, en route, area, approach, and airport charts) which may be static/pre-composed (raster), or dynamic/data-driven (vector).
Note: A depiction of EFB own-ship may be included on this EFB application if the aircraft has a navigation moving map display (navigation display) providing concurrent display of the active flight plan, aircraft position, and aircraft trajectory (e.g., heading if a heading is selected). The EFB application may display additional, unique data elements, such as airspace boundaries, but should have sufficient common data to allow the crewmember to resolve discrepancies to qualify as a Type B EFB application.
25. Electronic checklists (ECL), including normal, abnormal, and emergency. EFB ECLs cannot be interactive with other aircraft systems.
Note: A current paper backup checklist may be required by the aircraft equipment manufacturer to be carried on board the aircraft and to be readily accessible to the crew.
26. Applications making use of the internet and/or other Aeronautical/Airline Operational Control (AOC) or company maintenance-specific data links to collect, process, and then disseminate data for uses such as spare parts and budget management, spares/inventory control, and unscheduled maintenance scheduling, etc. (maintenance discrepancy logs need to be downloaded into a permanent record at least weekly).
27. Weather and aeronautical information.
Note: A depiction of EFB own-ship may be included on this EFB application if the aircraft has a weather radar display providing concurrent display of proximate weather hazards. The EFB application may display additional, unique data elements, such as turbulence or data outside the range of the weather radar, but should have sufficient common data to allow the crewmember to resolve discrepancies to qualify as a Type B EFB application.
28. Aircraft cabin and exterior video surveillance displays.
Appendix B B-3
29. Aircraft’s Category (CAT) II/CAT III landing records.
30. Aircraft flight log and servicing records.
31. Autopilot approach and autoland records.
32. Cockpit observer briefing cards.
33. Oceanic navigation progress logs.
34. Approved electronic signature using Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) or private key technology.
35. Cabin maintenance write-ups (maintenance discrepancy logs need to be downloaded into a permanent record at least weekly).
36. Maintenance personnel signoff of discrepancy form (maintenance discrepancy logs need to be downloaded into a permanent record at least weekly).
37. Aircraft Maintenance Manuals (AMM).
38. Notices to Air Missions (NOTAM).
39. Required dispatch or flight release documentation.
40. Icing holdover time tables.
41. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Doc 9481, Emergency Response Guidance for Aircraft Incidents Involving Dangerous Goods.
42. Audio transcription (intended for use only as a supplemental reference for voice communications).
43. Basic Airborne and Surface Traffic Information.
Note: A depiction of EFB own-ship may be included on this EFB application if the aircraft has an installed Traffic Display System (TDS) (i.e., at a minimum, either an Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) In system with a basic airborne application display or Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) II) providing concurrent display of the active traffic, aircraft position, and aircraft trajectory. The EFB application may display additional, unique data elements, such as data outside the reliable surveillance range of TCAS II, but should have sufficient common data to allow the crewmember to resolve discrepancies to qualify as a Type B EFB application.
44. Supplemental oxygen supply calculations for supply duration and/or supply range which are specific to the aircraft being operated.
Note 1: This EFB function is intended to support strategic decision making only. Pilots should rely on the aircraft’s oxygen pressure gauge (analog or digital) for tactical decision making.
Note 2: A depiction of EFB own-ship may be included on this EFB application if the aircraft has a navigation moving map display (navigation
Appendix B B-4 display) providing concurrent display of the active flight plan, aircraft position, and aircraft trajectory (e.g., heading if a heading is selected). The EFB application may display additional, unique data elements, such as other oceanic routes, but should have sufficient common data to allow the flightcrew member to resolve discrepancies.
45. Voice and/or video communication with emergency medical assistance services.
Appendix C C-1 APPENDIX C. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES C.1 Related Reading Materials.
C.1.1 Advisory Circulars (AC) (current editions).
1. AC 00-63, Use of Flight Deck Displays of Digital Weather and Aeronautical Information.
2. AC 20- 115, Airborne Software Development Assurance Using EUROCAE ED-12( ) and RTCA DO-178( ).
3. AC 20- 140, Guidelines for Design Approval of Aircraft Data Link Communication Systems Supporting Air Traffic Services (ATS).
4. AC 20- 164, Designing and Demonstrating Aircraft Tolerance to Portable Electronic Devices.
5. AC 20- 173, Installation of Electronic Flight Bag Components.
6. AC 20-175, Controls for Flight Deck System s.
7. AC 20-184, Guidance on Testing and Installation of Rechargeable Lithium Battery and Battery Systems on Aircraft.
8. AC 21- 40, Guide for Obtaining a Supplemental Type Certificate.
9. AC 23.1309-1, System Safety Analysis and Assessment for Part 23 Airplanes.
10. AC 23.1311-1, Installation of Electronic Display in Part 23 Airplanes.
11. AC 25-11, Electronic Flight Displays.
12. AC 25-16, Electrical Fault and Fire Prevention and Protection.
13. AC 25.773-1, Pilot Compartment View Design Considerations.
14. AC 25.1523-1, Minimum Flightcrew.
15. AC 25.1581-1, Airplane Flight Manual.
16. AC 27-1, Certification of Normal Categ ory Rotorcraft, Miscellaneous Guidance (MG) 16, Certification Guidance for Rotorcraft Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) Aircraft Lighting Systems.
17. AC 29- 2, Certification of Transport Category Rotorcraft, MG 16, Certification Guidance for Rotorcraft Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) Aircraft Lighting Systems.
18. AC 91- 78, Use of Electronic Flight Bags.
19. AC 91.21-1, Use of Portable Electronic Devices Aboard Aircraft.
20. AC 120-64, Operational Use and Modification of Electronic Checklists.
21. AC 120-71, Standard Operating Procedures and Pilot Monitoring Duties for Flight Deck Crewmembers.
Appendix C C-2
22. AC 120-74, Parts 91, 121, 125, and 135 Flightcrew Procedures During Taxi Operations.
23. AC 120-80, Firefighting of General and High-Energy In-Flight Fires.
C.1.2 FAA Orders, Policy Statements (PS), and Technical Standard Orders (TSO) (current editions).
1. FAA Order 8110.4, Type Certification.
2. FAA Order 8150.1, Technical Standard Order Program.
3. FAA Order 8260.3, United States Standard for Terminal Instrument Procedures (TERPS).
4. FAA Order 8900.1, Flight Standards Information Management System.
5. PS-ANM100-01-03A, Factors to Consider When Reviewing an Applicant’s Proposed Human Factors Methods of Compliance for Flight Deck Certification.
6. PS-ANM111-1999-99-2, Guidance for Reviewing Certification Plans to Address Human Factors for Certification of Transport Airplane Flight Decks.
7. TSO-C113, Airborne Multipurpose Electronic Displays.
8. TSO-C165, Electronic Map Display Equipment for Graphical Depiction of Aircraft Position (Own-Ship).
C.1.3 Industry Documents (current editions).
1. RTCA DO-160, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment.
2. RTCA DO-199, Potential Interference to Aircraft Electronic Equipment from Devices Carried Aboard (Vols I and II).
3. RTCA DO-200, Standards for Processing Aeronautical Data.
4. RTCA DO-201, User Requirements for Navigation Data.
5. RTCA DO-208, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Airborne Supplemental Navigation Equipment Using Global Positioning System (GPS).
6. RTCA DO-233, Portable Electronic Devices Carried Onboard Aircraft.
7. RTCA DO-242, Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).
8. RTCA DO-249, Development and Implementation Planning Guide for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) Applications.
9. RTCA DO-254, Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware.
10. RTCA DO-255, Requirements Specification for Avionics Computer Resource (ACR).
Appendix C C-3
11.
RTCA DO-260, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for 1090 MHz Extended Squitter Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and Traffic Information Services-Broadcast (TIS-B).
12.
RTCA DO-264, Guidelines for Approval of the Provision and Use of Air Traffic Services Supported by Data Communications.
13. RTCA DO-267, Minimum Aviation System Performance Standards (MASPS) for Flight Information Service-Broadcast (FIS-B) Data Link.
14. RTCA DO-272, User Requirements for Aerodrome Mapping Information.
15. RTCA DO-275, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Integrated Night Vision Imaging System Equipment.
16. RTCA DO-276, User Requirements for Terrain and Obstacle Data.
17. RTCA DO-282, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Universal Access Transceiver (UAT) Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).
18. RTCA DO-294, Guidance on Allowing Transmitting Portable Electronic Devices (T-PEDS) on Aircraft.
19. RTCA DO-307, Aircraft Design and Certification for Portable Electronic Device (PED) Tolerance.
20. RTCA DO-311, Minimum Operational Performance Standards for Rechargeable Lithium Batteries and Battery Systems.
21. RTCA DO-363, Guidance for the Development of Portable Electronic Devices (PED) Tolerance for Civil Aircraft.
22. ARINC 424, Navigation System D atabase.
23. ARINC 653P( ), Avionics Application Software Standard Interface.
24. ARINC 653P1, Avionics Application Software Standard Interface Part 1 – Required Services.
25. ARINC 653P2, Avionics Application Software Standard Interface Part 2 – Extended Services.
26. ARINC 653P3, Avionics Application Software Standard Interface Part 3 – Conformity Test Specifications for ARINC 653 Extended Services.
27. ARINC 660, CNS/ATM Avionics Architectures Supporting NextGen/SESAR Concepts.
28. ARINC 661, Cockpit Display System Interfaces to User Systems.
29. ARINC 828, Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Standard Interface.
30. ARINC 834, Aircraft Data Interface Function (ADIF).
31. ARINC 840, Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Application Control Interface (ACI) Standard.
Appendix C C-4
32. Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) 4754, Guidelines for Development of Civil Aircraft and Systems.
33. ARP4761, Guidelines and Methods for Conducting the Safety Assessment Process on Civil Airborne Systems and Equipment.
34. ARP5289, Electronic Aeronautical Symbols.
35. ARP5621, Electronic Display of Aeronautical Information (Charts).
36. United Nations (UN) Transportation Regulations, Manual of Tests and Criteria (ST/SG/AC.10/11).
37. UN ST/SG/AC.10/11/Rev.5/Amend.2, Amendments to the Fifth Revised Edition of the Recommendations on the Transport of Dangerous Goods, Manual of Tests and Criteria.
38. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-30, Guide for Conducting Risk Assessments.
39. Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) 1725-2021, IEEE Standard for Rechargeable Batteries for Mobile Phones.
C.1.4 Additional Guidance.
1. DOT/FAA/TC-16/56, Human Factors Considerations in the Design and Evaluation of Flight Deck Displays and Controls, Version 2. Yeh, M.; Swider, C.; Donovan, C.; and Jo, Y.J., December 2016.
2. The FAA and Industry Guide to Product Certification, Third Edition, May 2017.
Available at https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/licenses_certificates/aircraft_certi fication/design_approvals/CPI_guide.pdf.
3. DOT/FAA/RD-93/5, Human Factors for Flight Deck Certification Personnel, July 1993. Available at https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/8679.
4. A Report from the Portable Electronic Devices Aviation Rulemaking Committee to the Federal Aviation Administration: Recommendations on Expanding the Use of Portable Electronic Devices During Flight, September 30, 2013. Available within the file at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/rulemaking/committees/documents/in dex.cfm/document/information/documentID/1062/.
5. International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Doc 10020, Manual on Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs).
6. ICAO Annex 6, Operation of Aircraft, Part I, International Commercial Air Transport—Aeroplanes.
7. ICAO Annex 6, Operation of Aircraft, Part II, International General Aviation— Aeroplanes.
8. ICAO Annex 6, Operation of Aircraft, Part III, International Operations— Helicopters.