Carriage and Use of Personal Electronic Devices and Portable Electronic Flight Bags in the Cockpit

One of the risks identified in the EASA Safety Risk Management (SRM) process for Rotorcraft is the Carriage and Use of Personal Electronic Devices (PEDs) and Portable Electronic Flight Bags (EFBs) in the Cockpit. 

In our latest video, made with the support of Mathieu Vandenavenne, Safety for Flight we cover the scenario of a professional pilot who is due to perform a ferry flight in a Company helicopter. During the flight preparation, the pilot is told by the Chief Pilot to correctly and safely mount his PED. During the flight, he should be capable of attaching the PED securely and have thought about, using Threat and Error Management, what he would do in the event of a failure of the device or a thermal runaway. 

PED and EFB risks and benefits

Using PEDs and portable EFBs in flight is handy for a pilot, as they may enable or enhance communication and bring information useful for calculating mass and balance, aircraft performance and fuel endurance, and for flight planning and replanning, navigation, terrain, obstacle or traffic awareness and avoidance.

However, using PEDs and portable EFBs in the cockpit comes with certain risks, as they may focus the pilots’ attention head down, and distract them from flying the aircraft and managing the flight path. 

Using PEDs and portable EFBs while flying may also reduce or impair visual scanning outside the cockpit and affect the pilots’ capability to ‘see and avoid’, which can result in a mid-air collision or collision with terrain, cables and obstacles. 

Loosely secured PEDs and EFBs may also move and fall while flying, resulting in interference with flight controls. Causing the pilot to inadvertently perform inappropriate actions on the flight controls while trying to retrieve them from where they moved or fell. This can result in abrupt changes of heading or attitude and undesired aircraft states, possibly leading to upset and loss of control in flight.

The pilot could also be injured by unsecured equipment in the case of abrupt manoeuvres.

Portable EFBs and other PEDs can, like all other lithium battery powered equipment, suffer thermal runaway.

The video focuses on non-commercial operations and shows typical PEDs and portable EFB used in the cockpit and the advantages and risks they bring. It illustrates a PED thermal runaway and how to manage this demanding situation.

Key message from the video

Don’t fit your smartphone with a sucker mount on the helicopter’s windshield: it is unsafe and is prohibited by some OEMS. Refer for to the accident report and the Guimbal Cabri G2 SERVICE LETTER 20-001 “Use of Mounts in the Cockpit” mentioned in the Aerossurance article ‘Don’t Be a Sucker: Cabri Canopy Implosion’.

The main risks are:

• Damaging the windshield and blocking the flight controls if they detach and fall.
• Becoming projectiles as a result of abrupt manoeuvres, leading to damage to other equipment or possible injuries to the pilot or the passengers.

• Instead, use a kneeboard for a tablet or a certified mounting system. 

You could be tempted to have your smartphone ready to access in case you wish to pass important text messages or pick-up a call via Bluetooth. As in a car, be careful to not be distracted during the flight, the consequences are likely to be even more serious in a helicopter. If the communication is vital, it is safer to land and then use your smartphone.

In the same way as wearing fireproof gloves to protect your hands, use a fireproof pocket for your tablet or  smartphone to protect against thermal runaway.

A burning smell accompanied by smoke emanating from where you device (tablet, smartphone etc) probably indicates a thermal runaway. 

Should this happen, you should do the following:

• Reduce airspeed immediately, partially open the door using the restraining strap.

• Remove your device from its location and put it inside the fireproof pocket.

• Place it all on a vacant seat and initiate a descent to land immediately.

Select a suitable landing spot and land quickly but safely. Shut down the engine, get outside the helicopter and find a safe place to set the pocket containing the burning equipment. Place it on the ground at a safe distance from the aircraft and in a location that limits the risk of fire propagation (avoid high grass, for instance).

If your smartphone is out of service, call the firefighting services on the emergency frequency using your helicopter’s radio.

Use appropriate safety precautions with your PED and remember the key risks:

• FOD and flight control interference.

• Distraction in flight.

• Thermal runaway.

ESPN-R Checklist

ESPN-R has developed a checklist called “Electronic Flight Bag – Emergency Procedures“.

You are invited to download the checklist at the bottom of the page. Print it two-sided in A5 format and plasticise it for storage in your aircraft:

References

EGAST Leaflet GA 7 Using Advanced Navigation Technology Safely | EASA (europa.eu).

Guimbal Cabri G2 SERVICE LETTER 20-001 Use of Mounts in the Cockpit.

EASA - DISTRACTION AND CFIT (youtube.com).

Les risques des batteries au lithium - Hélicoptères on Vimeo- DSAC.

Don't Be a Sucker! Cabri Canopy Implosion - Aerossurance.

Fatal B206L3 Cell Phone Discount Distracted CFIT - Aerossurance.