Executive Airshare, the U.S.’s largest regional fractional aircraft ownership company announced in a recent press release that it has received FAA authorization to use the Apple iPad Mini as an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB). This move establishes paperless cockpits in its fleet of aircraft which include the Beechcraft King Air C90B and 350 aircraft.
“Gaining the paperless cockpit authority is great achievement for Executive AirShare,” said Executive AirShare Director of Operations Brian Jewell. “The continued development of the EFB program, which will integrate even more company systems and processes, will help our pilots be more efficient while helping us cut costs and reduce our environmental footprint at the same time.”
Executive AirShare, first received temporary FAA authorization for its Apple iPad Mini EFB in September 2014. The company than worked diligently with Wichita Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) in order to complete the authorization process. This included developing training programs that addressed operational procedures to use iPad Minis as EFBs. Each pilot went through classroom and hands-on training with the device to learn the required applications and procedures.
A constantly up-to-date and current app, Jeppesen’s Mobile FliteDeck (JeppFD) is used to increase accuracy and timeliness of flight data. This is paired with the AirWatch Secure Content Locker management system, which gives pilot access to virtually every available company manual, document or procedure possible. The information is pushed to the pilot, ensuring each has the most current information available including safety reporting, weather and flight planning functions.
Executive Airshare noted that using the iPad mini and its apps will save more than 30,000 sheets of paper charts each month—the equivalent of 36 trees per year.