FAA Approves Jeppesen's EFB Terminal Chart Viewer

The FAA has granted operational approval for Jeppesen's terminal chart viewer that was specifically designed for portable and semi-integrated class 1 and 2 EFBs (electronic flight bags).

Because of the FAA's okay, Jeppesen says it is the first and only provider of digital aeronautical charts to have received operational approval for all three EFB classes.  Jeppesen, along with its parent company, Boeing, already received operational approval for its class-3 EFB chart viewing software, which offers the same basic functionality as these class 1 and 2 systems.

In order to get FAA approval, Jeppesen's terminal chart application needed to satisfy a number of criteria, including human factors considerations, and its ability to functionally replace paper charts.  For example, can the viewer allow a pilot to nearly instantly go from one chart to another, and easily zoom or pan to different modes?

Even though the Jeppesen applications are operationally approved, U.S. airlines must still gain specific approval from their POI (principal operations inspector) and satisfactorily complete a six-month evaluation using electronic charts.

Nevertheless, Jeppesen believes its approval will greatly simplify the specific approval process for individual operators that adopt its EFB applications.  02-25-2006.

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