Boeing and Air Canada have announced plans to install the Boeing Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) on the airline's new Boeing 777s and 787s. Air Canada will be the first airline in North America to operate a Class 3 EFB, which is fully integrated into a commercial airplane's avionics.

Air Canada announced the 777 and 787 orders in November 2005. The airline now says it will have EFB systems installed, certified and delivered on all 18 of its 777-300ERs, 777-200LRs and 777 Freighters. In addition, it will get EFBs on the 14 787 airplanes it announced (the EFB is standard equipment on the Dreamliner.)

The airline is scheduled to receive its first EFB-equipped 777 in 2007, and its first 787 in 2010.

"We're pleased with the momentum in the market for our Class 3 EFB," said Dan da Silva, vice president of Sales and Marketing for Boeing Commercial Aviation Services. "Air Canada is a prime example of a first-class airline picking the Boeing EFB after conducting a rigorous review of available technology to determine what would best improve performance and enhance value."

Using software developed by Boeing and its subsidiary, Jeppesen, and hardware from Astronautics Corp. of America (ACA), the Boeing EFB digitally delivers vital charts and manuals that pilots need to fly an airplane, giving them immediate access to critical information. An instant performance calculator gives pilots the ideal speeds and engine setting for an aircraft, in any weather, on any runway, with any payload, and can create vast gains in efficiency, range and payload.

Jeppesen's Airplane Moving Map -- available only on Class 3 EFBs -- enhances runway situational awareness by integrating geo-referencing technology with Jeppesen airport taxi charts to show flight crews exactly where they are on the tarmac.

With 80 Gigabytes of available memory in each pilot's EFB, the Boeing system provides plenty of room for new applications as they become available, such as enhanced fault reporting and electronic logbook, en route moving maps, enhanced electronic checklists, real-time weather information, and real-time Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) information.

FMI: www.boeing.com, www.aircanada.com