Professional Pilot Commercial Off-the-Shelf (COTS) EFB Usage, Policies and Reliability

<p>Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) have flooded the aviation industry. Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) tablets are now commonly used by pilots as EFBs. Operators use EFBs for ease of use, faster access to information, to remove weight from the aircraft, and to increase pilots’ quality of life. Identifying trends in EFB usage among professional pilots could benefit operators and universities with flight training programs. EFB policies and procedures may vary among operators but achieve FAA compliance. This study identified these policies and procedures. The types of devices and software vary, and identifying these devices and software could be useful. This research used a survey of professional pilots and identified common EFB policies, devices and software, which may help operators. In addition, EFB functionality and reliability were investigated. The data indicated that COTS EFB usage is widespread, and there are small variations in devices and software. The results also identified variations in EFB reliability with different hardware and software combinations.</p>