Abstract: A portable, hand-holdable controller for interfacing with various flight control, weapons control and other subsystems of an aircraft by a crew member who is not piloting the aircraft. In a preferred embodiment the portable controller includes a keyboard, a mode selector switch and a cursor control. The mode selector switch allows the controller to be interfaced with a plurality of independent multi-function display (MFD) or multi-purpose display (MPD) systems. The cursor control enables the non-pilot crew member to control the cursor on the display being interfaced with. The keyboard allows the non-pilot crew member to enter alphanumeric data or commands to the display being interfaced to. Interfacing is accomplished by coupling the controller via a suitable cable to a convenient point on a control panel of the aircraft. The controller is lightweight and compact and able to be held with one or both hands by the non-pilot crew member or alternatively strapped to a thigh of the crew member.