Microsoft Surface Gets A Significant Boost For Usage In Aviation Industry With FAA Authorization

Microsoft today revealed that they will be at the Singapore Airshow, talking with leaders across the commercial airline industry about how they have removed the barriers to adopting Electronic Flight Bags (EFB’s) and going paperless in the cockpit. Microsoft also announced that Surface 2 tablets have achieved Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorization for Class 1 or 2 EFB needs for all phases of flight. This FAA authorization will allow airlines to use Surface for their actual work anytime.

Through this authorization process, we’ve completed rigorous environmental and situational testing of the Surface 2 tablet, streamlining the approval process when airline operators want to use Surface 2 tablets as a Class 1 EFB during flight operations. While airlines are still obligated to define their specific use requirements with the FAA and request specific device approval, our completion of these tests for Surface 2 satisfies a lengthy and important part of that authorization process. So when airlines look to select Surface 2 for their EFB initiatives, their timeline to deployment can be significantly decreased. And because this authorization includes all phases of flight, airlines can confidently plan for using Surface 2 tablets as the fully equipped and powerful PCs they are, rather than limit their use to serving just as simple document readers.

Also, Jeppesen, maker of paper and digital flight charts, has announced the availability of their industry leading FliteDeck Pro application for Windows 8.1. Microsoft also announced that RAM Mounts is now a Designed For Surface accessory partner.

Read more at Surface blog.