Definition
An electronic flight bag (EFB) is a portable electronic device used by pilots to display information traditionally carried in paper form, including charts, approach plates, checklists, aircraft manuals, weather data, and performance calculations. EFBs range from commercial tablets running aviation apps to certified installed units, and may be authorized for various functions depending on aircraft, operator, and regulatory approval.
Plain English
A tablet or similar device that holds all the maps, charts, manuals, and reference material a pilot used to carry as paper.
Context Anchor
Seen when pilots use a tablet or installed cockpit screen to look up charts, airport details, checklists, or flight-planning information.
Derivation
The name comes from the old 'flight bag' — the heavy leather or canvas bag pilots carried full of paper charts, manuals, and approach plates. Moving all that paper onto a screen made it the 'electronic' flight bag.
Why Pilots Care
It reduces cockpit weight and clutter while allowing real-time updates to charts and data, improving both safety and efficiency during instrument flight.
Intuition Check
Do not picture a special physical bag with electronics in it. In aviation, an electronic flight bag means the device or system that holds and displays the pilot’s flight information.
Example Sentence 1
Before departure, the pilot opened the approach chart for the destination on her electronic flight bag.
Example Sentence 2
Training programs now expect students to demonstrate proficiency with an electronic flight bag during cross-country flights.