William R. Baumheuter, II FAA Designated Pilot Examiner #CE03153
Policy on the use of portable (and built -in) electronic aviation mapping devices during the FAA Practical Test
November 10, 2014
Jump to the testing policy for Private Pilot or Commercial Pilot
Do you plan to use an electronic flight bag device (EFB)
to display your charts you plan to use during the practical test? This seems to
be the way the industry is moving. I've been asked about this several times. I
decided to research it and develop a policy to help you understand how to use
these devices during the test and, at the same time, meet the requirements of
the FAA PTS tasks.
It is entirely up to you as the applicant if you are
going to use traditional paper charts or the electronic versions, using an EFB
type of device during the Practical Test.
Today there are installed cockpit displays (as well as EFB's) that show these electronic equivalents of the paper aviation charts such as FAA Sectionals, TAC's, Low Altitude Enroute, High Altitude Enroute, WAC's, Instrument Approach Procedure charts, etc. This also includes charts designed and published by Jeppesen (and others that don't come to mind right now).
The guidance the FAA gives
to FAA Designated Pilot Examiners (DPE's) is vague. Recently they
published a study guide for the seminar that all DPE's must attend every 24
months. All the study guide contains on this subject is a test question for us that asks:
"As an examiner should an applicant be
allowed to use an electronic version of navigation charts?" The correct
answer was (is): "Is authorized if FAA requirements are met"
This means that it's OK to use the Foreflight,
WingX Pro, Jeppesen Mobile Flight Deck, Garmin Pilot, etc. programs if they are presenting
accurate information, also provided that the tasks in the PTS can be met while
using the electronic charts (EFB).
We can find out more of what the FAA says about this subject in AC91-78, Use of Class 1 or Class 2 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) regarding the "removal of paper aeronautical charts and other documentation from the cockpit through the use of either portable or installed cockpit displays (electronic flight bags (EFB))" when operating under FAR 91.
The FAA guidance to operators on how they approve various EFB's for use in aircraft is found in AC 120-76B, Guidelines for the Certification, Airworthiness, and Operational Approval of Electronic Flight Bag Computing Devices. This is mostly to do with Air Carrier approvals, not operations under FAR 91. It does address securing these devices for certain phases of flight such as takeoff and landing and is worth considering that aspect.
There are some FAR's to consider for operations of small aircraft under FAR 91:
FAR 91.21 - Portable electronic devices. This says that it is up to the Pilot in Command to allow the use of the device (FAR 91.21 (b) (5)). Since you are going to be the PIC on the test, it's up to you to decide if it's allowed. In my experience, none of these devices cause any interference. If you want to read more, here is Advisory Circular AC91-21B
FAR 91.103 - Preflight action. This says, in a round about way, that if you are going to use the electronic device, the information it provides needs to be accurate (current).
Considerations for the FAA Practical Test
Each FAA Designated Pilot Examiner is going to have their own particular policy on the use of these devices during the test, both on the ground and in the aircraft. If you are reading this and are planning on taking you FAA Practical test with me, then you won't need to look any further than this document.
If you are planning on taking the test with a different examiner, you should contact them and ask what their policy is regarding the use of using electronic charts and EFB's.
Under all circumstances, you need to know how to use whatever you are using; it doesn't really matter if it is a paper chart or an EFB.
Pre-flight planning
It is acceptable to use an EFB to perform your required duties in accordance with FAR 91.103;
The information must be current and;
You need to know how to use the device.
For the initial issuance of a Private, Instrument Airplane or Commercial Pilot Certificate you must complete a navigation log and simulate filing a flight plan (IFR or VFR as appropriate)
If the EFB can reproduce the required information for a navigation log that includes ETA and ATA, along with a FAA Flight Plan Form, the EFB may be used to perform this function, otherwise a paper navigation log and paper flight plan form should be used. Be prepared to explain the navigation log calculations to the examiner.
Planning a pilotage and dead reckoning route of flight with an EFB is possible but printing the navigation log out and assigning names to the checkmarks is required since during the flight you must record the difference between the preflight and actual estimates.
Performance and Weight and Balance can be computed using the EFB or other program but be prepared to explain the results to the examiner.
Device Battery life
The device should have enough battery life remaining to keep the device from running out of power during the test.
The best practice is to make sure the device has at least a 50% charge remaining before takeoff and is allowed to go into standby of sleep after a few minutes of inactivity.
The EFB doesn't need to be on and displaying the charts for the entire test, just the parts of the test where you need to look at the charts.
Set the EFB program to allow for sleep. Example: By default, ForeFlight keeps the display turned on all the time unless you change the setting for sleep or you manually close it.
The best practice is to make sure the device has at least a 50% charge remaining before takeoff and is allowed to go into standby of sleep after a few minutes of inactivty.
These devices are typically connected to a Cigar lighter type of power outlet for charging.
The use of these chargers is permitted as long as the charger is allowed to be plugged in to the aircraft inflight (example: DA-20-C1 Power Outlet is placarded for Ground Ops only)
Some aircraft do not have such power outlets installed.
There are small pocket sized external batteries for sale that will power USB devices, this could be considered for a backup power supply.
Stowage of the device
You should have a leg strap or some other way of securing the device (or the map pocket on the side wall of airplane) (when not being held in your hand) since there is a PTS requirement for Cockpit Management on these tests.
Redundancy - Although failure of these devices is remote, it can happen.
There should be some alternate way to navigate, find frequencies, etc.
If the aircraft is equipped with a moving map GPS, this may provide the basic redundancy needed to finish a flight depending on how much information is available in the GPS's navigation database.
Consider paper backups in case the EFB were to fail. This is not required, just one way to provide redundancy.
For this reason, some of these EFB subscriptions allow for multiple devices to be used. (Example: ForeFlight allows 2 iPads and 1 iPhone)
Private Pilot Airplane Single-engine Land Practical Test - Initial Issuance
In Area of Operation VII, Task A: Pilotage and Dead Reckoning, you must follow a preplanned course by reference to landmarks.
This is going to require any GPS moving map centering feature to be turned off, this includes any EFB and any panel mounted GPS data.
It will also require any "own-ship" function to be turned off for flight. ("own-ship" is where the aircraft position is depicted on the chart).
Any display of groundspeed, course or relative position to any navigation fixes must not be displayed during this task.
You must be using your eyes, a map, a timer, a measuring device and an E6B to determine you are on course, your groundspeed and your ETA to destination.
Once this task is completed, all of these wonderful features may be turned back on and used in the same way that any paper map, plotter and E6B would be used.
Scenario: You are flying the airplane during the Pilotage task on the Private Pilot test.
The panel mounted Garmin GNS-430 will be set to the page that displays
satellite strength and not any page that shows navigational information.
The point is that you are performing this task without the electronic devices providing course, speed or ETA.
In Area of Operation VII, Task B: Navigation Systems and Radar Services, the FAA PTS requires that you use an "airborne electronic navigation system" such as the GNS-430 or VOR.
This is an installed navigation system such as the panel mounted VOR, and/or GPS.
This is not the portable electronic charting device it is the panel mounted avionics.
Instrument Airplane Practical Test
All features of these devices may be used.
Commercial Pilot Airplane Single-engine Land Practical Test - Initial Issuance
In Area of Operation VII, Task A: Pilotage and Dead Reckoning, You must follow a preplanned course by reference to landmarks.
This is going to require any GPS moving map centering feature to be turned off, this includes any EFB and any panel mounted GPS data.
It will also require any "own-ship" function to be turned off for flight. ("own-ship" is where the aircraft position is depicted on the chart)
Any display of groundspeed, course or relative position to any navigation fixes must not be displayed during this task.
You must be using your eyes, the map, a timer, a measuring device and an E6B to determine you are on course, your groundspeed and your ETA to destination.
Once this task is completed, all of these wonderful features may be turned back on and used in the same way that any paper map, plotter and E6B would be used.
Scenario: You are flying the airplane during the Pilotage task on the Commercial Pilot test.
The panel mounted Garmin GNS-430's will be set to the page that displays satellite strength
and not any page that shows navigational information.
Any PFD would be dimmed down to hide any ground speed, ground track or wind aloft information. The MFD would be set to display the engine information, fuel levels, EGT, etc.
The point is that you are performing this task without the electronic devices providing course, speed or ETA.
In Area of Operation VII, Task B: Navigation Systems and Radar Services, the FAA PTS requires that you use an "airborne electronic navigation system" such as the GNS-430, VOR and the PFD.
This is an installed navigation system such as the panel mounted VOR, and/or GPS.
This is not the portable electronic charting device, it is the panel mounted avionics.
Commercial Pilot Airplane Multi-engine - Additional Issuance
All features of these devices may be used.
Airline Transport Pilot Single and Multi-engine Land - Initial and Additional Issuance
All features of these devices may be used.
Disclaimer: If the FAA develops a policy document that addresses this issue (EFB's on FAA Practical tests), then whatever they publish will become my policy as well.
If you have questions or comments, please feel free to contact me. My contact information is on the home page.