by Mike Bliss
Tips for cross country flying, don’t just use your Electronic Flight Bag(EFB)
The Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) is truly a marvel in what it can do for a pilot. It can plan your route, calculate weight and balance, fuel burn, flight times, and even file the flight plan. It gathers weather data, provides VFR and IFR charts, approach plates, and airport diagrams. It can open aircraft checklists, display the POH, and once the flight is complete, it can update your logbook.
With the EFB handling so much, and autopilot, GPS, and moving map managing many in-flight tasks, you might wonder: what’s left for the pilot to do? Life is certainly easier, but is something lost in the process?
Call me “old school,” but sometimes I don’t want everything done for me. I like to do it myself. General aviation isn’t always about getting from point A to B with minimal effort. Sometimes it is, but other times, a more thoughtful, hands-on approach brings more enjoyment. I have to admit, at times I miss using paper charts. Some of my fondest aviation memories are of spreading them out on a big table, planning routes, choosing checkpoints, using a plotter to measure distances, and breaking out my E6B to calculate leg times, fuel burn, and wind correction angles, all to come up with the masterpiece of a completed Route Log.
Yes, this process took much more time, but it was an enjoyable time that created a deeper connection with the flight. Rather than fixating on a moving map, the focus was on landmarks, rivers, lakes, and railroad tracks. There was a real sense of flying as the world passed beneath your wings. It’s the same reason some pilots prefer vintage aircraft, eschewing modern avionics and computer aids to reconnect with the simple joy of flying.
Of course, you might not want to do all of these manual calculations every time you fly cross-country. And I get that not everyone shares my views. Many, maybe even most, will ask, “Why go to all that trouble when the EFB does it for you?” My answer is simple: sometimes, I just enjoy it. The EFB is a wonderful tool that every pilot should take full advantage of but it’s just that: a tool. It doesn’t fit every desire and mood.
One key question remains: how do we best integrate “do-everything-for-you” technology with pilot responsibilities? I believe in the principle of “trust but verify.” As PIC, use helpful tools, but don’t blindly accept everything the EFB generates. Review the route, understand the airspace, terrain, and any offshore legs requiring specific equipment. You need to take the time to review the proposed route of flight and make yourself familiar with all of the airspace in which you will operate. Don’t just follow the proposed route without considering the implications.
Pay attention to fuel consumption calculations. Not every airplane of the same make and model burns fuel at the same rate. Just because the numbers look good on paper doesn’t mean you’ll have the margin you need if you’re rerouted due to weather or ATC deviations. Meeting legal fuel minimums is not the same as feeling confident in your reserves.
Also, consider your own comfort. The EFB might suggest a long flight leg because your aircraft is capable of doing so, but you may prefer two shorter legs to allow time for a food or bathroom break.
Will the proposed flight plan extend into a period of night flight? Are you night current? Do you have the right flashlights, and are all aircraft lights working? If you’re arriving late, will the destination still be open?
None of these considerations are unique to EFB-planned flights. They’re part of what you’d normally do if you did all the planning on your own. But when relying heavily on the EFB, it’s easy to assume the planning is done and you’re ready to go. Take the time to work through the provided flight planning results yourself, and you’ll be better prepared for any changes en route. And, every once in a while, go “old school.” You might find it brings a whole new level of enjoyment to the flight.