Charts - Navigraph

[EHM-1703 Philip]

I just thought I would post this

http://www.navigraph.com/navigraph/osc/main.asp?display=node&id=20

I have just signed up for the Basic Metropolitan package of this software as I am fed up with trawling through hundreds of sites to find the charts I need. (and registering on many of them too)

I was considering the Jeppeson Sim Charts package but this seems just as functional and a lot less money! (Although the coverage isn't as comprehensive)

Also for those of you who haven't seen it yet, VATSIM have put in a new chart links page which is quite usefull:
http://usa-w.vatsim.net/charts/

I'll let you know what this package is like and give it a bit of a review when it arrives. (Although you can download the basic software and run the demo, you can not download the chart packs as they are so large)

EDIT*
There is also a version of Navigraph that can be tailored to VA's so you only have to buy a single package which contains information pertinent to your VA's route!  Maybe if enough people are interested, the MT might sign EHM up?

[EHM-1670 Bill]

Any idea how old the data is. I can see it is expired but cannot see a date.

Strange how America is one pack and Europe is three. Thought it would have been the other way round (unless their target customer is European )

[EHM-1703 Philip]

Hi Bill,

I'll let you know when I get the full version. The demo charts are August 2003.

Each pack contains roughly 100 airports and 2300 charts, so they have broken it down that way, they just have a hell of a lot more airports covered in Europe. They are old SAS charts and the company is Swedish so I guess they are more biased to the European operations but of course, the VA Tailored pack can contain any airports anywhere in the world, (As long as it is in one of the packs) I guess it will be governed by the rule that it can only contain about 100 airports though. The Metropolitan pack looks quite good as it has most major cities covered, such as the ones we are doing on the Online Long Haul event also I think all of our Hubs are covered. I'll let you know more when I get the DVD.

[EHM-1703 Philip]

Well the DVD arrived today and after having a quick look, I am very impressed. (delivery took 3 working days)

The charts I have looked up so far are dated between March and November 2005. Each airport has all charts you will need. (for instance Heathrow has over 40 charts including ILS, SID, STAR, Airport Diagram, Parking, Initial approaches & Radar Vectoring charts and where necessary description pages are included)

The package uses its own peice of database software to sort & display the charts which are stored in proprietary format. (They are not PDF files) Each chart can be printed out, rotated, zoomed and the notes can be added to charts.

When you install an area pack, the files for that pack are copied from the DVD to your HDD for fast access and only when you register each pack will the files be copied.

All in all not a bad package and I would say that the Metropolitan pack is worth the money (If you are fed up for searching for charts) as it has a good selection of major airports included. (all of EHM's Hubs are in there including our next addition KATL)

If anyone has any questions, let me know and I will try and answer them.

[EHM-1358 Tim]

Got any screens of the charts?

[EHM-1703 Philip]

Hi Tim,

Here you go, I have just taken a snapshot of the screen including the database so you can see how the program looks.

ILS CHART FOR 09L EGLL


PARKING CHART EGLL


BIG3B STAR EGLL


EGLL RVC CHART


Let me know if these are not clear enough.

Cheers

[EHM-1358 Tim]

Wow, those are cool! Looks like a good investment.

[EHM-1703 Philip]

It worked out at £35.25 in GBP (50 Euros) for the base program and the Metropolitan pack so it's not cheap at all, but not bad compared to other packages. If you just want charts for europe the Jeppesen Simcharts package would probably be better as it is only 35 euros for one zone which would work out cheaper than the Navigraph package.

See the Simcharts Package here: (cut and paste the entire link as the Hyperlink wont work)
http://www.jeppesen.com/wlcs/application/commercewf?origin=category.jsp&event=link(browse)&&wlcs_catalog_sourceKey=wlcs_categories&wlcs_catalog_destinationKey=wlcs_siblings&wlcs_catalog_category_id=AT1E4

or Navigraph here:
http://www.navigraph.com/navigraph/osc/main.asp?display=node&id=20

[EHM-1670 Bill]

Looks good and I have a birthday coming up

I have Simplates at the moment and will have to compare. Mine can be a bit of a beggar to find what I want as it is US biased.

[EHM-1570 Bruce]

The charts look excelent. If pilots are looking for a different(cheaper) option, take a look at the following web site and the EBF 2004 software, you have to install all your own charts, as many as you want, it also shows weather, Flight plan and is a moving map.  http://www.fswidgets.com/index.php

[EHM-1670 Bill]

There's a comparison review of Simplates, Jeppesen & Navigraph at http://tinyurl.com/76ns7

Phil - can you give an update please now you have had Navigraph for a few days. Particularly I am interested in the statement Furthermore, the nDAC software enables you to compile all required charts according to your flightplan, you can load it in FPL file format (Flight Simulator flightplan) and he will gather all charts you'll need ![/i]

Thanks

[EHM-1703 Philip]

Hi Bill,

Well the review is pretty spot on. So far I am finding the Metropolitan pack usefull, but ofcourse I am only selecting flights that I have charts for, for instance, the only airport covered in Portugal is LPPT so no charts for Madiera! (Ah well) I may well expand and get the three European and America packs at a later date when I can afford them, but the Metro pack will do for now.

The software is quite basic, but it doesn't need to be any more complicated and yes you can go to the routes section and import a FS2004 Flight plan. Basically all this does is get rid of all the charts for other airports so you dont have to search for the charts you need, they are in the side panel and you just select the charts you require from the list available for that airport, not a feature that I use as I fly PMDG and PSS aircraft mainly so rarely file a FS2004 Flight Plan.

Before Start up, I open the nDAC software and make my route by selecting Departure, Arrival and if available Alt airports, then this program runs on one of my laptops so I don't have to minimize FS to read the charts.

It's very usefull and much easier than searching through hundreds of AIS websites and having to register with them all. I would certainly recommend it to anyone that has about 50 euros to spend, although of course it depends on what takes priority to you. For me, it was either buy this or get the PMDG QOS, as I have 6 other payware airliners and the Ifly 747-400 is pretty good, I decided to go for the chart software.

[EHM-1670 Bill]

Thanks for that - just what I wanted to hear. Looks like it is a getter for me.

[EHM-0641 Rico]

Those GB charts are the same one u can get for free at

GB Charts

All charts and other aeronautical publications can be found on the UK AIS website:

http://www.ais.org.uk

When you click the link, you should see a log in screen


In the User Name box, enter "ivaogb"

In the password box, enter "ivaogb"

Next, press the green tick


Once you have logged in, move the mouse over the word "Publications". You should see a drop down menu appear. In this menu, scroll down to "UK AIP" and select it:

Now press the link in the middle of the page that reads "The UK AIP Package":

Next, move the mouse over the word "UK AIP". In the drop down menu, go down to "UK AIP" but DONT click it. Hover the mouse over the word and you should see a menu appear at the side. Move the mouse down to the word "Aerodrome Data". Once again, DONT click the word. You should see another menu appear at the side. In this menu, move the mouse to the word "Aerodromes - Specific". This time, click the word:


On the following page should be a list of all the major aerodromes in the United Kingdom. You can then click on the airfield of your choice, which will load up a new page with a list of all the available charts:



Enjoy!

[EHM-1670 Bill]

I am already registered there but do not need UK Charts as I have Pooleys Flight Guide. I want the overseas charts and as Phil has said having them to hand beats ploughing through websites.

Thanks for the information though - it is greatly appreciated that people on this site are always willing to exchange information.