European flight planning & charts - recommendations?
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European flight planning & charts - recommendations?
I am planning to a fair bit of flying around Europe in the next year (mainly Western - France, Spain, Germany but also up to Scandinavia), mainly IFR; some VFR. (In a DA40.)
What would folks recommend for:
- VFR guides in Europe (I use Pooleys in UK + CAA 1/2 mil charts)
- IFR charts etc. in UK and Europe
- flight planning software to run on a PC and ideally copy data over onto a PDA (ideally incl. Notams, flight plan filing)
- moving map software for a PDA backup GPS
Experiences of
- PocketFMS
- NavBox
- Jeppesen
..
Any feedback would be appreciated.
What would folks recommend for:
- VFR guides in Europe (I use Pooleys in UK + CAA 1/2 mil charts)
- IFR charts etc. in UK and Europe
- flight planning software to run on a PC and ideally copy data over onto a PDA (ideally incl. Notams, flight plan filing)
- moving map software for a PDA backup GPS
Experiences of
- PocketFMS
- NavBox
- Jeppesen
..
Any feedback would be appreciated.
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To be honest, I would get everything Jeppesen. Both the VFR and IFR stuff (assuming you have an IR). It might be a little more expensive, but it's good, up to date and standardized across Europe. It's also based on the same database that's in your GNS430, assuming you have one in the DA-40. (Are there any DA-40s out there without a 430 or better?)
The only thing I'm not sure of is whether Jepp does any reasonable-cost PDA-type solution. OTOH, you have a 430 so why would you need one? They have a few different PC solutions so that's what you would use to plan your flights when you're not in the aircraft.
The only thing I'm not sure of is whether Jepp does any reasonable-cost PDA-type solution. OTOH, you have a 430 so why would you need one? They have a few different PC solutions so that's what you would use to plan your flights when you're not in the aircraft.
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I use both Jeppesen and Aerad (or Thales or EAG or whatever they are called nowadays). I fly both high level airways in jets and low level in SEP. Without a doubt the Jeppesen wins hands down for the airways charts.
For terminal and approach plates, I preferred EAG but since their new format a couple of months ago, riddled with omissions and errors, Jepps may be a better bet.
IO540 is the man to answer your other questions.
For terminal and approach plates, I preferred EAG but since their new format a couple of months ago, riddled with omissions and errors, Jepps may be a better bet.
IO540 is the man to answer your other questions.
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Jepps are the only way to go ! Aerad was once a reasonable product but since they have become the EAG the quality has fallen to a point that the only use for them is to heat the crew room.
The great thing with Jeps is that the whole package is avalable online and Europe can be toured with a hand full of charts and all the rest of the data on the computor that you use for Met, flight plans & plogs.
The great thing with Jeps is that the whole package is avalable online and Europe can be toured with a hand full of charts and all the rest of the data on the computor that you use for Met, flight plans & plogs.
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What would folks recommend for:
- VFR guides in Europe (I use Pooleys in UK + CAA 1/2 mil charts)
- VFR guides in Europe (I use Pooleys in UK + CAA 1/2 mil charts)
- IFR charts etc. in UK and Europe
IFR enroute charts - Jepp (though if you have Jepp Flitestar you rarely if ever actually look at the printed ones because you can print off A4 enroute sections for the flight)
- flight planning software to run on a PC and ideally copy data over onto a PDA (ideally incl. Notams, flight plan filing)
VFR (and UK-style informal IFR in Class G kind of stuff) - Navbox
IFR (Eurocontrol routes) - Jepp Flitestar
- moving map software for a PDA backup GPS
The only proper up to date IFR/airway moving map is Jepp FliteDeck (which comes with Jeppview) although their now discontinued FliteMap product (identical to Flitestar but has a GPS input) would do more or less the same thing.
For VFR flying, Memory Map does nicely for the UK. For Europe, Oziexplorer but the VFR charts then have to be sourced from rather less official sources
Experiences of
- PocketFMS
- NavBox
- Jeppesen
- PocketFMS
- NavBox
- Jeppesen
Navbox - Great for European VFR but has no real maps so you need the real VFR chart for airspace/DA/obstacle planning.
Jeppesen - the only contender for Eurocontrol routings (called "airways" by UK pilots), offers little over Navbox Pro but is a lot more clumsy, which is pointless for VFR
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called "airways" by UK pilots
I remember flight planning (& flying) a trip from Exeter to Singapore at FL150 some years ago. It was fairly straightforward as most of the route was along Amber 1!
All changed now of course
I remember flight planning (& flying) a trip from Exeter to Singapore at FL150 some years ago. It was fairly straightforward as most of the route was along Amber 1!
All changed now of course
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For charts, Jeppesen. They are consistent, and IMHO much easier to read than the various locally produced charts.
For airport plates, the various local CAA-equivalent's websites (although this doesn't work for Germany, or at least it didn't a year or so ago).
For quick flight planning, this
For flight plans, NOTAMs and route briefings, Homebriefing
For airport plates, the various local CAA-equivalent's websites (although this doesn't work for Germany, or at least it didn't a year or so ago).
For quick flight planning, this
For flight plans, NOTAMs and route briefings, Homebriefing
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Jepp still publish the paper Bottlang guides, but if you get Jeppview there is a VFR plate option in that which AFAIK is the same as the Bottlang books and much lighter to carry
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Gotta B Jepp
If I'm going long distance in Europe it is (nearly) always IFR - it is just so much more straightforward. I use:
Jeppesen Flitestar IFR with integrated weather - for routings
Jeppview CDs for current approach plates - print them out the evening before (beats the hell out of dealing with the paper revisions)
(VFR in the UK I use AFE VFR guide and the 1:500000 charts.)
SB
Jeppesen Flitestar IFR with integrated weather - for routings
Jeppview CDs for current approach plates - print them out the evening before (beats the hell out of dealing with the paper revisions)
(VFR in the UK I use AFE VFR guide and the 1:500000 charts.)
SB
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And for weather planning?
Thank you again for all you replies.
And what about weather - what would/do you use for that?
MetOffice, WetterZentrale, MeteoBlue, Wunderground,...
Any recommendations?
Specifically (ideally) ways to get cloud tops (other than trying to interpret point-based skew T diagrams..)
And what about weather - what would/do you use for that?
MetOffice, WetterZentrale, MeteoBlue, Wunderground,...
Any recommendations?
Specifically (ideally) ways to get cloud tops (other than trying to interpret point-based skew T diagrams..)
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Tdbristol - if you don't mind me saying, you post a couple of lines but a half decent answer would be an hour's typing.
I believe I sent you a URL which you can read and which has the gory detail.
But if I was to type up a really quick reply......... IF you could get forecast skew-t diagrams which are actually right then that would be the job done. You would not need anything else because cloud tops (and bases) are instantly obvious on a skew-t.
You could also join up PPL/IR and in their mags somewhere are some articles on this.
I believe I sent you a URL which you can read and which has the gory detail.
But if I was to type up a really quick reply......... IF you could get forecast skew-t diagrams which are actually right then that would be the job done. You would not need anything else because cloud tops (and bases) are instantly obvious on a skew-t.
You could also join up PPL/IR and in their mags somewhere are some articles on this.