Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Pilots who have problems obtaining Jeppesen charts or believe Jeppesen holds a monopoly on the distribution of IFR approach and en route charts might be interested to know that there are alternatives. Jeppesen isn’t the only game in town, although the company has made an art of crafting its own approach charts and not simply repurposing government charts. In many cases, pilots have no choice because they need charts for parts of the world that seem to be available only via Jeppesen. 
The situation is simpler in the U.S. because the government gives its NACO charts away to anyone who cares to download them. Outside the U.S. that is not always the case, although European AIS Database charts are also free online. 
One alternative that is almost ready for prime time is the new European chart service from Seattle Avionics. That company expects European Union IFR chart data to be available on its Voyager flight-planning software soon. Right now, owners of the Honeywell Bendix/King AV8OR Ace handheld GPS navigator/EFB can purchase EU chart data for $799 per year.
At last year’s NBAA Convention Arinc Direct announced another alternative–a new electronic charting feature that is part of the company’s online flight-planning service. Users can drill down through layers, from high en route charts through weather and TFRs all the way to NACO and EAD airfield charts. There is no additional charge to use the electronic charts, which are provided by SkyVector.
Air-transport Options Lufthansa Systems has long been the major alternative to Jeppesen for airlines and has approximately 60 customers using its Lido/RouteManual and Lido/eRouteManual products. Subscriptions are not done by geographic area but depend on the airports the customer selects, so the company wasn’t able to provide any pricing information. 
The Lido/RouteManual and Lido/eRouteManual navigation charts are currently available only for the air-transport sector, but the company is considering its market approach. 
Canada-based Navtech serves primarily airlines but a company spokeswoman said that Navtech paper and electronic charts are available for corporate operators. Navtech is working on an Apple iPad app called iCharts, which will make all of the company’s worldwide charts available on the iPad. The price for iCharts is expected to be $250 per year, although Navtech was unable to specify what areas of coverage are included in that price.

Chart firms offer Jepp alternative

Pilots who have problems obtaining Jeppesen charts or believe Jeppesen holds a monopoly on the distribution of IFR approach and en route charts might be in

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN