IFR Chart Provider Selection.

AggieMike88

AggieMike88

Touchdown! Greaser!
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The original "I don't know it all" of aviation.
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Recently, We have had some good topics on IFR training and flying. One I have not seen yet is a discussion between the different "brands" of charts.

So what do you guys like? The Jepp or the "federal" product ( forget the real name..AeroNav?).

I realize the limitations keeping Jepp out of the popular EFB's like FF & WX, so I would hope to focus on who likes which product and why.
 
I've always used the Federal product and found it to be acceptable. Jepp is probably better but not worth the cost for my use. If I flew every day then I'd prolly go Jepp.
 
I've not had a paper chart out in a long time. I have paper enroutes from Jepp because they send them to me with my MFD subscription. I've got Jepp plates in the MX20 and the iPAD (though JEPPS iPAD software as with most every software product they have come up with, suck badly) and on the iPAD. I have FF with the Seattle Avionics registered plates in the iPad and my Phone.
 
I have used Jepps almost my entire flying career. They are great charts, but come with a price tag. They have finally worked out many of the kinks in their iPad app which has been a long time coming.

I've found it useful to be able to read and understand symbology on both NACO and Jepp charts. Once you can read and understand both, then you can go back and forth without issue. NACO charts are obviously a more economical option. For international flying, Jepps are awesome because they are formatted the same as domestic charts with very few changes, so briefing the approach into an unfamiliar airport is not so challenging.

I think the question largely depends on your mission.
 
I started with Jepp since "that's what the pros use", then shifted to government charts when I went into the military since that's what they gave us. Went back to Jepp when I started flying charter since the company provided them, then shifted back to government when I went back on active duty. Finally shifted to government charts to stay when I got out again, primarily due to cost. The advent of iPad/ForeFlight has pretty much sealed the deal for me on government charts.

For iPad-based options, I've had two clients using JeppMT on iPads, one because he operates primarily outside the USA, and the other :dunno:. Comparing $700/year for JeppMT with $75-150/yr for ForeFlight usually decides the matter for noncommercial pilots. I've only had two or three clients using Jepp paper, and the last one was pre-iPad/ForeFlight.

The big thing I've seen change over the years is that the government charts have become more and more Jepp-like in format and presentation, invalidating many of the old arguments for using Jepp. Today, it seems largely a matter of cost, and the government options are a lot cheaper. It's also a lot easier to have more flexible coverage with the government charts, which seem to be broken into smaller regions allowing easier customization of coverage, especially near the edges of the Jepp coverage areas.
 
I like the Jepp charts better, but part of that is because they are what have always been provided to me so I am used to them. A number of years ago the company I work for proposed going to government charts but the protests were so loud they backed off. I haven't heard anything about it since.
 
I suspect a lot of users of FAA charts don't correctly apply the inoperative components table when it is necessary.

For commercial (or non-commercial biz jet) operations where borders or oceans are crossed the FAA charts are useless.

Jepp does a whole lot better with airport diagrams and takeoff minimums/ODPs.

Revisions are a minor pain with the advent of Jepp vector graphic charts on FD. You are well advised, though, to continue to carry the paper en route charts.

If I were flying a small airplane only in a portion of the U.S. I would use Foreflight and its scanned FAA charts.
 
I'm so annoyed at Jeppesen for charging $200 for a $2 SD card for my Garmin 430, and the excessive cost of Navdata updates that I will not voluntary give that company one more cent than I need to make my installed equipment functional and legal.
Jon
 
Jeppesen. Significantly better with fewer errors than the government charts.
 
I was a steadfast Jeppesen customer for twenty years. Even with Q Service, the paper chart filing was still a chore. Even so, it was the 40 pound flight bag taking up too much weight and volume that made me move to electronic. The FAA enroute charts are fully as good as the Jeppesen ones, but I still prefer the layout of the Jeppesen approach plates. Interestingly, the FAA uses Jeppesen charts for error checking on their products.
 
I almost always have both open on an approach. The georeg jeeps on the MX20 (because that's what I started with). It's a quick button press to show the mins or profile or briefing strip. I usually also have FF open (because even if you don't like the NACO plates, the app is so much better than the Jepp one).
 
No to long ago, when paper charts were the only choice, you would get far more responses saying Jepp. For many, the perceived advantages of the Jepp approach plates outweighed the extra cost.

But with the advent and phenomenal growth of the tablet EFB where, unless you license the Jepp app your only choice is the FAA charts, that has changed drastically.

Especially after the FAA "stole" the Jepp Briefing Strip I think the real differences are pretty inconsequential.
 
Have subscribed to both over the years, but got tired of paying Jepp's ransom when it was not needed (international flying.) Today I don't find much difference between them, and the cost differential makes it a no-brainer for domestic flying.
 
midlifeflyer said:
Especially after the FAA "stole" the Jepp Briefing Strip I think the real differences are pretty inconsequential.
Click to expand...

That was Volpe that came up with the briefing strip:

http://www.volpe.dot.gov/

Jepp could adopt it quicker than the FAA because Jepp is accountable primarily to its own standards. FAA charts, OTOH, can't so much as change a font without the IACC approving a spec change.
 
aterpster said:
That was Volpe that came up with the briefing strip:

http://www.volpe.dot.gov/

Jepp could adopt it quicker than the FAA because Jepp is accountable primarily to its own standards. FAA charts, OTOH, can't so much as change a font without the IACC approving a spec change.
Click to expand...
Thank you. Turns out the recent issue of IFR also discusses the history of the format change.
 
Fore flight ,have used nos since I got my instrument. Use jeeps for garmin as you have no choice.
 
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