UPS to install Boeing Electronic Flight Bag for 757 and 767 Fleets

UPS is to retrofit 107 of its Boeing 757s and 767s with Boeing's Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag (EFB).

In addition, EFB will be installed on eight new 747-400 freighters ordered last year by UPS and slated for delivery beginning in 2007.

EFB is a core technology of Boeing's vision of an e-Enabled air transport system, where data, information and knowledge can be shared instantly across an air-transport enterprise. Using software developed by Boeing and its subsidiary, Jeppesen, as well as hardware from Astronautics Corp. of America (ACA), Boeing's Class 3 EFB digitally delivers vital charts, manuals and documents, giving pilots instant access to the information they need. Boeing's EFB can also offer improved communication between an airplane flight deck crew and airline maintenance teams, which supports timely repairs of planes and helps reduce unscheduled repairs.

Rising airplane fuel costs helped motivate UPS to become the launch customer for the Boeing Class 3 EFB in the United States, as well as the launch customer for the Boeing Class 3 EFB on 757s and 767s. UPS has been exploring EFB as a tool to help materially streamline its operations into and out of key airports. In a simple but elegant use of the Electronic Flight Bag, UPS will map more efficient flight paths for its fleet, reducing the need for holding patterns and cutting flight times.

"In today's world of rising fuel prices, it's more critical than ever to operate efficiently," said UPS Airline and International Operations Vice President Bob Lekites. "Implementing this system is just one of the many ways UPS uses technology to conserve fuel, which benefits both customers and the environment."

Installation of a multi-functional EFB is only part of what the Boeing team provides the airline. Jeppesen is focused on ensuring that the receiving airline has the infrastructure, training, systems and ability to develop additional content to take full advantage of the EFB capabilities and reap the benefits of a paperless cockpit. These are among the items critical to a successful EFB implementation, and together represent a competitive advantage for Boeing in discussing the Class 3 EFB with potential customers.

UPS is working with ACSS of Phoenix, Ariz., to develop SafeRoute, a set of ADS-B-based software applications. UPS will use the Boeing EFB to display the SafeRoute information, which will help UPS reduce airplane emissions and noise pollution, improve fuel efficiency, expand airport capacity, and improve airport safety on the ground.

UPS intends to use the EFB to display one application of SafeRoute that provides flight crews with an airport surface map, tracking the movements of their aircraft and other ground and airborne traffic in the terminal area while alerting crews to potential conflicts. This application delivers enhanced situational awareness and reduces the possibility of runway incursions.

With 80 Gigabytes of available memory, the Boeing Class 3 EFB provides plenty of room for new applications as well, such as enhanced fault reporting; enhanced electronic checklists; real-time weather information; and real-time Notice To Airmen (NOTAM) information.

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