The perfect chart?
Thread Starter
Why do it if it's not fun?
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 4,782
Likes: 12
From: Bournemouth
The perfect chart?
Another discussion thread to keep you occupied through the wet weather this weekend...
Last night, I was studying the VFR Flight Planning part of the ATPL course. Much of the course is based on a VFR chart of southern Germany.
Of course, charts from different countries are all subtly different. The German chart had a very nice feature - at the bottom was a small map of the area covered by the chart, divided into flight information regions, showing the frequency to be used for flight information in each region. What a great idea - and it hardly takes up any space! How many other people have been confused about which of London Information's frequencies we're supposed to use in which part of the country? A small diagram at the side of the chart would be a great help!
So, on that basis, I wonder what would make the ideal chart? We've got some well-travelled fliers on this forum, as well as flyers based in various parts of the world, so we've probably seen a fair number of different styles of chart. What elements of each chart would you take to make the perfect chart?
I'd like to:
Any other improvements anyone would like to see?
FFF
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Last night, I was studying the VFR Flight Planning part of the ATPL course. Much of the course is based on a VFR chart of southern Germany.
Of course, charts from different countries are all subtly different. The German chart had a very nice feature - at the bottom was a small map of the area covered by the chart, divided into flight information regions, showing the frequency to be used for flight information in each region. What a great idea - and it hardly takes up any space! How many other people have been confused about which of London Information's frequencies we're supposed to use in which part of the country? A small diagram at the side of the chart would be a great help!
So, on that basis, I wonder what would make the ideal chart? We've got some well-travelled fliers on this forum, as well as flyers based in various parts of the world, so we've probably seen a fair number of different styles of chart. What elements of each chart would you take to make the perfect chart?
I'd like to:
- Start with a UK 1/2-million chart
- Definitely leave it laminated - my un-laminated US charts lasted less than a month!
- Show runway layouts of airfields on the chart. UK 1/4 million charts currently do this, but not 1/2 million charts - it's a great aid to planning your arrival, and also helps when using airfields as visual landmarks
- Add a diagram of flight information frequencies, as per the German chart
Any other improvements anyone would like to see?
FFF
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Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,966
Likes: 0
From: Norfolk
Water Towers
East Anglia where I predominantly fight gravity has a plethora of tall, white circular edifices used to store water.
These erections stick out like the proverbial puppy's parts and can generally be spotted many miles away.
As there are very few areas where water towers are near each other they would be great VFR landmarks, if pinpointed on a chart.
The CAA chart folk often ask for suggestions but I will confess that I have never gotten off my ar$e and suggested this. Perhaps we should pick out the best suggestions from this thread and send it to the cartographers at the CAA?
Not sure how they will depict smoked pig, though!
Stik
These erections stick out like the proverbial puppy's parts and can generally be spotted many miles away.
As there are very few areas where water towers are near each other they would be great VFR landmarks, if pinpointed on a chart.
The CAA chart folk often ask for suggestions but I will confess that I have never gotten off my ar$e and suggested this. Perhaps we should pick out the best suggestions from this thread and send it to the cartographers at the CAA?
Not sure how they will depict smoked pig, though!
Stik
The Original Whirly
Joined: Feb 1999
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,327
Likes: 2
From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Cheap, non laminated charts like in the US mean you can fold them easily for use in an R22. If they're cheap enough I don't mind throwing them away at frequent intervals. But apart from that I find US charts terrible - hard to read, not enough colours, and not enogh info.
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 6
From: Escapee from Ultima Thule
Definitely unlaminated. It's a pain in the @rse trying to fold laminated charts, and even when 'folded' they're still bulky & may not stay folded. Not to mention finding your 'special' map pen before writing on the chart, carrying metho & a rag or similar to erase...
Stuff that. I'll stick with paper & pencil. At least when (not if) I drop my pencil(s) I can write on it with just about anything.
I like US charts because most information needed for a flight is printed on them: freqencies, runway lengths etc etc
I prefer the colours, shading, tinting & symbology used on 1:1 000 000 WAC series. Don't like the colour coding used on 1:1 000 000 ONCs. Not as great a degree of height discrimination AND one colour indicates generally level terrain, not elevation.
I like the chart size of ONCs though. Minimises the number of map changes & edges.
Stuff that. I'll stick with paper & pencil. At least when (not if) I drop my pencil(s) I can write on it with just about anything.
I like US charts because most information needed for a flight is printed on them: freqencies, runway lengths etc etc
I prefer the colours, shading, tinting & symbology used on 1:1 000 000 WAC series. Don't like the colour coding used on 1:1 000 000 ONCs. Not as great a degree of height discrimination AND one colour indicates generally level terrain, not elevation.
I like the chart size of ONCs though. Minimises the number of map changes & edges.
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: UK
Ummm....
To be able to download them from the .Net. The maps will be highly selectable, ie from a range of 1nm upwards; and you only need to download the section that contains your route, diversions etc, for that trip. If it were a subscriber service you would be guarenteed of an up-to-date chart also.
All you need do then is print it on you photo quality printer, using glossy paper. No need for a masters degree in paper folding either.
Just a thought...........
FS
To be able to download them from the .Net. The maps will be highly selectable, ie from a range of 1nm upwards; and you only need to download the section that contains your route, diversions etc, for that trip. If it were a subscriber service you would be guarenteed of an up-to-date chart also.
All you need do then is print it on you photo quality printer, using glossy paper. No need for a masters degree in paper folding either.
Just a thought...........
FS
Joined: Dec 1998
Posts: 4,282
Likes: 6
From: Escapee from Ultima Thule
Print from a PC
Don't like strip maps such as you suggest.
I've had to divert more times than I can recall to places that weren't part of my original planning ie not my destination NOR my considered alternates.
Better to have area coverage I believe.
I've had to divert more times than I can recall to places that weren't part of my original planning ie not my destination NOR my considered alternates.
Better to have area coverage I believe.
The Original Whirly
Joined: Feb 1999
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,327
Likes: 2
From: Belper, Derbyshire, UK
Come to think of it, I don't care what charts are like, but could we have the same ones the world over please? Since flying is international, would standardisation really be too much to ask?
