Out Of The Box

However, it was the arrival of the iPad that allowed the concept to grow at an incredible rate. The size and availability of the device and its apps now presented pilotswith an alternative that was not aviation-specific. As a result, the economies of scale meant that rather than being burdened by the cost structures of a solely aviation product, the mainstream iPad could be modified to the requirements of the industry. Furthermore, the iPad came with a large, full colour screen that was ideal for map presentations.

In mid-2010 Bas Scheffers and Rowan Willson came together with Neil Weste joining soon after. Their complementary visions merged to develop the OzRunways app, with the first version released by year’s end. To the backdrop of current Airservices charts, the presentation boasted CTA steps, restricted areas and so on, keeping in line with an overall philosophy of the moving map playing a central role in situational awareness. There was also access to the Aeronautical Information Publications (AIP), effectively meaning that OzRunways was both a comprehensive flight library and moving map display.

At a similar time AvPlan’s Bevan Anderson saw the potential for iPads in aviation and approachedthe concept from another angle. Bevan embraced the concept of a self-updating flight plan – one that behaved like a paper plan, but linked to all manner of useful inflight information – the idea developed into AvPlan 1. 0. This origin as a flight planning device is something that Bevan says AvPlan has retained at its core through subsequent development and is a defining feature. Over the ensuing years, his team grew the product beyond the flight planning boundaries into a full-blown EFB with a moving map display and the features that pilots have come to expect from such a tool.

In 2015 the two applications are a far cry from their early days, boasting a wealth of features including both IFR and VFR charting, enhanced terrain displays, weather overlays and more. In the process, the iPad has almost become a ‘must have’ for pilots. A range of apps are now available and some are used on the flightdecks of major airlines to provide chart information, calculate landing and takeoff performance and weight and balance data. It’s a brave new world.

Key players

OzRunways and AvPlan have emerged as the two key players in the Australian market with OzRunways holding the dominant marketshare with around 13,000 subscribers, while AvPlan won an Innovation Award at the recent Australian International Airshow at Avalon.

Similarly, the two companies’ products are CASA-approved under CAR 233 1(h) so their EFBs are a legal replacement for paper charts, ERSA, DAP, AIP and AIP SUP.

Even so, it would seem prudent to have a backup in the cockpit, even if that is in the form of another EFB.

Both have ventured beyond the world of Apple and offer apps for Android devices, but on this subject Bas from OzRunways offers an interesting observation about the need for the application on Android devices, “. . . previously pilots bought an iPad because they wanted OzRunways. Now we get new people entering aviation and they’ve already made their choice of tablet. ” Accordingly, OzRunways designed their Android app from the ground up, but drawing up the lessons learned over the years. For both organisations, it is an area of growth and development.

The integration of pictorial weather presentations has been a feature embraced by pilots.

OzRunways utilises its ‘Weather Manager’ in addition to radar overlay, and it draws subdivisions and troughs on a map with the planned route overlaid. Touching on the troughs described in the text highlights them on the map, making it incredibly easy to visualise the weather along your route. AvPlan also rates its weather presentation as one of its prime features with radar overlay and even a lightning display.

Fundamentally, both organisations are dynamic and both OzRunwaysand AvPlan are companies on the move. Bas at OzRunways highlights its strengths in providing more and more live data, such as weather and active airspace on the map, the nearest QNH and integrated NAIPS submission. The continuing praise from customers stems from the intuitive nature of OzRunways design. Also, improvements in map engine speed and image quality have been ongoing and despite all of these additions, it now runs faster on older iPads than ever before, using less battery power.

For AvPlan, Bevan reaffirms that the overlay of meteorological and NOTAM data on charts is a standout capability. AvPlan now maintains its own databases with restricted area status, temporary restricted areas, obstacles, fuel prices, geo-referenced approach plates, and low jet routes. Recently the facility was added to allow the export of a flightplan directly from AvPlan into Jeppesen Flitedeck so that crew can plan, brief, file with AvPlan and fly with Jepp Flitedeck anywhere in the world. They also recently introduced live inflight tracking as a free service, which Bevan relates as receiving “great interest from the Australian pilot population”.

Both OzRunways and AvPlan have an impressive and growing customer list in the commercial world too. AvPlan’s largest single customer is the Australian Defence Force, with a number of companies to be announced in the coming months. Similarly, OzRunways is used by a number of RAAF squadrons and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Central).

OzRunways and AvPlan are companies on the move.

Moving forward

For the future, both companies see the EFB moving forward. OzRunways sees that EFBs will keep becoming more commonplace and mobile EFBs will keep out-innovating certified alternatives. For its part, Bas states that OzRunways is always working on ways to provide easier access to briefing information and better situational awareness. As mobile networks keep improving, more real time data like weather, traffic and tracking can be streamed to the cockpit, improving safety with live visual information, rather than a six-hour-old textual forecast. Bas also shares that very soon there will be a live-tracking feature combined with a traffic view of other OzRunways-running pilots. He is the first to admit that it is not a collision avoidance tool, but will assist further with situational awareness and complement ADS-B.

Bevan at AvPlan sees see the future for EFBs providing more data and more connectivity with the aircraft and other systems. The company is aiming to be at the leading edge of these developments through partnerships with Aspen and other major avionics vendors. AvPlan is also seeking to retain its roots where the aircraft operates as an electronic version of a flight plan displaying the plan in comparison to the actual flight progress. As a consequence of this philosophy, Bevan describes AvPlan as a key “decision-making tool”.

There is little doubt that the level of situational awareness brought to the cockpit through modern EFBs has improved greatly. It has also made accessibility to such data a far easier process for a broader base of companies or pilots. OzRunways and AvPlan are delivering products with a wealth of features and ultimately the comparison must be made by the prospective client.

The iPad has revolutionised the information that can be delivered to older and more humble aircraft at an affordable price. Undoubtedly the winner from the continued development will be the pilots. There will be more timely information at their fingertips than ever before.

Like so many digital developments, a good many users will only ever use a portion of the full capability of the device. Even so, it is reassuring to know that a wealth of information and suites of manuals are at hand in the form of a single lightweight iPad or Android tablet. As both OzRunways and Avplan move into the future, one senses that key to growth will be targeting and enhancing those features that every one of their users calls upon.

Australia can take pride in these two home-grown products and what they have brought to the table for the aviation industry. Both have a vision for the future and are taking strides towards the next innovation to enter your cockpit. Like the aircraft they call home, the EFB is most definitely moving forward.