Exploring the Benefits and Risks of Electronic Flight Bags, Research Paper Example

Executive Summary

An Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) is a digital reference for pilots in general aviation, providing them with easy access to aircraft navigation manuals and navigation charts. EFB also includes sub-applications to automate the pre-flight performance analysis, making the process more efficient. This digital aid can significantly reduce the burden of paper-based documentation while increasing safety, accuracy, and convenience (Kafali & Savas, 2021). Electronic performance software massively improves the accuracy and efficiency of landing and takeoff calculations. Digital text input fields enhance pure interaction, while responsive display offers instant feedback on vital information. Thus, this technique is precise and should not be susceptible to inaccurate results since the user might swiftly double-check the keyed values. In addition, the ability to engage specific performance calculations on the flight deck through these applications have shown to boost gross takeoff weight and limit engine wear. EFBs can be used in various other applications, such as navigation and communication, to enhance the flight experience. In recent years, EFB systems have been more cost-effective; thus, they have started to dominate in civil aviation with more economical mobile tablet hardware. General aviation should therefore employ various approaches to risk analysis of hazards. With this method, it would be possible to limit the accident’s severity that may occur due to identified dangers.

Introduction

Charter and commercial air services have incorporated massive electronic flight bags into the deck environment. As a result, general aviation has adopted electronic flight bags within their systems to enhance efficient air transportation (Kafali & Savas, 2021). A flight bag is a specific document bag that carries operating manuals for the plane being flown, weather information, and operations flight manuals, among other aviation manual essentials (Carroll et al., 2019). Therefore, Electronic Flight Bag is a device that may be integrated with airborne navigation systems (ANS) to enable the accessibility and use of electronic papers while in flight (Ate?, 2017). EFB provides many advantages for airline firms, including preserving paper-based data that is electronically stored for flight participants. The application of electronic flight bags can also cause risks due to auxiliaries or physical platforms (Sweet, 2016). Unlike the informational content of the Physical Platform, the tool itself poses a risk within the physical environment. Charger malfunctions, EFB battery, mounting, or cradle structure may fail; thus, the device may hinder effective and safe performance (Sweet, 2016). In addition, the absence of the chart holder, trip book, or binder containing the tools may impede performance. This paper explores the benefits and risks of using electronic flight bags during flight operations.

Benefits of Using Electronic Flight Bag

Airline transport is an industry that employs high-tech products and thoroughly follows technological advancement. As a result, the initially used flight bags have been replaced by portable electronic gadgets known as electronic flight bags (EFB), which include sub-applications to automate the pre-flight performance analysis. This digital aid can significantly reduce the burden of paper-based documentation, while simultaneously increasing safety, accuracy, and convenience. In other words, the use of EFB can make the process more efficient and convenient for the user. Electronic performance software has vastly improved the accuracy and efficiency of landing and takeoff calculations, leading airline companies to utilize electronic flight bags while transporting. As a result, airports have become more efficient and air traffic delays have decreased. The implementation of this technology has made the entire air transport system more reliable and cost-effective, providing numerous benefits for all stakeholders (Allen, 2008).

Digital text input fields enhance pure interaction, while responsive display offers instant feedback on vital information. Thus, this approach is pure and precise, and it should not be susceptible to inaccurate results since the user might swiftly double-check the keyed values. In addition, the ability to engage specific performance calculations on the flight deck through these applications have shown to boost gross takeoff weight and limit engine wear. EFBs can be used in various other applications, such as navigation and communication, to enhance the flight experience. In recent years, EFB systems have been more cost-effective; therefore, they have started to dominate in civil aviation with more economical mobile tablet hardware (Allen, 2008).

Research by Sweet (2016) suggests that EFB reduces paperwork, allowing for quicker and more accurate information sharing. The Electronic Flight Bag offers numerous benefits, such as decreased paper usage and enhanced navigational tools. By eliminating the need to access paper documents and other materials manually, the Electronic Flight Bag has drastically improved the safety and efficiency of air travel (Yeh & Chase, 2019). A computerized-based system known as Boeing Electronic Logbook is also part of EFB that allows for the real-time transfer of administrative data from the aircraft to the airline. This data provides the airline with valuable insights to help manage and optimize its operations. Furthermore, BEL enables the airline to make informed decisions and quickly respond to changing conditions.

Risks of Using Electronic Flight Bag

The application of electronic flight bags can cause risks due to auxiliaries or physical Platforms. Unlike the informational content of the Physical Platform, the tool itself poses a risk within the physical environment (Sweet, 2016). Charger malfunctions, EFB battery, mounting, or cradle structure may fail; thus, the device may hinder effective and safe performance. Research conducted with EFBs often uses information from actual flight reports where electronic flight bags were considered the source of error (Sweet, 2016). A study investigated the risks involved in using EFB during aviation. Data was gathered through the “Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS),” which the flight squad used to report any law violations or aviation-related incidents (Suppiah, 2019). The data was gathered to investigate the causes of the incident, identify any potential safety risks, and prevent similar occurrences from happening in the future. The data analysis offers insightful information about the incident that may be used to develop plans for enhancing aviation safety. The data can be used to strengthen regulations and guidelines to ensure the safety of all passengers. The primary variable measured is the Human Factor Issue (Joslin, 2013), which consists of eleven categories that reflect the nature of the error committed by the crew member when interacting with the tool.

The use of electronic flight bags (EFB) has caused unintended consequences, such as increased workload and distraction levels, due to a lack of familiarity with contemporary electronic tools. Analysis of Human Factors Issues has demonstrated that the “Workload/Distraction” category occurred significantly more often in EFB reports than paper reports (Suppiah, 2019). This is likely due to the unfamiliarity of pilots and crew with new technologies such as touchscreen tablets and iPads, which were only Federal Administration Aviation certified for carrier joints and corporate purposes in 2011 (Babb, 2017).

Crew members usually face difficulty using EFB due to limited training programs to educate crew members on the new systems. A vital issue found in this study is the pilot’s crew’s unfamiliarity with zooming and panning features on electronic exhibitions. According to the study, about half of the 55 electronic flight bag reports within the “Display Format” classification encompassed a pilot zooming in and losing a section of the information from the visual display. This tendency to devote time head-down working with an alien display can lead to distraction and human error. The Operation Regulations analysis further supports the problem, as there is inadequate training on EFBs. Moreover, the physical gadgets themselves can cause flight safety issues if they emit smoke or become lodged in airplane controls with disruptive radio frequencies (Sweet, 2016).

Conclusion

Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) technology has been beneficial for improving the quality of air travel. It has enabled airports to become more efficient and reduce air traffic delays. Through the implementation of this technology, the entire air transport system has become more reliable and cost-effective. EFB has enabled pilots to access documents quickly and accurately while in flight, which has led to improved safety and convenience. However, the application of electronic flight bags can cause risks due to auxiliaries or physical platforms. The tool itself poses a risk within the physical environment, and charger malfunctions, EFB battery, mounting, or cradle structure may fail. It is also essential to consider the Human Factor Issues that may arise due to the pilot’s crew’s unfamiliarity with the technology. Therefore, it is necessary for general aviation to employ various approaches to risk analysis of hazards to limit the accident’s severity that may occur due to identified dangers.

Recommendations

It is recommended that general aviation take a number of precautions to lessen the dangers of using electronic flight bags (EFB). One strategy is to give pilots and crew members a lot of training to make sure they know how to use EFBs well. Crew members should be provided with the knowledge they need to comprehend electronic exhibition zooming and panning features through training programs. Additionally, the EFB’s physical components should be regularly inspected and maintained to avoid any safety issues or malfunctions. In order to guarantee that the use of EFBs complies with safety standards, regulations should also be developed. To further enhance the flight experience, general aviation should also think about using EFBs in other applications like navigation and communication. The industry can maximize the benefits of EFBs while minimizing potential risks by taking these necessary steps.

It’s also critical to make certain that the hardware and software on the devices are always up to date. In addition, in order to further enhance the effectiveness and safety of EFBs, general aviation ought to take into consideration making investments in cutting-edge technologies like augmented reality (AR). Pilots can get real-time visual feedback about their surroundings from augmented reality, allowing them to make better decisions faster. Additionally, augmented reality (AR) can be used to visualize information about situational awareness and aircraft performance, enabling pilots to make better decisions while flying. To further streamline the pre-flight and in-flight procedures, general aviation should also think about using digital document management systems to store and access necessary flight documents and manuals on the EFB. General aviation can guarantee that using EFBs is safe, effective, and beneficial to pilots and passengers by following these steps.

References

Allen, D. (2008). Electronic Flight Bag: Real-Time Information Across an Airline’s Enterprise. Boeing Aero Magazine. https://www.boeing-sc.com/commercial/aeromagazine/articles/qtr_2_08/AERO_Q208_article4.pdf

Ates, S. S. (2017). Electronic Flight Bag in the Operation of Airline Companies: Application in Turkey. ResearchGate | Find and share research. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Savas-Ates/publication/320842760_Electronic_Flight_Bag_in_the_Operation_of_Airline_Companies_Application_in_Turkey/links/59fd936daca272347a25ac44/Electronic-Flight-Bag-in-the-Operation-of-Airline-Companies-Application-in-Turkey.pdf

Babb, T. A. (2017). Electronic flight bag policies at collegiate aviation programs. Scholarly Commons. https://commons.erau.edu/ijaaa/vol4/iss4/8/

Carroll, M., Carstens, D., Wilt, D. F., & Sanchez, P. (2019). Examining pilot decision making in information-rich cockpits. CORE Scholar. https://corescholar.libraries.wright.edu/isap_2019/13/

Jaworski, Y. M. (2019, November). Pilot Perceptions on the Integration of Electronic Flight Bag Information in New Flight Deck Designs. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1071181319631335

Joslin, R. E. (2013, September). Human Factors Hazards of IPADS In General Aviation Cockpits. Sage Journals. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1541931213571015

Kafali, H., & Savas, A. T. (2021, August 31). Risk analysis with decision tree method on the use of electronic flight bags: A case study on pilots. Ana Sayfa » DergiPark. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/pub/ejosat/article/917743

Ohme, M. (2014). Use of tablet computers as electronic flight bags in general aviation. Scholarly Commons. https://commons.erau.edu/aircon/2014_Challenges_Facing_our_Industry/january-17-2014/37/

Suppiah, S. (2019). Impact of electronic flight bag on pilot workload. Scholarly Commons. https://commons.erau.edu/student-works/141/

Sweet, J. (2016). The comparative benefits and hazards of EFBs and paper documents in the cockpit. ProQuest. https://www.proquest.com/openview/79adcf597ad51a91515b0277f6ddaf76/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=18750

Lundström, written by J. T. (n.d.). The benefits of electronic flight bag (EFB). Scandlearn. Retrieved January 15, 2023, from https://blog.scandlearn.com/the-benefits-of-electronic-flight-bag-efb/