Electronic Flight
Bag (EFB) Subcommittee
Last Update:
May 9, 2012
Co-Chairman: Maurice Ingle, American Airlines
Co-Chairman: Sonja Schellenberg. Lufthansa Systems
APIM 09-003A: EFB Application Control Interface (Supplement 1 to ARINC 840) (pdf,137K)
APIM 11-009: EFB Terminal Interface using Ethernet and Remote Frame Buffer (RFB) Protocol (Supplement 3 to ARINC 828) (pdf, 106K)
APIM 11-012: Supplement 2 to ARINC Specification 834: Aircraft Data Interface Function (ADIF) (pdf, 173K)
Goal: The Goal of the EFB Subcommittee is to develop standards applicable to EFB use and implementation. These encompass Class 1, 2 and 3 EFBs utilized by numerous airlines on multiple aircraft types. The standards are comprised of both hardware and software specifications and apply to interfaces, wiring and connectors, data protocols and application control.
Scope: The Subcommittee is responsible for maintaining standards in the above noted areas. Future developments that impact EFBs or are affected by them will be coordinated through this Subcommittee. Additional issues for investigation may originate from the EFB Users Forum, airlines, suppliers or other AEEC groups.
Benefit: Benefits of the activity are:
- Wider range of product offerings (hardware and software)
- Product interchangeability (hardware and software)
- Increased competition and lower costs
- Expanded EFB capabilities
- Increased reliability
- Reduced integration effort
- Cost savings through improved efficiency, reduced fuel consumption and decreased paperwork
- Increased safety through improved situational awareness and better information availability
Work Program: The AEEC endorsed EFB work program presently consists of updating the three ARINC EFB Specifications:
- Supplement 3 to ARINC Specification 828: Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Standard Interface:
New material will include definition of the interface between an EFB processing unit (PU) and an EFB display unit (DU). This will permit replacement of these components as separate line replaceable units, in keeping with their different rates of development and obsolescence. This supplement introduces Remote Frame Buffer (RFB) protocol and allows communication between the PU and DU via Ethernet. It is intended to support state-of-the-art EFBs but could be applied to other aircraft computers as well.
- Supplement 2 to ARINC Specification 834: Aircraft Data Interface Function (ADIF):
New material will include extensions to the Simple Text Avionics Protocol (STAP) to improve transmission performance. In addition, modifications are made to the Avionics Data Broadcast Protocol (ADBP) XML schema and unified XML request and response schemas are implemented.
- Supplement 2 to ARINC Specification 840: Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Application Control Interface (ACI) Standard:
New material will include repository service intents, out-of-band data handling, virtual keyboards and printer service intents.
Current Drafts:
Circulation Prior to Adoption Action
Draft 2 of Supplement 2 to ARINC Specification 834: Aircraft Data Interface Function (ADIF) (pdf, 253K)
To Obtain Complete Document
Adoption Notification (pdf, 791K)
Circulation Prior to Adoption Action
Draft 2 of Supplement 3 to ARINC Specification 828: Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Standard Interface (pdf, 248K)
To Obtain Complete Document
Adoption Notification (pdf, 791K)
Meeting Announcement:
Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Subcommittee (pdf, 553K)
July 17-19, 2012; in
Seattle, Washington
Register On Line
Action Items and Working Papers :
Last Meeting Report and Presentations:
Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) Subcommittee
April 3-4, 2012; in Annapolis, Maryland
