AERAD Charts - What is happening

[Chart8R]

New Aerads

The new charts are a brave attempt to combine the best of the UK Aerad format and the best of the EAG Sweden format. All the staff in Stockholm think they are more like Aerad and vice versa. The new format is also compatible with the navigation database and will make it possible to meet the quality and traceability standards expected from Eurocontrol.
To address some of the main criticisms above:

Aerodrome Names – They now agree with the names in the national AIPs. Aerad UK was the only supplier that attempted to anglicize the names. This always caused overseas customers considerable difficulty. Try telling an Italian airline that its capital city is Rome. Lets call it globalisation.

Altitude - The altitude information is significantly better. The text size is greater than either previous format and they actually state the altitude limitation. The previous bars above and /or below the altitude value did not give sufficient flexibility in presentation. The inverse presentation of the altitude bust height is retained. Call it safety (and employment continuity come to that).

Minimum Safe Altitude – MSA can be recognized because it is always green. It is retained for those airlines which prefer this format. Terrain contours with spot heights is an option and is much easier to produce by the way because it is supplied in the AIP. Call it flexibility.

User Feedback – If Navtech had asked 10,000 pilots for their opinions on what to put on the charts they would have got 20,000 answers. Call it democracy.

They read this column so provide feedback to Patrick. Constructive comments to [email protected]
Happy AIRAC