This feels a little bit too much like going to confession, but I’m going to come clean and admit I’m a paper-chart girl. Always have been, always will be. One of those rare, soon-to-be-extinct dinosaurs who still subscribes to printed charts. But before your jaw drops any farther, it might help to know I’m not exactly a purist. I love those Garmin boxes in my Cessna 180—a WAAS-enabled, IFR panel-mount GPS and a 696 portable with SiriusXM weather. And then there’s the ForeFlight app on my iPad and iPhone. But in spite of all this electronic wizardry, I wouldn’t dream of slipping the surly bonds without IFR en route charts, bound paper approach plates and those beloved sectional charts in my airplane. And, yes, I use them flying VFR or IFR or both…well, maybe not the en route charts much anymore.
A Love Affair with Paper Charts
Key Takeaways:
- The author, a self-proclaimed "paper-chart girl," strongly prefers traditional paper charts (sectionals, approach plates) over modern electronic flight bags (EFBs) despite using advanced GPS units.
- She highlights practical challenges of using EFBs in her older Cessna 180 and due to hand limitations, finding them impractical for in-flight navigation, especially in IMC.
- The author demonstrates the effectiveness and enjoyment of traditional pilotage and dead reckoning with a paper sectional during a successful flight, valuing the "back to basics" approach.
- She advocates for paper charts as a critical "Plan B" and for foundational navigation skills, emphasizing their importance for safety and connecting with aviation's roots.
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