Simcharts Request

[Guest Pardue802]

I'd like to try flying some instrument approaches around my local airport, but I'm not yet willing to purchase Jeppesen Simcharts, especially with FS2004 and undoubted airport/procedure changes on the horizon. Could anyone email or post me a quality jpeg of an instrument chart for KAEX (Alexandria Intl)?Email address is: kenneth@pardueNOSPAM.com (obviously, remove NOSPAM)Regards,Kenneth

[Guest]

Kenneth,maybe not so visually appealing as Jep simcharts, depending on your definition of "quality", but did you try the charts at MyAirplane?Enter KAEX in the ICAO search field and get the charts you need or all of them as a zip (for FREE).Peter

[Guest Pardue802]

Certainly good enough for what I'm looking for :-)Thanks, didn't realize this resource existed.Best,Kenneth

[Guest Pardue802]

Okay, I realize I'm getting way off topic here...You know, it's an interesting thing looking at these charts. From FS98 up until now I've admittedly been mostly a VFR low-and-slow jockey, but looking at these charts makes me really realize the limitations of FS' current ATC system. KAEX has the ILS approach, but they also have GPS approaches and VOR/DME approaches. It would be amazing if one could pick and choose his/her IFR approach. Sure would make the game a lot more challenging.How does this work in real life? Do all aircraft fly whatever approach is deemed by the ATC at the aiport to be appropriate? Do pilots have their chance to pick and choose which one they're more comfortable with (seems like it would get pretty confusing at airports that way though)?Hmmmmm... showing my potential ignorance here, I'll ask, are these additional VOR/DME/GPS approaches precision approaches? Specifically, I'm asking as to the meaning of the FS-ACoF features "pop-up IFR clearances, and precision and non-precision approaches to multiple runways".I've been inspired by the recent "An Apology to the Hobby Itself" thread (http://forums.avsim.com/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=121&topic_id=107179&mesg_id=107179&page=2) to learn these more intricate details of FS.

[Guest]

You've asked several interesting questions here. Normally, ATC will assign an approach, (ex: Cessna 335, expect vectors VOR/DME 33R) and the pilot will fly it. Usually (as with current FS2002 ATC) a pilot can request a visual approach, but it's fairly uncommon for a pilot to request a different type of instrument approach. It could happen in certain situations depending on traffic load and weather. I'm not sure about GPS, but VOR/DME, Localizer, and NDB (not so common anymore) approaches are all considered non precision, which means they have no glideslope feature. Instead, using an aeronautical chart, the pilot will follow a sort of step down descent profile. This can get especially interesting when flying into an airport like Aspen, Colorado without a precision approach. In fact, with that airport, the mountains are so steep off the end of the runway that they've got a separate localizer for pilots to turn to guide them away from the field JUST FOR MISSED APPROACHES! Most non precision approaches aren't too bad, but in severe weather or mountians it's preferred to have a precision approach. Hope I've answered some of your questions,MarcMarc Gibsonhttp://www.freewebs.com/flightsimcfi/http://vatsim.pilotmedia.fi/statusindicato...tor=OD1&a=a.jpg

[ronzie 21]

Kenneth:The "real" TERP book is Vol. 1 of 3 for North Central US and includes Minnesota, North and South Dakota. The "Terminal Procedures" book is only $4.25 and you can get this at a local pilot shop or by mail order. All of the approaches, SIDs, and STARs are included plus a few useful tables, airport diagrams, and other info. Just a few of those adjoining can offer you a variety of trips across many neigboring states.The variety of approaches and departure procedures at sparse and heavy traffic areas with different airport traffic loads would make your practising more interesting I believe. By choosing more than one airport for your exercises, you keep sharp for any instances and don't fall for the repeated memorized approach syndrome by using frequent fresh material.I also suggest you look at Radar Contact 3.01 (forum on AVSIM) and FSMetar for weather variation.If you want good learning material, take a look at the FAA published "Instrument Flying Handbook", about $12.50 at Borders or by mail.Ron, KANE/KMSP (Anoka/Minneapolis).

[macwino 14]

Peter, thanks for posting the refcerence to MyAirplane. Now, I don't mean to be greedy, but is there a similar site for Europe - either by country or region - that you can refer us to? Thanks.

[Guest]

Unfortunately for Europe it takes a lot of searching (fiddling and patience with google!)to find decent charts on the web. Each country does its own thing and some are more restrictive in providing infos (for free) than others.But here are some places for starters:1. First place to start looking for linkswww.navdata.at: General links to other sites (left java menu/Real aviation charts/europe/country)Older list of links: http://www.geocities.com/bobandrepont/iap.htm2. VATSIM and IVAOBoth offer charts for the major airports in their respective country divisions. You have to look with both organisations, their offering differs.VATSIM Europe: http://vatsim-eur.orgIVAO: http://www.ivao.org/hq (check HQ services/databases and local FIR sites)3. Some other country specific(also for smaller airports and VFR not covered in 2.):UK: http://www.ais.org.uk/aes/login.jsp (Register first, it's free)Spain: http://ais.aena.es/aipeng/Hoja_presentacion_AipEng.htm (select Index in top menu)Italy: http://digilander.libero.it/antoniogolfari/mappe.htmlBelgium: http://users.skynet.be/jydoulliez (select charts)France: http://www.nav2000.com4. DOD NIMA Chartshttps://164.214.2.62/products/digitalaero/index.cfm#term(Europe is a HUGE zip for some airports used by mil)5. VAs and virtual airportsTry to find local VAs and "virtual airport" sites on the webJust one example: LIEE http://www.portalis.it/daf/home.htm6. Real world local pilot organizations and Flying/Aero clubsFor example Switzerland: Visit the local clubs listed in http://www.nelly.ch and http://www.propilot.ch/Fliegerei/airport.htm You'll find all the RW VFR charts for Suisse2002 (great scenery from Daniel) at those sites. 7. If all else fails: GooglePossibly using national Google sites, like www.google.fr, for higher priority on local pages. Downside: you'll need some basic language skills, at least learning some aviation terms.I do much of my simming throughout all of Europe, installed tons of scenery, and sometimes charts are conveniantly included with the scenery. Major hubs are easy to find. Finding smaller regional airports is time consuming, but I found many charts by patiently learning aviation terms for the specific language and searching with google.And while your're at it, don't forget to bookmark all relevant sites visited and to regularly save those d'loaded "treasures" to a cdrom...Cheers, Peter

[macwino 14]

Peter, thanks so very much for the detailed response. I'm checking out all your links right now. This is all very helpful and I greatly appreciate it.

[ronzie 21]

I think you can get VNAV off a modified GPS in certain locations only in certified aircraft. The number of satellites acquired by the receiver and any distortions caused by weather or terrain considerations affect which areas can use LNAV and VNAV. I have not thoroughly checked this out and do not recall the details. I do not know but would think in certified areas LNAV/VNAV in combination might be considered a precision approach.Without VNAV, then a GPS is definitely a non-precision approach since direct MSL altitude info along the desired glide slope is not measured.