Boeing announced an agreement with Esterline CMC Electronics to provide Class 2 electronic flight bag (EFB) hardware on selected aircraft models for production and retrofit, starting with the Next-Generation 737. Boeing said a second provider will be announced later.
CMC Electronics’ PilotView system is the Class 2 EFB selected.
Boeing said it is developing a common application suite and ground infrastructure for use across Class 1, 2 and 3 EFBs. It aims to “maximize the value of the EFB infrastructure” by including Boeing and Jeppesen applications and data.
“Many Class 2 providers offer no integration, leaving it to be done by the airline,” said Robert Manelski, director of Crew Information Services with Boeing Commercial Airplanes. “This can add unanticipated cost and increase technical and schedule risk. Our EFB solution is fully integrated, allowing customers the flexibility they want, with Boeing support throughout the life cycle of the product."
Boeing was the first to certify and integrate a Class 3 EFB on the 777 fleet in October 2003 . Since then, the airframer has certified the Boeing Class 3 EFB for the Next-Generation 737, 757, 767 and 747-400 models and made it standard on the 787 Dreamliner and Boeing Business Jets.