VFR Sectional Charts, VFR Terminal Area Charts, World Aeronautical Charts
   (WAC).

   The FAA has decided to start charging companies for use of previously free
   NOS chart downloads and remove access for individuals starting April 5,
   2012.  It is suspected that this will have a noted impact of smaller
   companies that use this information and provides service to the consumer
   pilot (i.e. I-Pad/I-Phone navigation, EFIS GPS etc)

   If you don't know about this, you may wish to become informed.

   http://www.generalaviationnews.com/2011/11/15/petition-launched-to-fight-faa
   -decision-to-charge-for-navigation-downloads/

   http://tinyurl.com/7bb6axj

   and

   http://www.eaa.org/news/2011/2011-11-16_charts.asp

   There is a petition on the White House website to have the policy reviewed.
   25,000 sigs are needed by DECEMBER 14, 2011 (currently only about 1200...I
   was 1278).

   To sign the petition, click here

   https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/%21/petition/ask-faa-reversal-charge-g
   overnment-approach-data-downloads-and-not-allowing-individuals-access-them/H
   g1nqTJy?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl



   http://tinyurl.com/cbhrwp4

   Chris Barber

   Downloads are cheap to provide. It has little to due with lowering cost to
   the tax payer.

   If you can get a sectional on your tablet that is a great safety advantage.

   Paul Lamar

   Version: 10.0.1411 / Virus Database: 2092/4024 - Release Date: 11/18/11

   Hi Paul,
          Can overseas pilots create a whitehouse account in order to sign
   this petition against FAA greed in wanting to charge
   Us for nav downloads. This has world wide implications. Here in New Zealand
   we have a greedy SOE (state owned enterprise)
   Called Airways who are charging us for air traffic control that we don't
   need, and guess what they keep dreaming up new charges and raising their
   fees !!! We took them to court but didn't get a result, we are appealing.
   This proved to us that there is NO JUSTICE for the common man ! I sure hope
   that you guys get enough signatures, good luck.
                  Chris in NZ


   I don't know.

   Paul Lamar



 I don't have a problem with a nominal charge..  Remember how much
 paper charts cost??  Ouch.


 Matt-

 I think paper charts are still required. Perhaps if you are not equipped
 with a certified Moving Map.

 I think this is just another tax without congressional approval.
 We stupidly allow government agencies to increase user and other fees
 whenever they feel like it.

 Paul Lamar

 --
I don't see why taxpayers should be asked to fund my hobby.  I've got no
problem paying a fee for chart downloads--somebody has to be paid to create
new sectionals, etc.  Now, the fee should be fair and related to the
(justifiable, not porked-up) cost of actually doing the production.

IIRC, paper charts are no longer required for Part 91 operations.  My IPAD
with Foreflight software does great (and I'm careful to update the charts
regularly).  But, I still carry a "backup" paper chart of my local flight
are--not required, but seems prudent to me.


Mark W.

Part 91: These are the regulations that define the operation of small
non-commercial aircraft within the US.

If paper charts are not required than so be it.    I can see how it could save money.
Actually if the NOS got out of the biz all together and allowed company's to download
the raw data for a fee perhaps that would cut the cost further.

Back in the early 90's when I was writing moving map software  we
contacted the FAA for the airport data base and were told Ross Perot's Electronic
Data Systems had the contract to maintain it. We contacted EDS for the data and it was
stored on 9 track tape which one could rent for $17. I bought a nine track reader
which I still have. (Do you want to buy it? :)) Here are some pictures.

I think it stored less than 20 meg as I recall which was a lot at the time.
I extracted the data and took a look. It was fixed file format with over
50% to 80% blank spaces as fillers. I zipped it and it fit on a 1.2 meg IBM
5.25 inch floppy. I contacted the FAA and complained. I then offered
to GIVE.. no charge to the FAA.. an IBM PC (I also owned a computer store at the time.)
with the zipped data on it if they would make it available to software developers
on IBM floppies.

They refused. That would have saved the FAA $200,000 a year which was
what they were paying EDS to maintain it.

Paul Lamar