Definition
A specific section of FAA Order 8900.1 (the Flight Standards Information Management System, or FSIMS) that contains the FAA's guidance and authorization criteria for the use of Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) by operators and pilots. Volume 3 covers general technical administration, Chapter 18 addresses EFBs, and Section 3, Part A sets out the policy framework, definitions, and approval requirements that inspectors and operators must follow when evaluating or implementing EFB use.
Plain English
It is the official FAA rulebook section that tells inspectors, operators, and pilots how Electronic Flight Bags can be used and approved. If you want to know what the FAA officially says about EFBs, this is where it is written down.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA handbook discussions of Electronic Flight Bags, especially where the handbook points readers to the official FAA guidance behind EFB authorization and use.
Derivation
FAA Order 8900.1 is the FAA's master document of inspector guidance, organized into Volumes (broad subject areas), Chapters (specific topics), Sections, and Parts. The numbering is a filing system: Volume 3 = general technical administration, Chapter 18 = EFBs, Section 3 = operational use policy, Part A = the lead portion of that section. Knowing the structure lets you find any FAA policy reference quickly.
Why Pilots Care
Operators must follow this section to obtain legal authorization for EFBs and to keep their equipment and procedures in compliance during FAA evaluations.
Intuition Check
Do not read this as a flight procedure to perform in the airplane. It is a document location: a pointer to FAA guidance about EFB authorization and operational use.
Example Sentence 1
Our company's EFB program was built to meet the criteria in FAA Order 8900.1 Volume 3, Chapter 18, § 3, Part A.
Example Sentence 2
During the certification visit the inspector verified compliance by checking the procedures outlined in FAA Order 8900.1 Volume 3, Chapter 18, § 3, Part A.