Flight planning + maps

[c170b53]

O.K. I know how to do this in Canada but what is the best method in the states? This is a broad question, here goes. What maps required from where and what's the best method for information on the small airports along the way.

[N2782C]

You'll need Sectional charts of the area that you are flying over (assuming you are flying VFR). There are Terminal Charts for larger airports (ORD, LAX, etc) and the AOPA Airport Directory is the best, in my opinion, for airport information. There are plenty of programs one can buy that will give you basically the same info (Flightsoft, for one.) You have to belong to the AOPA to get their Airport Directory, I believe, but you can pull it up online anytime as a member. The Sectional charts can be bought at most FBO's or online as well.

[Robert Eilers]

WAC Charts are great for planning. Sectional Charts for enroute details. I use the Flight Guide (http://www.flightguide.com) for airport details - great little book with all the specifics you might need. As previously mentioned, Terminal Area Charts are a must if you are ging to be operating in or around Class B Air space - also contain VFR transition route information

[GAHorn]

O.K. I know how to do this in Canada but what is the best method in the states? This is a broad question, here goes. What maps required from where and what's the best method for information on the small airports along the way.

I don't recommend maps at all, Jim. I recommend charts.

Seriously, if you are VFR, the Sectional charts are probably the most useful. Airport info is free and available from http://www.airnav.com/ and you will also see a link there where you can purchase Sectional charts (and other charts) online from SkyVector.com .
If IFR, I prefer the NACA (previously known as the NOAA or "gov't) enroute and IAP (approach) charts. Also available (but not my favorites) are their Airport Facility Directories. The AOPA directory is also unsatisfactory, in my opinion. (Outdated, incorrect, obsolete info, regardless of year published, and without useful diagrams.) SkyVector can also help you with those.

[jrenwick]

George mentioned http://www.skyvector.com. The cool thing about that one is, if you give it a list of identifiers, it will lay that route out across the sectional charts for you. That's one way to find out what charts you'll need for the trip. (Unless you're flying through Canada! )

John

[blueldr]

Best deal I've found on charts is Fallon AviationI in Fallon, NV. Discounted prices and they pay the postage, last time I checked>

[jrenwick]

O.K. I know how to do this in Canada but what is the best method in the states? This is a broad question, here goes. What maps required from where and what's the best method for information on the small airports along the way.

To answer another part of your question: US airport data is in the Airport/Facilities Directory, which is published in several volumes every 56 days. It's all online at http://naco.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=naco/online/d_afd. Each airport entry indicates what sectional chart it appears on (in the upper-right corner of the entry).

I'd appreciate any tips you have about doing this in Canada. (I've flown through much of the country, and I know about the Canada Flight Supplement.)

Thanks!

John

[cessna170bdriver]

...Airport info is free and available from http://www.airnav.com/ and you will also see a link there where you can purchase Sectional charts (and other charts) online from SkyVector.com ...

Airnav and skyvector are great resources, and I wouldn't plan a flight without them. I've probably saved enough over the years just by using airnav's fuel planner to pay for the computer and internet access it takes to use it. However, I don't yet have the technology to access online resources while airborne... for that, like Robert, I use the Flight Guide.

BTW, I've been using Air Chart Systems VFR Sectional Atlas (Western US Edition) for a couple of years now, and I find it a bit cumbersome sometimes finding the next page on the route while in the cockpit. Maybe adding numbered sticky notes during planning would help... I'm still trying to decide whether to renew this year. If I had an airplane any faster than a 170, I'd have dropped them after the first year.

Miles

[170C]

I have found that Landings is a good source for planning a flight. While they tell you not to rely on the data for navagation (it's a necessary CYA) , I find their data to be good to determine leg lengths, time in route, etc. I purchased one of those Western US atlas's for the convention trip to Kalona and never did get comfortable with it going, coming or after I got back. Paul got to where he could pretty well figure out what state we were in , but I have purchased only VFR Sectionals since then. The atlas probably works OK for some folks, but not of ole pokey

[c170b53]

Thanks for the tips, I've looked at Nav monster, not bad and Skyvector is also good for this novice. John up here as you mentioned the Flight supplement works with VFR sectionals for me.