Printing charts for use

[csfahey]

Has anyone ever used charts they printed themselves for navigation?  I live on the east coast, east of DC, and I am about to take a trip north to the NY area but nobody in the entire region has any more charts left in stock with none planned until the next update which will arrive late next week.  This happens a lot where I live toward the end of the chart cycle.

I found a site called skysectionals and I can buy and print my own copies of the low altitude enroute and put them into a book format for easy access and use.  I am horrible about flying with the goverment charts as I am all over the sky as I fold and refold.  I looked up the regs regarding using charts and surprisingly found very little regarding what constitues a valid chart.

I am wondering what others have to say about doing this, i.e. legality, practicallity, experience etc.

 

[carusoam]

CS,

I just used www.fltplanner.com to print out low level enroute for a trip between NJ and NC.

The challenges I found.... were to print with enough detail to show the names of the intersections being used.  I mostly followed a route I am familiar with, V1.  The reroute is usually a bunch of VORs that I know well.  Printing each section required some computer maneuvering. 

In the cockpit, I programmed my KLN90B and a portable garmin.  Reviewed in advance, I don't think I ever really used the charts once the flight began.  Overall, I envy those with the Ipad, chartbook or whatever GPS/reader they have selected.

I used back up government charts in the event of a more extreme reroute.

note: My vendor is also out of charts.  My destination airport was out also.  He was unable to order new ones because of a computer glitch?  Wonder if this is all related.

Best regards,

-a-

Other sources I use: www.aopa.org, www.pdfplates.com 

 

[Gone]

No such options in Canada.  We have to purchase them and for most pilots, it is the Canada Air Pilot set of approach plates for those, and the charts (VNCs with those terminal charts, IFR Low and those terminal charts) authorised by Nav Canada.

We have been told that they are about to allow for web-based publication, after which most of us will probably print and go (IMO)

 

[rob]

I've used skysectionals. Not a problem if you have a good color printer. There are other sources that have full resolution charts available for download, but printing them would require image editing software - so I just ponied up the funds to the skysectional folks. No big deal.

[danb35]

No legal issue at all--for light aircraft under part 91, there are no legal requirements relating to charts at all, unless you're in an SFRA like the Los Angeles area where you're required to have the Terminal Area Chart.

[carusoam]

danb,

Does the TAC requirement exclude self printed charts?  TACs are also available online.

The user needs to be knowledgable on the subject: The NYC TAC has the procedure written on one side and chart on the other.  Make sure when printing, that you get all of the data you are looking for....

-a-

[danb35]

Well, I know that the reg for Los Angeles does specifically require the chart--I'd expect a copy of the chart would be fine, but I don't know that it's ever been tested.  The only time it's likely to be an issue is if you screw up, of course.

[DaV8or]

Sectionals are exactly the kind of thing I hope to be one day soon using on an iPad or similar device! Flipping and folding a sectional is, was and always will be a pain in the arse! This goes for approach plates too! No more flipping through a huge binder with flimsy little pages that tear. I will be checking out this sort of tech at Oshkosh.

[Jeff_S]

I used the Air Charts atlas system for quite awhile and it was very good. I had the eastern US in Sectionals and the whole country in Low IFR. When I made my trip out west I supplemented this with a few WAC charts which, in combination with the Flight Cheetah FL190 I had at the time was all I needed. And I printed the IAPs I thought I would need with, again, the FL190 having the entire country loaded.

Now, with the iPad running ForeFlight, I don't use paper at all. I do still have my older Air Charts atlases in the plane, but the iPad has all the sectionals, low enroute and IAPs and it's quite easy to find exactly what you want. And of course, now I have my course line and location painted on the sectional or low enroute as added situational awareness.

Goodbye, paper.

[231Pilot]

I have used Skysectionals for VFR sectionals and for IFR low enroute, also printed approach plates from AOPA.  Easy way to keep current charts, but it takes a good deal of time to arrange the pages you print to follow your route (imagine cutting your charts into 8" X 11" sections and arranging the stack so you will easily transition from one segment of your planned route to another).  I now have an iPad with Foreflight and the paper is only a backup, unfolded, but still necessary.

[carusoam]

Quote: csfahey

the entire region has any more charts left in stock with none planned until the next update which will arrive late next week.  This happens a lot where I live toward the end of the chart cycle.

[conom06d]

^great find and news! that will save a pretty penny

[PTK]

Do you know how to print the entire chart on multiple pages in sequence so they are legible? I'm printing  but the entire chart prints on one page and its illegible. Thanks.

[carusoam]

 

"Do you know how to print the entire chart on multiple pages in sequence so they are legible? I'm printing  but the entire chart prints on one page and its illegible. Thanks."

PK,

I am experimenting with importing the files into PowerPoint, followed by printing different sections.

I have yet to find another source that automatically frames out sections.  Duat.com came close, but only on VFR charts.  It allowed for the movement of printing frames all over their chart.  Nice idea, but still took alot of manipulation.

I am also going to try and borrow a very large format printer next week and see if I can print them at full size to begin with.

I'll share what I find out...

Best regards,

-a-

 

[RJBrown]

Last Friday I flew to visit my inlaws in Nauvoo Il. After dropping my son and wife off in Keokuk Iowa. My father in law and I flew up to Waterloo to look at a Rocket. The charts I used were printed off the AOPA flight planning website. I enlarge the chart to the 10 mile setting. On that setting it shows all the Airports VORs NDBs Airways and intersections, they even show radar and winds aloft as of the time printed. I printed them off on 8 1/2 by 11 paper. Took 6 sheets to go 600 miles to KEOK and then 2 to go up to KALO. I also printed off both airport diagrams and the approach procedures for both airports. Reversed the order and used the same sheets to fly back to Cenntennial this morning.

[carusoam]

Thread resurrection....

[1] Printed some charts. (duat, AOPA, flightplan.com etc....)

[2] Have electronic charts on IPAD.  (wingX Pro7 - Its near magical, but, I think I am the sole owner of this app)

[3] Printed FAA charts from website - wide format printer.  (same as purchased at FBO)

Noticed: [1] and [2] are often missing data such as MEAs / MCAs and published holds...small bits and pieces...

Are the bits and pieces really missing? 

How are you guys dealing with the missing bits and pieces?

After flight planning, I probably don't need the MEAs?  (east coast, this is probably a true statement)

If given a hold, I can ask for clarification? 

There won't be a Loss of communication, so I don't need to worry about MEAs being above my current assigned altitude.

Thanks for your thoughts,

-a-