Boeing subsidiary Jeppesen's electronic chart application has been fully integrated into Airbus's A380 Class 3 electronic flight bag (EFB), and will begin commercial operation when launch customer Qantas Airways makes its inaugural flight this month with the ultra-large widebody.

"When Qantas took delivery of the airplane, our chart application was on there and operational for them," says Jeppesen, which is also working with Singapore Airlines to deliver electronic charts for the carrier's A380s.

Qantas will place its first A380 into service on 20 October between Melbourne and Los Angeles.

A380 EFB
 © Jeppesen

Today's announcement is a result of a close working relationship between Jeppesen and Airbus, which in December 2005 agreed to offer the Boeing unit's EFB applications and data on its A380 in addition to its A320, A330 and A340 aircraft families.

"Airbus test pilots, human factors and flight operations experts brought their experience in cockpit applications and EFB design together with Jeppesen's operational EFB experience to jointly develop a truly innovative solution that meets the highest standards of onboard software," says Jeppesen senior VP and general manager, commercial and military aviation, Thomas Wede.

Jeppesen's full global library of digital terminal charts, including approaches, arrivals, departures, and airport diagrams, has now been implemented with the A380 EFB. The application eliminates the need for airlines to manage thousands of paper charts.

Lufthansa Systems' "Lido" charts are also available across the Airbus range, including the A380.

Source: Air Transport Intelligence news