Register

The End of Cheap iPad Charting Apps? Safety at Issue?

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • The FAA's AeroNav division plans to begin charging for online aviation data, which was previously provided for free, with details yet to be publicly released.
  • The rollout of this plan was abrupt and lacked communication, surprising app developers and raising concerns about its potential impact on aviation safety and the digital aviation industry.
  • Driven by FAA budget shortfalls and declining paper chart sales, the move faces legal questions regarding the FAA's authority to charge beyond data management costs, and its implementation details remain unclear.
See a mistake? Contact us.

You might have heard by now that the FAA’s AeroNav division, in charge of, among other things, keeping track of all the data that defines our National Airspace System, has decided to start charging for that online data, which it formerly gave away. The FAA has not released the details of that plan to the public. It will hold a meeting among stakeholders in mid-December in Washington, D.C., presumably to reveal its plan.

Details of how the program evolved, however, raise numerous troubling questions about the FAA’s probable readiness with a workable plan.

Isabel Goyer

A commercial pilot, Isabel Goyer has been flying for more than 40 years, with hundreds of different aircraft in her logbook and thousands of hours. An award-winning aviation writer, photographer and editor, Ms. Goyer led teams at Sport Pilot, Air Progress and Flying before coming to Plane & Pilot in 2015.

Ready to Sell Your Aircraft?

List your airplane on AircraftForSale.com and reach qualified buyers.

List Your Aircraft
AircraftForSale Logo | FLYING Logo
Pilot in aircraft
Sign-up for newsletters & special offers!

Get the latest stories & special offers delivered directly to your inbox.

SUBSCRIBE