Thread: iPad EFBs?
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Old 12-30-2013 | 09:04 PM
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JamesNoBrakes
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Originally Posted by SMACFUM
Quick question about regionals with approval for using iPads as EFBs. First, I am not a regional pilot yet, but I will be starting to interview in the next few months.

I have made the decision to replace my current iPad 2 with a mini. So my question is.......of the carriers that have iPad EFBs, are the minis approved for use as well? or would be purchasing a mini be a waste?

I am not basing my purchase solely on this alone, but it would be nice to know if I end up at a carrier that uses iPads.
From the FAA's EFB approval guidance:
4-1644 HARDWARE SPECIFICATIONS—CLASS 1 AND CLASS 2 EFBs. Major
components such as motherboards, processors, Random-Access Memory (RAM), video cards,
hard drives, power supplies, and connections (modem, wireless, etc.) must be configuration
controlled. Any change to these components will require the EFB to be reevaluated to
demonstrate that the EFB still meets its intended function, non-interference, and reliability
requirements. Figure 4-76, Hardware Description Template, is a template that has been provided
to facilitate the documentation of these components.
NOTE: For permanently sealed devices, use the manufacturer and model or
manufacturer and part number from Figure 4-76 for configuration control of these
devices.
A. Display. The following display requirements are specified when a Type B software
application is available on an EFB during certain critical phases of flight (e.g., taxi, takeoff,
approach, and landing).
1) Legibility. The screen size and resolution must be proven to display information
in a comparable manner to the aeronautical charts and data it is intended to replace. The screen
must display an approach chart in an acceptable aeronautical chart format similar to a
paper approach chart. The screen must be large enough to show an entire instrument approach procedure (IAP) chart at once with the equivalent degree of legibility and clarity as a paper chart. This requirement is not meant to preclude panning and zooming features but is intended to prevent a workload increase during the approach phase of flight. Alternate representations of approach charts will need to be evaluated and approved by the FSB process for functionality and human factors.
Now, some minis might "slip through" the approval process, but beware, the intent of the EFB is to display the chart at the same size as the regular Jep/Noaa charts. The mini doesn't do that.
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