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NATIONAL BUSINESS AVIATION ASSOCIATION • focusattendees will also enjoy presentations by some of the most respected commentators on business matters and politics. For example, Rich Karlgaard – columnist, publisher of Forbes magazine, author, pilot and business aircraft owner – will be a featured speaker at the Opening Day General Session on Tuesday, October 30. Rich’s insights as a business icon, pilot, and general aviation advocate make him uniquely qualified to address NBAA2012.Continuing what has become a presidential election year tradition, NBAA will also welcome back renowned political couple James Carville and Mary Matalin, who will be featured speakers at the second day’s Opening Session on Wednesday, October 31. Their appearance will mark their third time speaking at an NBAA Conventionduring an election year. The famed political couple – Carville is a Democratic consultant and Matalin is a Republican strategist – will bring an insider’s view to analyzing and predicting the November election and will discuss the players and policies that influence the outcome.NBAA2012 will also feature more than 100 education sessions, and will host thousands of business aviation professionals who are interested in seeing and learning about all that is new in the world of business aviation.Events like NBAA2012 provide the oppor- tunity for all of us to come together, share best practices, and highlight the importance of business aviation to citizens, companies and communities around the country, and across the globe. I look forward to seeing you in Orlando. mFAA Revises Guidance on Use of Electronic Flight BagsOver the past several years, a growing number of pilots have welcomed electronic flight bags, or EFBs, into the cockpits of all types of general aviation aircraft.A staple of commercial airliner flight decks, EFBs offer not only the ability to download charts and approaches, but also the ability to use global positioning system (GPS) technology to pinpoint and display your aircraft’s precise location. While dedicated EFB systems are available, those capabilities also make a tablet device like Apple’s iPad an effective, lower-cost alternative to systems required under the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System, while also providing a much lighter and more convenient alternative to carrying around bulky paper charts.As the use of EFBs in general aviation cockpits became more prevalent, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has worked to update the agency’s guidance on the devices. Existing FAA guidance regarding the use of EFBs (AC 91-78) allows operators to conduct flights under FAR Part 91 while using tablet devices without prior approval; however, as the technology has advanced and more devices have become available that could be used as EFBs, the agency has undertaken the process of revising its guidance on EFB certification and operational use.Earlier this year, the FAA issued a draft revision to the advisory circular (AC 120-76) on the use of EFBs, that recommended some Part 91 operators to seek approval from the agency38 • TWIN & TURBINE OCTOBER 2012