Army Aviation and the Need for Standardization of Electronic Flight Bags

摘要

Every pilot knows that the key to a successful flight is to stay ahead of the aircraft. Rapid technological advancements during the digital age have helped thousands of pilots do just that. In addition to advanced avionics, such as digital flight management and global positioning systems, electronic flight bags (EFBs) have become the standard in favor of bulky paper publications for nearly every pilot thanks to the commercialization of portable electronic devices (PEDs). Compared to traditional paper publication and charts, EFBs have the distinct advantage of speed, portability and convenience. Despite these benefits, EFBs also create human factor safety risks that have resulted in thousands of accidents and incidents. While commercial operators have continually refined and standardized their regulations and training programs to mitigate these risks over the last 20 twenty years, the Army has failed to provide timely and comprehensive EFB regulatory guidance. EFB usage among aircrews in the Army is quite literally the Wild West when it comes to devices, applications, and training. The Army needs to update doctrinal guidance, establish training requirements, and set up equipment procurement procedures in order to implement a comprehensive EFB policy that eliminates unnecessary risk.