GUY NORRIS / SEATTLE
Boeing Information Services says electronic device will save 36kg over paper weights
Boeing Information Services, part of the company's Commercial Aviation Services group, plans to start in-flight demonstrations next month of its prototype electronic flight bag.
Developed in association with recently acquired Jeppesen, the initial version of the electronic flight bag is hosted in a laptop computer that can be used by the crew to perform pre-flight, en-route and post-flight checks, as well as to access the Internet and other data sources.
The device, which partly builds on the Boeing Laptop Tool that is standard on the Boeing Business Jet, also houses electronic versions of the operations and flight manuals, aircraft-unique documents and minimum equipment lists (MELs).
"It's one of the first results of the synergy created with Jeppesen," says Crew Information Services programme manager Chuck Albright. "The first product set we're looking at developing is the electronic flight bag, and one of the things we want to come up with is a scaleable solution to fit a variety of platforms." Although initially hosted on a laptop, the plan is to evaluate a wider range of fixed and portable display options for Boeing and non-Boeing aircraft.
Based on the paper documentation weight savings alone, Boeing estimates the flight bag will save almost 36kg (80lb), not including the average flight bag allocation of around 14kg per flight crew member. Demonstrations will take place on a 737-400 used by Boeing as a flying testbed and demonstrator aircraft for its Connexion in-flight e-mail/internet service.
The demonstration programme will involve not only the utility of the device to the flight, maintenance and operations crews, but will also serve to test a wide variety of datalink "connectivities". These will range from terminal wireless local area networks and broadband satellite communications to VHF narrowband and newer broadband systems. "We have to ensure there is provision for low tech and high tech airlines," adds Albright.
As configured, the flight bag will let the crew perform detailed performance, weight and balance calculations as well as alert them to MEL issues. In en-route mode it will display Jeppesen Flitedeck charts regularly updated through datalink or CDs. Post flight mode includes software packages to handle crew scheduling (Flitelog), and e-logbook, a tool for maintenance crews to record and monitor faults and maintenance issues.
Source: Flight International
