Govt Plates

I see the latest batch of government approach plates are printed on
nice white paper, rather like the stuff Jepp uses. Much better! The
nasty old paper they used to use was very hard to read in low light
conditions as the contrast was rather lacking. They are always one step
behind Jepp, but at least they're trying to keep up...

I see the latest batch of government approach plates are printed on
nice white paper,

That sure is a reason to cheer! Maybe they are also trying to compete
with free downloadable charts you can print on 8x11 paper.

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain." (chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

"Jose" wrote in message
. net...

That sure is a reason to cheer! Maybe they are also trying to compete
with free downloadable charts you can print on 8x11 paper.


That would be competing with themselves.

That would be competing with themselves.

Well, yes, but that wouldn't be unheard of, would it?

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain." (chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Say what you want about the FAA in general, but it's hard to say anything
bad about the charting folks. The product they produce is excellent, and
they're constantly looking for ways to improve it. You can download the
data for free on the net, or get it in printed form for fire-sale prices.

If you want to compete with them by reselling either the raw data or the
printed material for a profit, they're cool with that too.

Mike Granby wrote:
I see the latest batch of government approach plates are printed on
nice white paper, rather like the stuff Jepp uses. Much better! The
nasty old paper they used to use was very hard to read in low light
conditions as the contrast was rather lacking. They are always one step
behind Jepp, but at least they're trying to keep up...

I mostly use those charts as backups to my own printed or electronic
charts, so I am more than willing to sacrifice quality for lower price
and weight. A higher grade paper will weigh more and may take up more
space. I hope that doesn't mean the price is going up.

Andrew Sarangan wrote:

A higher grade paper will weigh
more and may take up more space.

That doesn't appear to be true. The NE4 pack, at least, is actually
takes up less space than it did when it was printed on the old paper.
The new stuff is therefore presumably thinner, even though it's more
opaque and whiter in color.

I hope that doesn't mean
the price is going up.

I paid the same for this lot as the last lot, but who knows?

Roy Smith wrote:
Say what you want about the FAA in general, but it's hard to say anything
bad about the charting folks. The product they produce is excellent, and
they're constantly looking for ways to improve it. You can download the
data for free on the net, or get it in printed form for fire-sale prices.

And, if/when users fees take root, those NACO charts will no longer be free.

Sam Spade wrote:
Roy Smith wrote:
Say what you want about the FAA in general, but it's hard to say anything
bad about the charting folks. The product they produce is excellent, and
they're constantly looking for ways to improve it. You can download the
data for free on the net, or get it in printed form for fire-sale prices.

And, if/when users fees take root, those NACO charts will no longer be free.

That's a good point I never thought about. The biggest difference
between the Canadian user fee-based system and the U.S. is the free
availablility of charts. This has made possible a number of aviation
technologies, such as laptop/PDA based charts and moving maps, Airnav
etc and a huge number of online services. As far as I know, such things
don't exist in Canada. Charts are very expensive and not readily
available. A U.S. pilot who is used to online products will find it
very difficult to fly in Canada (I did).

"Sam Spade" wrote in message
...
Roy Smith wrote:
Say what you want about the FAA in general, but it's hard to say anything
bad about the charting folks. The product they produce is excellent, and
they're constantly looking for ways to improve it. You can download the
data for free on the net, or get it in printed form for fire-sale prices.

And, if/when users fees take root, those NACO charts will no longer be
free.

Just you wait until health care is free!!!