Domestic software for electronic flight tablets, known as Electronic Flight Bag (EFB), is aimed at improving aircraft management processes with a focus on safety. One of the main functions of this software is to optimise flight mode selection, which is achieved by analysing various factors such as actual aircraft weight, weather conditions, runway characteristics and pilot actions. This enables the crew to make the most rational decisions, which has a direct impact on flight safety.
Currently, the software is adapted to calculate take-off and landing characteristics of three common types of Russian civil aircraft: Tu-204, Tu-214 and SSJ100. Test operation of the electronic tablets is now being carried out in airlines operating these aircraft. In the future, it is planned to expand support for other aircraft types, as well as to adapt the software to domestic operating systems and equipment designed and manufactured in Russia.
According to Nikita Lituev, Deputy Head of the Automatic Control Systems Department at the Yakovlev Engineering Centre, modern technology has been actively used by airlines around the world for a number of years. Thanks to the automation of take-off and landing performance calculations, the time spent by the crew on flight preparation is significantly reduced, and the probability of human error is reduced. This aspect is especially important in the context of the increasing workload of flight crews.
Taking into account modern requirements for civil aircraft, it is necessary to introduce the functionality of electronic tablets into the design of modern domestic aircraft. The MC-21 aircraft design was immediately carried out with paperless technology in mind, which implies the possibility of using an electronic portfolio. For example, the instrument board in the cockpit of MC-21 aircraft b/n 73056 was made with a slot for a tablet. Other prototype machines were initially fitted with inbuilt EFBs with domestic software.
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Although implementation of standard EFB functionality on domestic software and hardware is an important task, it is necessary to look further, says Nikita Lituev. He believes that in conditions of time deficit and increasing crew workload, integration of EFB functions directly into the onboard avionics system is required. The capabilities of modern technologies make this step extremely relevant.
For example, Gulfstream’s Predictive Landing Performance System provides calculations of landing distance and estimated taxiway to clear the runway. These calculations are performed in the aircraft’s onboard equipment and updated in real time to reflect changes in aircraft configuration and environmental conditions. The information obtained is displayed on the aerobatic indicators, which allows the crew to make decisions on adjusting the approach parameters.
For example, Leader Aero – Digital Aviation Solutions is developing EFB software in Russia. The proposed software allows to automate the calculation of aircraft take-off and landing characteristics. The difference of this software from foreign analogues lies in its universality: the system can work with aircraft of any type and manufacturer, including helicopters, unlike foreign systems tied to specific models. In addition, thanks to expert systems technology, the development takes into account airline regulations, which can also have a strong influence on CAP.
The development of the project began in 2016, the first tests were successfully carried out on aircraft like Tu-204. To perform calculations, a pilot only needs to enter about 10 characteristics into the tablet, such as aircraft type, aerodrome and runway identifiers, actual aircraft weight and others. Some information, such as meteorological data and runway condition, is entered automatically by connecting to the aviation database.
The development of domestic software for electronic flight tablets and its further integration into existing systems of domestic aircraft avionics will not only increase the efficiency of crews’ work, but will also significantly improve flight safety.
