Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe
General None Reported / Taken
Procedure; Human Factors; Aircraft; Company Policy
First Officer's Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) deferred. After arriving at aircraft we found the EFB removed from the First Officer's side. The First Officer had no way of accomplishing the performance data from his seat. We called Maintenance and asked for a [performance laptop] and were told there are none available. Our choices were 1) Captain do the performance data for takeoff; 2) call Dispatch or 3) First Officer kneel behind the Captain's seat and do the data on the Captain's EFB. Choice 3 was the quickest way to accomplish this and to make an on time push. In order to try to maintain the preflight as standard as possible; the First Officer did the data from behind my seat; went back to the right seat and then I handed the EFB (with a too short cord) to the First Officer for the performance briefing. This is awkward to say the least. During the taxi we were asked to do an intersection takeoff and I would have had to get off the taxiway; set the brake and do the data. We did get clearance for a full length runway takeoff. At our arrival airport we had to go into holding for reports of severe windshear. No problem with the performance data airborne; but it would have been better if the First Officer was able to do the data for flaps 20 and I could have stayed focused on the conditions at the airport. This could be viewed as an annoyance that caused non-standard procedures up until this point. The real problem was departing the airport and while wind shear conditions still existed. I want data based on the actual winds called by the Tower. The Captain should not have to run the data under these conditions. We don't train to just go with what data we have in windshear conditions. Flight Operation Manual also states that cell phones are not permitted from block out to block in. Trying to get performance data from Dispatch on ACARS when I need it immediately puts an unreasonable burden on the Captain. There was not another company aircraft we could have asked for the data. I also understand we are not going to have the [performance program] loaded in the iPad's due to costs. Do not defer the First Officer's EFB if a [performance laptop] is not available. I realize the MEL may not get changed; but at the very least; Maintenance could use 'best practices' to only defer the Captains side. The EFB's should have been swapped. Put the [performance program] on the iPad's.
A300 Captain laments being dispatched with the First Officer's EFB MEL'ed and removed from the aircraft requiring all performance calculations to be done by the Captain while airborne.