Whats the best charts package / product currently avail...

[Guest davidvoogd]

I was just wondering if I could get some comments on what the best option is for charts for FS2004 right now. I realize you can find charts for free in many places, but my free time is limited and I'd just as soon get an all in one package for charts rather than having to hunt them down every flight.Mainly I'm looking for airport approach and layout charts. I'm looking for something with good coverage of North America and Europe mainly, either a program internal to the sim or external. If it can run on Mac that would be a great bonus as I could run it on my Macbook, so PDF's would be great for that if a program can export or something too.I looked at Simcharts and Navigraph so far, so any comments on that or anything else that fits this need would be great.Thanks!

[Jeff Nielsen 1,386]

I use the free real world sources avail for both areas.Short of that, I think you're looking at shelling out the money for a Jepps E-Chart subscription, if not a full blown EFB solution which I was just quoted less then a week ago at roughly 10K USD per year for the entire world.

[Guest iphitus]

I looked at the navigraph ones, but found they were incomplete and didnt cover many airports.I just use real world charts, there's a thorough index of them on the VATSIM site:http://usa-w.vatsim.net/charts/

[FLEX1978 373]

Navigraph is perfect for flying Heavys. I'm not sure about VFR fields. Rob

[onurksn 1]

Hello DavidFor the US I recommend http://www.myairplane.comFor the other parts of the world and mainly Europe since I fly around there all the time: http://flight.sanyjo.cz/mapy/Now the second one has Jeppesen charts which is great. Some charts on vatsim don't include lat/long or even radials which can be a bugger if you use an outdated airac database like I do.Hope this helps

[Guest davidvoogd]

Though I appreciate all the comments I just want to clear it up, I'm looking for a complete charts package with worldwide coverage and not websites so I don't have to search every time I do a flight.

[Guest LeeWang]

Well,, If you don't like searching and downloading free charts, then I guess you could always buy them:http://www.jeppesen.com/wlcs/html/ad/simcharts.jspLee

[Geddy_2112 8]

Unfortunatly even the most up to date Jepp charts out are 3 years old.

[Jeff Nielsen 1,386]

You mean the most up to date 'sim-charts'.I think what he's looking for is an affordable electronic solution; and Jepps is about the closest thing you can get right now outside of Navigraph, which is ok, just not as complete as we'd like it. You have to go 'real-world' to really get it, and they don't always 'mesh' to well with FS applications as of yet.

[Guest LeeWang]

I like charts to match FS2004 (which is now 4 years old). So,, I like to use charts that where made in the 2003/2004 timeframe to match FS2004 airports. Then I use AFCAD to make the FS2004 airport match my "old" sim charts. Lee

[Jeff Nielsen 1,386]

Here's the EFB info for those interested.http://www.jeppesen.com/wlcs/index.jsp?sec...ent=ca_efb.htmlhttp://www.jeppesen.com/download/ca/ECHARTS_EFB.pdf I believe you can order the charts scaleable and some in hi-res and for what ever viewing device-size you want if you're a home pit builder also.If you've got 10K per year to spend, then I guess it's not bad, otherwise, we're probably stuck with the www.

[Guest LeeWang]

Don't know the detail required, but this is available as wellhttp://www.fscharts.com/LeeEdit: sorry,, I forgot you don't want websites (scratch this post)

[Guest davidvoogd]

FSCharts is a help for sure, I know the developer actually. It's not quite what I'm looking for though.Basically I'm looking at something like Navigraph or Simplates, just curious which is the best one.

[scoob 18]

i know you don't want to 'hunt for free charts'. i encourage you to look at easy to use and FREE charts sources that are on-line. free from the USA's FAA (and you don't need to hunt) -http://www.naco.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=naco/online/d_tppjust click on the current AIRAC cycle and then search using the airports FAA or ICAO code ... no more 'clicks or searches' than a payware CD/DVD.similar to USA FAA's, here is a direct link to the current AIRAC canadian charts. this is an 'all in one' PDF download -http://www.navcanada.ca/ContentDefinitionF...rts_current.pdfthe above comes from: [blockquote]'NAV CANADA, the country's civil air navigation services provider' (http://www.navcanada.ca/NavCanada.asp?Language=en&Content=ContentDefinitionFiles/default.xml)[/blockquote]--edit: typo--

[Guest davidvoogd]

Thanks Scoob,I figured I'm going to get Navigraph and use it for Europe and other world destinations in conjunction with the free US charts. I actually already have a full set of IFR, VFR, Approach and facilities charts for all of Canada (no that wasn't cheap lol). Navigraph's US coverage isn't the greatest, but as you point out its really easy to get them for free anyways. Also its pay per use which in my case is a good thing since I won't use all that many, and 50 airports for $15 isn't bad at all.Thanks for the help everyone.