Delta to Give Microsoft Surface 2 to 11,000 Pilots as Electronic Flight Bag

Delta Air Lines will give Microsoft Surface 2 tablets to its 11,000 pilots as their electronic flight bags as the company transitions to becoming paperless.

Microsoft Surface 2 tablets, which will run on the Windows RT 8.1 platform, will be given to pilots flying Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 later this year and by the end of 2014. This is part of the airline’s plan to have all Delta cockpits paperless.

The Surface 2 fully incorporates handheld technology in the flight deck, ensures stability of information accessed by pilots while providing them the most recent tools to fly operational and cost improvements and reforms organization of necessary materials.

The lessening of paper in the cockpit also reduces clutter and allows pilots focus more on driving as they will benefit from a spontaneous user interface with functions to find key data quicker without the need to hunt for apt manuals in flight bags or scan documents.

Capt. Steve Dickson, Delta’s senior vice president – Flight Operations said in a press release, “Delta’s electronic flight bag running on Surface 2 continues the technological strides Delta has been making to give our crews the best tools to keep them flying safely and efficiently. This intuitive device puts key information at their fingertips right when they need it. By eliminating paper, we’ll reduce clutter and minimize time spent looking for flight information allowing our pilots the opportunity for greater situational awareness in the air and on the ground.”

The Surface 2 will provide flight crews instantaneous access to important tools and current flight-related stuff including checklists, reference documents and key chart while allowing the company save $13 million yearly in fuel and related costs.

The company anticipates a green light to use the gadget in flights all year round from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). However, it will take numerous months of testing on board Boeing 767 and Boeing 757 aircraft.

“The integration of the electronic flight bag is part of Delta’s broader move to upgrade flight deck equipment, deploy technology enhancements and take advantage of airspace modernization efforts. With these improvements, we’re able to reduce the airline’s environmental impact while providing a great deal of flexibility to continue to add mobile technology solutions into our flying operations,” said Dickson.