CAP Talk

Operations => Aviation & Flying Activities => Topic started by: Ken on November 30, 2013, 02:51:47 AM

Title: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: Ken on November 30, 2013, 02:51:47 AM
Does anyone know where I can download aeronautical charts for the iPad?
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: Bayareaflyer 44 on November 30, 2013, 05:35:45 PM
Not sure about downloading, but if you have access to internet:
http://skyvector.com/ (http://skyvector.com/)
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: ChrisMOlmstead on November 30, 2013, 06:24:28 PM
Quote from: Ken on November 30, 2013, 02:51:47 AM
Does anyone know where I can download aeronautical charts for the iPad?
He's right. I don't know of any free apps for aeronautical charts, but—if you have access to internet—you can find and download charts (PDF files) on a couple different websites:

http://www.skyvector.com/ (http://www.skyvector.com/)
http://www.airnav.com/airports (http://www.airnav.com/airports)
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: PHall on November 30, 2013, 07:13:12 PM
Just make sure they're current before you fly with them!
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: a2capt on November 30, 2013, 08:05:25 PM
Not free, but close:
https://itunes.apple.com/app/skychartspro/id364731059?mt=8

..and it says after a year it's supposed to ask to renew. Interestingly, it has not for me. But for $20 .. you can get the whole US, anything you want.
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: sardak on November 30, 2013, 08:34:40 PM
You can download PDF versions of charts for free directly from the FAA at: http://aeronav.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=aeronav/applications (http://aeronav.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=aeronav/applications)   The sectionals and terminal area charts are geo-referenced PDFs, so certain software and apps can read coordinates right from the PDF.

One free app that can do so is Avenza PDF Map available for both Android and I-stuff. Recent versions of Adobe Reader have a rudimentary built in tool called the "Geospatial Location Tool" located under Edit > Analysis. A free plug-in for Reader is the TerraGo Toolbar, which can display the coordinates in different formats and datums, and measure areas and distances, downloadable from here: http://pages.terragotech.com/terragotechcom-ajfsd/pages/4856c484b07ae211b733d4bed9fa1e9d.html (http://pages.terragotech.com/terragotechcom-ajfsd/pages/4856c484b07ae211b733d4bed9fa1e9d.html)  Note that the Toolbar is full-featured (not trial) and free, the other software on that page is not.

Mike
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: Eclipse on November 30, 2013, 08:40:51 PM
Quote from: sardak on November 30, 2013, 08:34:40 PM
You can download PDF versions of charts for free directly from the FAA at: http://aeronav.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=aeronav/applications (http://aeronav.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=aeronav/applications)   The sectionals and terminal area charts are geo-referenced PDFs, so certain software and apps can read coordinates right from the PDF.

Are those legal for flying as  pilot?
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: a2capt on November 30, 2013, 08:41:59 PM
Absolutely. The idea is the information. Not the media that it's on. ..and you don't even have to have a chart that is within the current date.
You just have to have all the current revisions applied to it. Since the things fall apart easily, and don't usually last the six months anyway.. it's easier just to buy more. :)
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: sardak on November 30, 2013, 08:53:08 PM
QuoteAre those legal for flying as  pilot?
The answer(s) directly from the FAA:  http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/faq/#q8b (http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/faq/#q8b)

Mike
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: rbrehm on November 30, 2013, 08:54:38 PM
Fltplan.com has a free iPad app where you can download charts free. It's actually a very nice resource for not costing anything.
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: a2capt on November 30, 2013, 10:15:55 PM
Fltplan.com .. seems to have gotten better, neat. Free is good.
Have to check it out with a full set of downloaded data.
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: Eclipse on November 30, 2013, 10:33:11 PM
So...

If these are legal for flying and can be read on an iPad, who would ever buy them again?
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: a2capt on November 30, 2013, 10:37:34 PM
That's exactly what the FAA is having conniptions over. With the paper charts they argued that there was an inbuilt mechanism to recoup the costs of producing the data.

The amount of $150/user/year was floating around for a while, as what creators of these various software products would have to charge to satisfy their obligations to the Feds.

Many folks don't use $150 worth of chart products as it is.
Title: Re: Free Aeronautical Charts for iPad.
Post by: JeffDG on November 30, 2013, 10:38:59 PM
Quote from: Eclipse on November 30, 2013, 10:33:11 PM
So...

If these are legal for flying and can be read on an iPad, who would ever buy them again?
absolutely legal

The "paid" charts have a ton of additional situational awareness features that add considerable value.