I am getting into the wonderful and magical world of charts! SIDs, STARs, approaches, it's all one big adventure! Now I don't have too much trouble finding the charts I need, but I DO have problems with the variety of layout and content... Some airports have awesome seperate charts with everything on them and the other has one pdf with a load of chaotic trash. So I wonder: can you get charts of various airports that are all the SAME when it comes to layout and content...? I noticed Navigraph has a program called nDAC which, so they say, will give you access to ALL charts you'll ever need. But I wonder if they simply gathered all stuff from the internet and put it on one server, or that they offer charts that are consistent and similar to each other. I suppose Jeppesen (or is that Jepessen, I always forget ) has charts that all look the same, but I don't like their prices. EFB is another contender but it offers too much (I don't need all the flight following maps and stuff) and afaik the charts they have aren't official ones but compiled from FSX information, which on its own is great and perfect, but I wonder if they have (for instance) chars that show you all SIDs on one map or that you have to enable each and every SID on a flightplanning map until you found the right one... in short: where can I get consistet charts without having to rob a bank? I don't mind paying, but it's got to be a little in proportion...

Check out these: http://www.airnav.com/, http://skyvector.com/, http://vfrmap.com/ That should get you started.

Check out these: http://www.airnav.com/, http://skyvector.com/, http://vfrmap.com/ That should get you started.

I should have added I fly in Europe currently. That first link offers good charts for the US: that's more like it! In Europe things are different... Maybe it's such a mess in Europe because every country simply does what it seems fit...? The other two links don't offer charts btw... Thanks for the tips anyway!

I noticed Navigraph has a program called nDAC which, so they say, will give you access to ALL charts you'll ever need. But I wonder if they simply gathered all stuff from the internet and put it on one server, or that they offer charts that are consistent and similar to each other.

I use Navigraph charts and they are consistent. I find them excellent. Of course there are a lot more charts of various types for larger airports, and less for smaller, but they sem to all provide everything you need. They also offer enroute charts, but i tend to use Jeppesen paper ones for the airways and planning assistance, alongside Jeppesen's fltestar planner.

I suppose Jeppesen (or is that Jepessen, I always forget ) has charts that all look the same, but I don't like their prices.

When I first got into all this I actually lashed out for a full world set of Jeppesen paper charts together with their nice leather binders. I have them all proudly arranged on shelves in my office. But I couldn't afford the update prices, so they are well out of date now. Then they matched FS9 scenery, so if I never updated my scenery they would be good all the time in any case. Of course I did, then moved to FSX, so now they are interesting but less useful other than to look good on the shelf! ;-) RegardsPete

That's one reason I don't fly much in Europe. I recently saw a posting that sited VATSIM (as I recall) as a source for world charts. Also, have a look here: http://www.simforums.com/forums/finding-charts_topic39667.html

Try the EFB from AivlaSoft. Cheers, - jahman.

I use Navigraph charts and they are consistent. I find them excellent. Of course there are a lot more charts of various types for larger airports, and less for smaller, but they sem to all provide everything you need. They also offer enroute charts, but i tend to use Jeppesen paper ones for the airways and planning assistance, alongside Jeppesen's fltestar planner.

Thanks. I just looked at some screenshots here: http://www.navigraph...screenshots.asp And they look completely consistent indeed! I like that...! I noticed you can download nDAC and get 6 credits for free, so I think I will give it a try this evening! I also read you can buy all charts for one airport for 2 credits, which is 0,20 euro... which is a steal, of course. This might be what I am looking...! Hopefully there are charts that show all SIDs or STARs for specific runways... So far I only found charts like that for EHAM.

Try the EFB from AivlaSoft.

EFB, yes. Read my OP.

You can find the up-to-date official charts (and much more) for Europe here. Registration is required but it's free.

And they look completely consistent indeed! I like that...! I noticed you can download nDAC and get 6 credits for free, so I think I will give it a try this evening! I also read you can buy all charts for one airport for 2 credits, which is 0,20 euro... which is a steal, of course.

Yes, I think they are good value. It works out cheaper if you buy the credits in the maximum dose (I think 30 Euros), but take care to use some of them now and then before they expire. They can also be used to download the updated NavData for almost any add-on for FS which needs it.

! Hopefully there are charts that show all SIDs or STARs for specific runways... So far I only found charts like that for EHAM.

I think they always do when such exists. Many SIDs and STARs aren't runway specific, or just have a slight variation shown on the one chart. This especially applies to STARs of course -- they tend merely to be based on direction of arrival. You'd need to find a transition to get on the approach, assuming ATC hasn't taken hold of you by then!

EFB, yes. Read my OP.

The EFB charts are also based on Navigraph I think. I like EFB as it acts as a good moving map with your route shown, and especially because, yes, it does render airport layouts from FS sceneries. Excellent for taxiing assistance in a strange airport. It not only shows your own aircraft position but also that of AI traffic. And it automatically changes its display for different phases of flight. You can look up the METARs and TAFs, get all sorts of airport data, and, especially, it displays the COM frequencies for the assorted facilities. All in all I would recommend you to use its free trial period to see how you get on with it, not for its charts specifically, but for everything else it offers. RegardsPete

You can find the up-to-date official charts (and much more) for Europe here. Registration is required but it's free.

Thanks, but I knew that one already: that's where I got my up-to-date but not quite consistent charts from.

Yes, I think they are good value. It works out cheaper if you buy the credits in the maximum dose (I think 30 Euros), but take care to use some of them now and then before they expire. They can also be used to download the updated NavData for almost any add-on for FS which needs it. I think they always do when such exists. Many SIDs and STARs aren't runway specific, or just have a slight variation shown on the one chart. This especially applies to STARs of course -- they tend merely to be based on direction of arrival. You'd need to find a transition to get on the approach, assuming ATC hasn't taken hold of you by then! The EFB charts are also based on Navigraph I think. I like EFB as it acts as a good moving map with your route shown, and especially because, yes, it does render airport layouts from FS sceneries. Excellent for taxiing assistance in a strange airport. It not only shows your own aircraft position but also that of AI traffic. And it automatically changes its display for different phases of flight. You can look up the METARs and TAFs, get all sorts of airport data, and, especially, it displays the COM frequencies for the assorted facilities. All in all I would recommend you to use its free trial period to see how you get on with it, not for its charts specifically, but for everything else it offers.

My main problem with EFB, apart form the price, is that IF you want to use the extra's (charts are just apart of it all) you have to run FSX in windowed mode or have a laptop beside you... And I simply am not interested in all the extra's it offers... Since I am mainly interested in consistent maps right now AND since they apperantly are almost the same in EFB, I think I will nDac a try first: seems a more logical step (price wise). (I do know however that EFB is on sale until tomorrow... so I will have to decide quickly what to do...).

My main problem with EFB, apart form the price, is that IF you want to use the extra's (charts are just apart of it all) you have to run FSX in windowed mode or have a laptop beside you.

Actually, one of the features which attracted me to it is the fact that it supports the networked display. I hate anything on my FSX screen (a projected 10 foot wide screen) other than the outside scenery -- it ruins the realism. EFB supports touchscreens very nicely, so I have a USB 10" touchscreen on the wall in my cockpit. It's connected to one of the 8 PCs networked to FSX to provide the full cockpit environment. ;-)

.. And I simply am not interested in all the extra's it offers.

Okay. Understood. RegardsPete

Thanks guy's, great post!

I am getting into the wonderful and magical world of charts! SIDs, STARs, approaches, it's all one big adventure! Now I don't have too much trouble finding the charts I need, but I DO have problems with the variety of layout and content... Some airports have awesome seperate charts with everything on them and the other has one pdf with a load of chaotic trash. So I wonder: can you get charts of various airports that are all the SAME when it comes to layout and content...? I noticed Navigraph has a program called nDAC which, so they say, will give you access to ALL charts you'll ever need. But I wonder if they simply gathered all stuff from the internet and put it on one server, or that they offer charts that are consistent and similar to each other. I suppose Jeppesen (or is that Jepessen, I always forget ) has charts that all look the same, but I don't like their prices. EFB is another contender but it offers too much (I don't need all the flight following maps and stuff) and afaik the charts they have aren't official ones but compiled from FSX information, which on its own is great and perfect, but I wonder if they have (for instance) chars that show you all SIDs on one map or that you have to enable each and every SID on a flightplanning map until you found the right one... in short: where can I get consistet charts without having to rob a bank? I don't mind paying, but it's got to be a little in proportion...

Well I use nDAC from Navigraph which is great and consistent :-)

I downloaded and installed nDAC this evening and downloaded charts for 3 airports. I think I found what I was looking for! Great charts and very consistent indeed. It's cheap and it offers what I need: I like it! :) Thanks for all the input!

Another vote for Navigraph for Europe. And the navdata is good for keeping up todate.