Charts and NAV data

[Henry Wallace 0]

Hello,

I'm incredibly new to the VATSIM network (I haven't done any vatsim flights yet), and I was wondering about nav data and charts. I get that you have to pay for the latest NAV data on websites like Navigraph, but when I went to see their pricing I saw that, for a much higher price, they also offer charts. These charts they offer are way over my budget. Are these 'latest charts' required and what's the deal with them?

 

Thanks

[Don Desfosse 33]

You can find charts for many countries in the world offered for free. Not sure where you fly, but there have to be dozens, if not hundreds, of outfits that offer free US charts, in addition to the FAA (I use airnav.com). For outside the US, you could Google free aviation charts in ____ (country), or you could search the country's government aviation website. You might also check out the local Division or ARTCC/FIR/vACC website.

 

Another example -- UK charts --

https://www.vatsim.uk/airports

http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php.html

http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption=com_content&task=blogcategory&id=6&Itemid=13.html

 

Are they required? Required might be slightly too strong a word, but they certainly are expected.

[Jamie Davidson 1220753 0]

https://chartfox.org/

[Don Desfosse 33]

Brilliant!

[Philipp Edlich 0]

Europe: https://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/cms-eadbasic/opencms/en/login/ead-basic/ (free registration required)

[Alex Ying 0]

For the US, my preferred site is https://skyvector.com/

 

METARs, weather layers, and route plotting in addition to charts and airport information.

[Josh Jenk 13]

Another good one for up to date charts in North America is fltplan.com (free registration is required)

[Gary Townsend 0]

yeah +1 on the fltplan.com i used to use it before i got a Navigraph sub

[Mats Edvin Aaro 121]

VATSIM will never force you to pay for anything in order to enjoy the network. While an updated AIRAC cycle (navdata) and up-to-date charts are recommended, no one can deny service or tell you to pay for those services.

 

However, if you are running default navdata, you must expect to get amended routings, non-standard departure or similar.

 

Welcome to VATSIM, and don't hesitate to ask should you have any questions, either here, on the VATSIM Facebook page or the designated VATSIM For Beginners group.