IFR Chart Choices

A long time has passed since Elroy Jeppesen first started drawing basic descriptions of ways to get into airports when the weather was down. Thankfully, aeronautical charting has evolved with technologies and operational needs. These days, the latest panel-mount avionics and handhelds coax us into the "paperless cockpit" realm, but a variety of factors havent eliminated dead-tree charts.The good news is we have a choice, even if its among only two basic publishers. Another piece of good news is we can put down one publishers chart and pick up the others without too much confusion. While there are qualitative differences between the two publishers, a major distinction is how they distribute updates. And despite a third-party company simplifying the process, theres still a price to pay when it comes to managing revisions.

Key Takeaways:

• Aeronautical charting still relies on paper despite digital advances, with FAA/AeroNav and Jeppesen as the primary providers for en route and terminal procedures.
• The two publishers differ significantly in chart detail, worldwide coverage (Jeppesen has it, FAA doesn't), and their complex revision schedules, which pose a major management challenge for pilots.
• The article recommends a hybrid paper solution: using Air Chart Systems' IFR Atlas for simplified en route charting and subscribing to the FAA's full replacement approach plates every 56 days for terminal procedures.

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