The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), Transport Canada, and Direccíon General de Aeronáutica Civil (DGAC Mexico) have all granted Astronics installation approval for its webFB wireless Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) device for Boeing 737 aircraft. The FAA granted the initial Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the webFB in 2016.
“These approvals will enable installation of the webFB on aircraft not only in the US, but now throughout Europe, Canada and Mexico,” said Jon Neal, vice president and general manager of Astronics Ballard Technology. “The wireless webFB enables airlines to provide avionics data connectivity to their portable EFBs. A fleet-wide implementation could be completed in days rather than years.”
The webFB incorporates the capabilities of both an Aircraft Interface Device (AID) and a wireless server. The built-in AID safely gathers essential data from an aircraft’s
ARINC 429 and 717 data buses and conveys it to custom software or EFB apps hosted on its internal server.
In conjunction with the newly issued validations, Astronics is currently working with airlines that are actively conducting trials using the webFB to increase operational efficiencies. Airlines and software partners are developing a variety of enhanced EFB applications for the webFB including flight optimization, electronic tech
logs, and real-time Quick Access Recorder (QAR) monitoring and event notifications.
“The simplicity of our 737 test port installation design allows our airline customers to quickly install the webFB device during routine overnight maintenance visits,” said Rob Abbinante, president of Astronics Armstrong Aerospace. The STCs also approve the installation of the Astronics AES EmPower Flight Deck USB UltraLite Power System, which charges portable EFBs while in flight.