Efficiency booster: DGCA approves electronics flight folder for IndiGo – Times of India

NEW DELHI: The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has approved “Electronic Flight Folder” (EFF) for IndiGo, enabling “a significant leap forward in enhancing efficiency and sustainability within the aviation sector,” said a senior regulatory official Friday. EFF “represents a pivotal shift away from traditional paper-based processes in flight planning and documentation.This innovative technology seamlessly digitizes and consolidates all essential flight plan documents and associated paperwork into a unified digital platform,” he added.
An Electronic Flight Folder is a visual collection of pre-flight briefing data that is updatable and forms the basis of the pilot’s digital briefing pack on their EFB device. It consists of data such as operational flight plans, weather & NOTAMs, weather charts, airfield data, ETOPs and more. All this data is automatically collated into an EFF file and integrated onto an EFB app.
“Electronic flight folders contain near real-time data that is commonly used and integrated within electronic flight bags (EFB), via an iPad or tablet device,” DGCA said in a statement.
Giving the benefits, it added: “Cost Savings: When airlines employ Electronic Flight Bags, there is there is a notable reduction in the necessity for paper-based materials such as charts, manuals, and flight plans.
Weight Reduction: The transition from paper-based materials to EFBs has a direct impact on the weight of the aircraft. Since EFBs are compact and lightweight compared to heaps of paper, this reduction in weight contributes to lower fuel consumption.
Increased Efficiency in Pre-flight Preparations: EFBs boast an intuitive interface, enabling pilots to access and process the information they need swiftly. This can be especially beneficial during pre-flight preparations where time is of the essence.
Improved Safety through Real-time Information: One of the cardinal advantages of using an EFB is the provision of real-time information Improving Access to a Wide Range of Information This includes, but is not limited to, navigation charts, weather data, aircraft manuals, and performance calculations.
“EFF also plays a role in enhancing fuel efficiency. Use of EFF technology allows airlines to use the latest data to optimize flight paths thereby reducing fuel consumption, and ultimately, lowering emissions. This would potentially lead large amount of fuel saving per annum,” the official added.
One of the paramount benefits of EFF is its substantial contribution to improve the carbon footprint. By eliminating the need for paper documents, the reliance on physical resources is reduced and the environmental impact associated with paper production and disposal is correspondingly decreased.
This milestone underscores the collective commitment of DGCA and all aviation stakeholders in driving innovation and promoting sustainability in aviation. Digital transformation, is setting new benchmarks for operational excellence and efficiency in flight operations.
The adoption of EFF by Indigo would result in a reduction in carbon emissions by approximately 800 tons of greenhouse gases annually equivalent to saving 2200 trees every year.