Definition
An FAA Advisory Circular that provides operational guidance, criteria, and recommended procedures for the authorization, evaluation, and use of Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) by pilots and operators. It addresses hardware classes, software application types, risk assessment, evaluation testing, and operational considerations for replacing paper charts, manuals, and other reference material with electronic equivalents in the cockpit.
Plain English
It is the FAA's official guide that tells pilots and operators how to properly approve and use a tablet or other electronic device in the cockpit instead of paper charts and manuals.
Context Anchor
Seen in Electronic Flight Bag discussions, especially when deciding whether an EFB setup is acceptable for operational use.
Derivation
An Advisory Circular (AC) is a numbered FAA document used to give non-regulatory guidance on a specific subject. The '120' series covers air carrier operations, and '-76' is the specific document number assigned to EFB authorization guidance. Knowing the numbering pattern helps you recognize related ACs in the same operational family.
Why Pilots Care
Using an EFB without following the guidance in AC 120-76 can result in loss of approval or regulatory violations during operations.
Intuition Check
Do not read AC here as aircraft or alternating current. In this context, AC means Advisory Circular, and AC 120-76 is guidance for EFB use, not the EFB itself.
Example Sentence 1
Before rolling out tablets to the line pilots, the chief pilot reviewed AC 120-76 to make sure the company's EFB program met FAA expectations.
Example Sentence 2
Operators must demonstrate compliance with AC 120-76 to receive operational approval for their electronic charts and performance applications.