Definition
On an Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), content manipulation is any action the pilot takes that changes how a chart, document, or other display is presented on screen — such as zooming, panning, rotating, decluttering, or selecting overlays. It refers to changing the view or interaction with existing content, not editing or altering the underlying data itself.
Plain English
It means using the EFB's controls to adjust how something is shown — zooming in on a chart, scrolling around it, or turning layers on and off. You're changing the view, not changing the chart.
Context Anchor
Seen when using an EFB to view charts, manuals, checklists, or other flight information during planning, taxi, flight, or briefing.
Derivation
From Latin manipulus, meaning 'a handful.' In modern use, manipulation simply means handling or working with something. Here it describes the pilot 'handling' the on-screen content with taps, swipes, and gestures.
Why Pilots Care
Allows pilots to tailor how information appears for better readability and personal notes while keeping the original data unchanged and reliable.
Analogy
Like pinching to zoom or using a stylus to highlight text on a PDF viewer app on a phone or tablet.
Intuition Check
Content manipulation does not mean editing or changing official aviation information. Here it means controlling how that information is displayed on the EFB screen.
Example Sentence 1
The crew briefed that all chart content manipulation would be completed before crossing the final approach fix.
Example Sentence 2
Before takeoff the crew applied content manipulation to add personal notes on the taxi diagram for the expected runway.