CASA moves to formalise electronic flight bags

CASA has set up an electronic flight bag project to co-ordinate work on this rapidly evolving area of aviation.

Standards and rules for the approval of the use of electronic flight bags in air transport passenger carrying operations will be set out in Civil Aviation Order 82.

Guidance material for the use of electronic flight bags in air transport and other operations will be published in a civil aviation advisory publication.

In announcing the project CASA statesthat  the paperless cockpit is a reality with the latest technological developments in commercial off the shelf electronic tablets.

Devices such as Apple's Ipad, and other similar devices, loaded with purpose-designed software are now being offered to the aviation industry for use by pilots as portable electronic flight bags.

To ensure Australia's standards and rules for electronic flight bags are in line with international best practice, CASA is part of an ICAO working group on the issue.

This group is developing high-level standards and recommended practices, as well as guidance material, covering the basic requirements for issuing approvals for electronic flight bags.

The group has identified six key issues that must be addressed in the new standards and practices.

These are: keeping pace with evolving technology, data security and corruption risks, standardisation of applications, software assurance, the transition from paper to electronic databases and information overload.

The ICAO working group is aiming to complete its work by the middle of 2012.