Something to help with Navigation and approaches!
If you are looking to make your flights a bit easier on you (especially making it so you don't have to switch to the MAP when setting up ILS/VOR approaches) and more realistic I would suggest the Terminal Procedures Publications and Airport Diagrams website run by the FAA.
For Charts, Runway information, Airport layouts, (and my favorites) Radar Minumums, Take-off Minimums and (Obstacle) Departure Procedures, STARs, IFR Alternative minimums...etc in side the USA...
Terminal Procedures Publications and Airport Diagrams
This allows you to either click on MAP to which state you want to search, then view the airports/runways or search by ICAO for a specific airport.
Here is an example of my home airports charts...
KFAR (Hector International)
and the kicker...the airport layout!
http://avn.faa.gov/d-tpp/0508/00144AD.PDF
Here is a great (and free) little guide on deciphering those FAA charts, and understanding what they mean!
http://avn.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=naco/online/aero_guide
It's a free guide you can download in small bits (in .PDF form), or you can order the booklet from the FAA.
Personally, I just contacted the FAA and ordered all the free charts to be delivered to my doorstep. They actually will print off all 26 volumes and ship them to you FREE! Downside is that the charts are only good month to month IRL, however for SIM flying they are perfect. In fact all you have to do is replace the old charts with new ones if they are updated (and you are feeling the need to be completely up to date) since they come in three ring binders.
(*before anyone yells at me for 'abusing' the system, remember that I AM a RL student pilot so I CAN use the charts. And the US Army has spent 5.7 Million USDollars developing a First Person Shooter game called "AMERICAS ARMY" for PC, Xbox and PS2, then spends another 1.2 Million to pay for the online servers, and to top it off...it's totally free for anyone. So...I don't feel bad asking for 26 binders of Charts for Navigation in the USA. Especially since I could really use them)
For Charts, Runway information, Airport layouts, (and my favorites) Radar Minumums, Take-off Minimums and (Obstacle) Departure Procedures, STARs, IFR Alternative minimums...etc in side the USA...
Terminal Procedures Publications and Airport Diagrams
This allows you to either click on MAP to which state you want to search, then view the airports/runways or search by ICAO for a specific airport.
Here is an example of my home airports charts...
KFAR (Hector International)
and the kicker...the airport layout!
http://avn.faa.gov/d-tpp/0508/00144AD.PDF
Here is a great (and free) little guide on deciphering those FAA charts, and understanding what they mean!
http://avn.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=naco/online/aero_guide
It's a free guide you can download in small bits (in .PDF form), or you can order the booklet from the FAA.
Personally, I just contacted the FAA and ordered all the free charts to be delivered to my doorstep. They actually will print off all 26 volumes and ship them to you FREE! Downside is that the charts are only good month to month IRL, however for SIM flying they are perfect. In fact all you have to do is replace the old charts with new ones if they are updated (and you are feeling the need to be completely up to date) since they come in three ring binders.
(*before anyone yells at me for 'abusing' the system, remember that I AM a RL student pilot so I CAN use the charts. And the US Army has spent 5.7 Million USDollars developing a First Person Shooter game called "AMERICAS ARMY" for PC, Xbox and PS2, then spends another 1.2 Million to pay for the online servers, and to top it off...it's totally free for anyone. So...I don't feel bad asking for 26 binders of Charts for Navigation in the USA. Especially since I could really use them)
