tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510895126408960571.post1339835253334478636..comments2023-11-10T05:21:02.149-05:00Comments on N631S: 21st Century Charts?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510895126408960571.post-86617364781098822192011-08-20T16:07:35.789-04:002011-08-20T16:07:35.789-04:00Craig, thanks for your comments.
I agree about Pl...Craig, thanks for your comments.<br /><br />I agree about Plan B. I expect that I'll print out the critical approach charts and enroute flight plan info regardless of what electronics are un-board.<br /><br />The hardware was $399...you can save about $50 if you don't need instant gratification and so can buy online. The Avilution software is free but requires the subscription.<br /><br />And yes, $60/hr for fuel is a lot, but we DID have a ton of fun, and if you compare with what commercial air would have cost for similar travel, it's really not too bad.<br /><br />Stop by again, OK?<br /><br />FrankFrank Van Hastehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821687850881538546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510895126408960571.post-53251701593152658622011-08-20T02:50:28.956-04:002011-08-20T02:50:28.956-04:00Addendum: The shot of the W. Viginia coal mine is ...Addendum: The shot of the W. Viginia coal mine is sad. I'm thinking even stronger terms. Thanks for including the flight and fuel stats. At nearly $60 per hour, for fuel alone, I sure hope yo had a good time!!!<br />-CraigCedarglenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468497492189762095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510895126408960571.post-2666411502299273682011-08-20T01:51:32.546-04:002011-08-20T01:51:32.546-04:00Thaks for the great post on electronic charts. It ...Thaks for the great post on electronic charts. It is sort of like Boeing's EFB, but for the little guys. When coupled with a (good) GPS reciever, they are almost a FMC system. They are the future - they are here! Of course, many GA pilots grew up with paper charts and plates as their comfort zone. Major changes have happened before and they will continue. While paper charts will disappear in time, I suspect that GA pilots over 35 have little to worry about. All things aviation have a price attached, but the current monthly subscription cost of $4.95 does not seem all that bad, but I'll bet that the hardware and initial software buy hurt a but. As the hardware and software available to GA community improves, so do the options. The smart pilots buy as much integrated cluck and their bucks can afford and ALWAYS have a "Plan-B" at hand. As effective (and fun) as these gadgets are, sooner or later a critical component WILL fail. Did I mention Plan-B? Paper may suffer wrinkles, tears and coffee stains, but that's why they are updated ever six months or so ,right? Thanks for a great post! -C.Cedarglenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00468497492189762095noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510895126408960571.post-68179941028590354732011-08-19T09:54:29.944-04:002011-08-19T09:54:29.944-04:00Gary, thanks for stopping by.
Hope you can get to...Gary, thanks for stopping by.<br /><br />Hope you can get to Big Sandy with good reserves. 100LL at CRW is pricey. I was fortunate that I didn't need fuel at that stop. Love the long range tanks!<br /><br />Re: the EFB, I suspect that it will steadily get easier to use and more effective. I know that, for example, when an Atlanta Center controller gave me an off-airway vector near the mountains I was able to check the terrain clearance more quickly on the tablet than I could have wrangling a paper sectional.<br /><br />Best regards,<br /><br />FrankFrank Van Hastehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821687850881538546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510895126408960571.post-37024160492063165352011-08-19T09:21:44.233-04:002011-08-19T09:21:44.233-04:00I have also given in to the use of the iPad and fo...I have also given in to the use of the iPad and foreflight. I like the charts for planning at home and do keep a few charts in the plane for our favorite routes. It's jusy so much cleaner and faster with the EFB.<br /><br />Thanks for the follow up on Nashville, CRW is going to be my stop unless the ladies take less baggage (yeah right), I wouold like to make Big Sandy as Chris suggested. I am keeping fingers crossed for some good tailwinds.Garyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14637264267903131611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510895126408960571.post-55429771800947831862011-08-19T08:33:26.046-04:002011-08-19T08:33:26.046-04:00Jim, Chris, thanks for your comments.
I'm all...Jim, Chris, thanks for your comments.<br /><br />I'm allergic to Apples, Jim - so the Android tablet solution appealed to me. I also use the fltplan.com app (their ETE estimates are <i>uncanny</i>!<br /><br />Chris, I think good map and pilotage skill has always been sparsely distributed. It may be getting worse among the youngsters but I'm not sure. My son is 33 and is excellent with a map.<br /><br />Regards,<br /><br />FrankFrank Van Hastehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10821687850881538546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510895126408960571.post-57817887070947734402011-08-18T19:27:06.082-04:002011-08-18T19:27:06.082-04:00I love my paper charts, too. When flying in the R...I love my paper charts, too. When flying in the Rockies, the rental airplane I was flying did not have a terrain equipped GPS (which was fine because I've never used one). Chart skills were critical because GPS direct routes don't cut it when flying below the mountain tops. The instructor was impressed that I was under 40 and that my chart/pilotage skills were good. This must be a dying art.<br /><br />Early this year, I bought an iFly 700, which is a touch screen moving map GPS that shows your position on current sectionals, TACS, and low altitude charts (as well as A/FD, approach plates, and airport diagrams). It's a delightful, economical tool. On local flights, I don't even bother to break out the paper charts any more. But when we flew from NY to FL a few months ago, I still had paper sectionals for the entire route with me. And I used them happily. I'm not quite ready to give up that paper security blanket. Maybe someday, but not today.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11846593737518887287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-510895126408960571.post-89886451444726537632011-08-18T18:09:07.528-04:002011-08-18T18:09:07.528-04:00I lurched into the EFB world when my wife gave me ...I lurched into the EFB world when my wife gave me an iPad. I have always loved paper charts, and remember Beryl Markham's comment that she never threw away a chart that she had used for navigation.<br /><br /> I have been using two apps: SkyCharts and fltplan.com's free app, and they each have different features and different weaknesses. SkyCharts has a very weak flight routing tool (no lat/long, no distance/radial), but all of the charts you could ever want: IAPs, Sectionals, Low Altitude, Terminal Areas, and even the back of the terminal area chart. It also includes the complete A/FD and all STARS and DPs. fltplan.com allows more flexible routings, but you have to enter the route on their website (tough for reroutes) and it only has sectional and IFR enroute charts, although they are working on IAPs. With this app you can cache a nav log and a weather briefing, eliminating 90%of my cockpit clutter.<br /><br />All of these take some time to learn, though, and I have been chair-flying a lot of routes to learn them. (The FAA's intrnsigence with my medical also encourages more chair flying...)<br /><br />If I weren't so cheap I'd just get ForeFlight.Dr.ATPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10577827249492491854noreply@blogger.com