I've read somewhere here, in GD area, that Airnav.com might have faced the same destiny as DAFIF. I assumed that it would be catastrophic thing for US FS community.Could someone with either specific knowledge or inside info confirm that or not?

GD area?I

Most of the information on AirNav.com used by simmers is available from the US FAA - especially the approach plates.Much of the information is commercial in nature and will certainly stay available - it if makes money for the owners of the web site.Though security is sometimes cited as a concern for DAFIF going away, the main reason is costs. The US Defense department is no longer budgeted and staffed to maintain and build world wide navigation databases, charts, etc. Moving such functions out to commercial companies to provide the sevice for a fee to all who wish for it has long (30+ years) been a goal of the current Secretary of Defense.The DAFIF data is not going away or being hidden from the public - it is just going to be only available for a high fee from a commercial company very soon.Jeppsen already provides the data to anyone for a fee, actually Jeppsen's data is more comprehensive than DAFIF. Honeywell provides the same data to their subscribers - though in a format for loading in most commercial GPS units only.I know of about three other free and two payware sources for the approach plates and most other AirNav data besides the FAA web site.It's not going away anytime soon due to security concerns - it may go away due to market pressure and costs.

Way back there was a reference that some governments complained about violation of international copyright aggreements. If they restrict publication of information through the use commercial facilities (including direct government sales) that is their privilege. It is my understanding that some countries provided the aviation information too the US without charge to for internal use only of US government agencies.Even in the U.S. the public information disclosure act does not specify that it must be made available without charge. In this sentence I'm talking about other than aviation information but just in general.

Being a pilot, Airnav.com is a valuable resource for real pilots when trying to easily find out what FBOs are at the airport of arrival, not to mention the runway specs are there also. I'd see no reason to shut that site down.

More background from the AOPA website in addition to what

It seems like most of the US mil airport approach charts have been migrated to NACO. Recommend d/ling the enroute and other data now from DAFIF, unless you have access to the NIPRNET of course.scott s..

You can find additional information on this topic at:http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/newsitems/2006/060914nga.html