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Need physical charts if you have GPS/app with them on?

Apologies if this seems a dim question, but I've always carried paper charts to augment my up to date Skydemon and Memory-Map on iPhone device charts. Do I need to legally?

EuropaBoy
EGBW

I have no idea of the legal situation but I would not like to trust 100% on a mobile phone or cheapo Chinese GPS unit.

EHLE / Lelystad, Netherlands, Netherlands

I know of no law, UK or USA, requiring the carriage of paper charts (or paper anything) on private GA flights.

As Peter says, relying totally on an electronic device is not smart, but it is not illegal

I do have vague recollections of hearing that some countries in Europe do require the carriage of some stuff on paper.

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

This was debated elsewhere and I recall the consensus was that nothing states 'paper' charts need to be carried, but as Peter M suggested, I wouldnt 100% rely on any technology. I always carry paper charts, all plates for aerodromes on route, the page out of Pooleys which shows LARS coverage, and anything else I might want to hand.

What did annoy me when charts were updated was buying the paper ones, then updating it on the NATS aware + MemoryMap + whatever other iPad NAV software I was using. Although I still have the NATS Aware, I am glad the SkyDemon updates are free.

In Germany the law says that the pilot has to "carry maps suitable for the flight". That is a nice provision because both the pilot and the party prosecuting him can have very different ideas about what suitable maps are.

Personally I only carry VFR maps on paper because I don't know of a way to get Jeppesen VFR maps on my iPad. Everything else I only carry on the iPad but I have an old iPad as a backup on board because I would still consider paper to be more reliable than a single iPad.

The backup iPad is more to protect myself against authorities deeming a single iPad not sufficient. If I lose my maps during a flight, I wouldn't consider this to be major issue. Two aviation GPS on board and a radio are enough to land.

In the days before iPad approach charts, I had printed out the wrong approach plates for an airport (because there were two airfields with the same name). The pattern altitude of my chart turned out to be below airport elevation for the one I was going to and it took me a while to figure out the mistake. With the iPad, I carry approach charts for all airports in Europe.

Don't the Jepp "Raster Charts" (the electronic versions of their "VFR/GPS" 1:500k charts, and about €300 for the whole CD) run on any of their Ipad products?

In the past, the only official way to run them as a GPS moving map was using FliteMap (==FliteStar but installed with a different serial number which opens up an extra config for an NMEA GPS) which was discontinued c. 2005 but if you have it you can run it because is is Flitestar which is still just about supported.

Obviously you need a Windoze platform to run FliteXXXX.

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

The Jepp CD seems only to work with FliteStar - and that has reched the end of it's life.

The last time I was ramp checked in Germany I was told that the preferred chart was the DFS chart, followed by the Jepp charts ( updated with hand amendments ) and that a handheld moving map gps was acceptable providing the database was current and spare batteries were available. They also agreed that a hand drawn map would fit the bill if it was correct in every detail.

EHLE / Lelystad, Netherlands, Netherlands

From EASA OPS Part NCO:

NCO.GEN.135 Documents, manuals and information to be carried

(a) The following documents, manuals and information shall be carried on each flight as originals or copies unless otherwise specified:

(10) current and suitable aeronautical charts for the route of the proposed flight and all routes along which it is reasonable to expect that the flight may be diverted;

The last time I was ramp checked in Germany I was told that the preferred chart was the DFS chart, followed by the Jepp charts ( updated with hand amendments ) and that a handheld moving map gps was acceptable providing the database was current and spare batteries were available. They also agreed that a hand drawn map would fit the bill if it was correct in every detail.

Gosh that sounds like he made it up on the spot.

Tell him to hang out at Frankfurt and see how many US airliners landing there are carrying a DFS chart :wall:

Administrator
Shoreham EGKA, United Kingdom

Gosh that sounds like he made it up on the spot.

My experience is that these people don't want to be just seen as a severe and annoying officials harassing pilots so they like to spread their wisdom and give you recommendations what you can do even better. Just listen and nod

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