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This story originally appeared on AIN.

The FAA has signaled a sea-change in its attitude about display of own-ship position on electronic flight bags (EFBs) and has issued new Advisory Circular (AC) guidance supporting that feature. The agency also is stepping back from in-depth involvement with operators in managing their EFB programs.

AC120-76D replaces the -C version issued in 2014, which for commercial operators specifically prohibited use of geo-referencing or own-ship position display while using moving-map features in the air. Use of geo-referencing on the ground was previoulsy considered acceptable by the agency.

This new guidance applies to Part 91, 91K, 121, 125 and 135 operators, but only 91K through 135 operators are required to seek FAA approval of their EFB programs. Part 91 operators can use EFBs as they wish, without formal approval, and many pilots have been using geo-referenced moving maps and approach charts to aid situational awareness since the iPad entered the market in 2010.

Read the expanded version on AIN, HERE.

Official airport, navigation and chart data for the FAA's 28-day AIRAC cycle beginning 11/09/17 became current today as of 09:01Z.  This includes updated georeferenced data for airport diagrams and instrument approach procedures available in iFlightPlanner for iPad.

Anytime you access iFlightPlanner.com from your PC or smartphone you can be confident that you are seeing the most current and accurate data available.  To ensure that iFlightPlanner for iPad is current, simply tap "Check for Updates" in the upper-left corner of the Downloads tab.  The app will quickly tell you which packages need to be updated!

The iFlightPlanner Crew
PLAN. FLY. LOG.

iFlightPlanner for iPad users may now download airport and navigation data as well as aeronautical charts, georeferenced airport diagrams and terminal procedures for the FAA Data Cycle that goes into effect on November 9, 2017.  Simply tap the button in the upper-left corner of the Downloads tab to "Check For Updates".

Pilots using iFlightPlanner.com on their PC or smartphone will see the iFlightPlanner Cloud automatically make the transition to the new data at 9:01Z on November 9.