Only a few months ago, Scandinavian Avionics announced its launch project for their proprietary new tablet based EFB solution. Today, the Norwegian airline, Norwegian Air Shuttle has signed a contract to equip their entire fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft with the new flexible and cost-effective tablet based EFB solution. Scandinavian Avionics will provide all equipment, certification package (EASA STC) and installation support for the project.
The solution consists of 2 ruggedized 10.1” Panasonic tablets, Scandinavian Avionics’ Data Integration Center (DIC-600) for aircraft interface and server capability and a separate communication module (ERC-400) that eases the certification process and future-proofs the operator’s future communication demands. Both the interface unit and the communication module have been designed and certified in-house by Scandinavian Avionics.
The solution stands out in the market because it redefines the traditional EFB architectural concept by moving focus from the actual EFB display in the cockpit to the flexible infrastructure in the aircraft.
Michael R. Truelsen, President at Scandinavian Avionics, explains:
“As opposed to other EFB solutions with expensive hardware and high certification costs, we have developed a future-proofed concept that enables the aircraft operator to use a commercial windows based tablet as the EFB display. The development within commercial tablets is running way faster than the traditional EFB hardware and with our solution the operator can continuously upgrade the EFB display to the most current model at low certification costs.”
John-Christian Paulshus, Head of Business Development Operational It Solutions at Norwegian Air Shuttle says:
“We prefer not to invest in proprietary EFB solutions; but to invest in more open infrastructure that will support today’s and future EFB devices. We strongly believe in rather short-cycled devices in cockpit while maintaining a flexible infrastructure in the avionics compartment. for many years. We have been looking for a replacement EFB solution that will provide Norwegian with the best price performance available – in line with our overall business concept with modern equipment – and we have now found the solution for the future.”
An electronic flight bag solution benefits any airline or aircraft operator by reducing weight on board and by saving time on updating the physical charts in the flight bag as well as gaining operational benefits with connectivity.
Ole-Christian Melhus, Deputy Director Flight Operations at Norwegian Air Shuttle comments:
“As an experienced paperless operator, we are confident that the flexibility achieved by the new hardware solution provided by Scandinavian Avionics, will exceed the operational benefits targeted for effectiveness and operational control. Aircraft connectivity together with existing and future infrastructure flexibility, are key elements in the selected solution. Streamlining our operation in all aspects are important in our daily processes, both today and for our continuous expansion, we stand confident that this will be a solution and investment for the long term future.”
Michael R. Truelsen concludes:
“We believe strongly in our EFB concept, and the fact that airlines are now starting to change course and exchange traditional EFB systems with new future-proof solutions as ours, is a sign that we are on the right track.”
The initial certification and installation has been accomplished for new delivery aircraft and retrofits are currently proceeding according to Norwegian Air Shuttle’s high paced plan for the current Boeing 737 fleet.