EFB (Electronic Flight Bag) — Electronic Flight Bag
Technology · avionics · FAA AC 120-76
Definition
An Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) is a portable or installed electronic device that gives flight crews access to charts, manuals, checklists, and performance calculations, replacing the paper flight bag traditionally carried by pilots.
What an EFB Is
The Electronic Flight Bag is an electronic device, or the software running on it, used by flight crews to perform functions that were traditionally done with paper: navigation charts, aircraft flight manuals, weight and balance calculations, and takeoff and landing performance figures. Regulators such as the FAA and EASA authorize EFB use through guidance material, including the FAA's AC 120-76 series and EASA's AMC 20-25.
Portable vs. Installed
Typical Applications
Software Categories
Regulators distinguish software applications by the level of safety scrutiny they require, generally separating simple reference tools such as document viewers from applications whose output, like performance calculations, directly affects the safety of flight and therefore requires more rigorous evaluation before approval.
Benefits
Operational Considerations
Because an EFB can replace safety-critical paper references, operators must show that its functions are as reliable and accessible as the paper equivalents they replace, address battery and device failure scenarios, and train crews on both normal use and backup procedures if the EFB becomes unavailable in flight.
Related Terms
Standards & References
Sources
Last verified: 2026-09-06 · Status: reviewed