NOS vs. Jepp

Forewarning, if you don't know what NOS is, you don't get a say in the debate. NOS is now NACO charts.

When I see stuff like this: http://joe.emenaker.com/Aviation/JeppVsNACO.html, I cringe.

My first rebuttal would be that Jepp charts don't pay to flight test the approaches, but neither does NACO. The FAA flight tests the approaches to make sure the layout and navaids still work. My second rebuttal to the cost is that the government can't be sued for bad charts but Jepp can. Good luck with a multi-billion dollar suit when an airliner augers in and it could be your fault.

And truthfully, I know that Rand McNally cribs off maps published by city/state/national governments. You too can get one by writing your local state congressman (or stopping by the local DOT). Jepp isn't the only company profiting by duplicating a government publication.

The cost issue isn't all that bad. First, Jepps cost about twice what NACO charts cost. In my case (WI/IL), it costs me $145 for Jepps and $50 for NACO for a year. On the other hand, my Jepps show up at my door in advance and I don't need any planning to keep up to date charts in my flight bag. And, if you count the 28 day updates for Jepps, I get twice the chart updates for about twice the price!!! Why take the chance you missed an MDA change?

The chart holders are a one time cost. Plus, Executive sized 3 ring binders work well for Jepp charts $3.50 at staples.

Lately the Jepp charts have been publishing full updates every 56 days. I love this because I can throw my old charts out and not worry about it. It's not as bad as it used to be.

Let me now get into the artistic gripes.

Gripe 1: Do I give a rats ass about military airports? Also, brown blends in pretty well to the various background stuff (especially at night in bad lighting). I prefer my airports in high contrast to the background.

Green vs blue, is easily distinguished under red and white lighting. Plus, it highlights those airports and makes them easier to pick out.

Also, if life is going to hell in a hand basket, the last thing you are going to be doing is looking at the chart. It's called radar vector to divert please.

Gripe 2: I like having the huge compass rose's. It makes it much easier when you need to go 'off roading' and not follow the airways to your destination.

I won't put it delicately, OMFG, you want to NOT have terrain altitudes depicted on your chart!?!?!? DO YOU HAVE A DEATH WISH? GPS has gone this way and with good reason. Turning the wrong way in IMC in mountainous terrain has a way of punishing failure in ways that a IFR checkride doesn't.

Gripe 3: Jepp labels backcourses in big bold letters. Hell, they even have a SEPARATE symbol for backcourse. Congrats?

The update problem has been resolved. And if you use NOS charts that aren't in the book and are loose leaf, it's just as bad as Jepp.

But the other thing with Jepp is that it's not designed for someone tooling out in the practice area. It's for people who go places, and it is designed for that. The important information is bolded over the non-essential info. Information not needed when doing the approach is stashed away on another page. They put taxi diagrams for ALL IFR airports on a separate page, instead of tiny sizing it and putting it at the bottom where it clutters up the approach page.

At large airports, they are now doing color coded red circles showing runway incursion areas. When going to airports with temporary approaches, it's a different color of background paper.

My biggest gripe is that Jepp charts are expensive, but you get a superb product for the extra cost. And Jepp is starting to come around a little to it's smaller customers complaints.