SV VFR charts

Raymo

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During my BFR last week, the instructor asked if the mapping software in my system is legal for VFR flight without having something like ForeFlight (which I have on my phone) available for VFR charts.

I am unable to find anything on the Dynon website that talks about this and want to assure the CFI that they are equivalent (or that I was wrong).
 

dlloyd

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Don't remember is it was on this forum but remember reading that charts actually aren't required.  Required is you have all the information for your flight.  Pretty sure it was here--search is your friend.
There is more useful info on the terrain display and database readily available than you could ever find on sectional on a bumpy day.
Attached link is not the one I was thinking of but my be the answer you want.

This is a great article on the subject:

http://www.askacfi.com/1276/are-current-charts-a-required-item.htm

SkyView's databases have MORE than the sectional/chart has in some ways, particularly in terms of remarks about airports. You're getting to a "charts+AFD" level of information with SkyView. Do you carry the AFD for every airport you visit?

All that said, there are elements of the chart that can be useful that aren't depicted on the digital data. For example, here in Seattle, there's a the special procedures and routes that are charted on the sectional for the ideal way to get through KSEA's class B if you want to transition through the airspace.
 

swatson999

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I believe as long they are *current*, they are legal. Same goes for IFR approach plates.

There's no requirement for anything to be on paper, or in a specific manufacturer's device or app.

A lot of misinformation out there about what's required...I had an FBO manager try to tell me (and a friend who was just starting his training) that it was *required* to have a current A/FD on board the aircraft, or you could get a violation during a ramp check. There's so much wrong with that statement it's silly. I tried to get him to bet me a case of beer that he couldn't show me the regulation, but he balked ("I don't have time to look it up"). LOL!
 

Dynon

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We try not to make big bold claims about "if you have X, you're legal", because flight situations and the information that they require are subject to some interpretation.

91.503 says "The pilot in command of an airplane shall ensure that the following flying equipment and aeronautical charts and data, in current and appropriate form, are accessible for each flight[…]Pertinent aeronautical charts.".

91.103 also has more. "Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight... This information must include - (a) For a flight under IFR or a flight not in the vicinity of an airport, weather reports and forecasts, fuel requirements, alternatives available if the planned flight cannot be completed, and any known traffic delays of which the pilot in command has been advised by ATC;
(b) For any flight, runway lengths at airports of intended use, and the following takeoff and landing distance information:
...
(2) For civil aircraft other than those specified in paragraph (b)(1) of this section, other reliable information appropriate to the aircraft, relating to aircraft performance under expected values of airport elevation and runway slope, aircraft gross weight, and wind and temperature."

So SkyView's digital databases have practically all of the gov't-provided information that you'd find on an aeronautical chart /AFD, with the caveat that the "paper" versions of the charts sometimes have a bit extra information that isn't encoded in the digital data. An example of that is the preferred VFR procedures to cross Sea-Tac's class B here in Seattle. So does that violate the spirit of not having an aeronautical chart, when the data that your SkyView system displays comes from the same gov't-provided dataset that the charting office uses to make the paper sectionals? One could argue it both ways. If you want to be double extra sure, remember that the digitized versions of the paper charts are available from Seattle Avionics for $99/year.
 

swatson999

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91.503 is for

large airplanes of U.S. registry, turbojet-powered multiengine civil airplanes of U.S. registry, and fractional ownership program aircraft of U.S. registry that are operating under subpart K of this part in operations not involving common carriage.

so even that minimalist interpretation of what is required probably doesn't apply to most users here.
 

kellym

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91.503 is for

large airplanes of U.S. registry, turbojet-powered multiengine civil airplanes of U.S. registry, and fractional ownership program aircraft of U.S. registry that are operating under subpart K of this part in operations not involving common carriage.

so even that minimalist interpretation of what is required probably doesn't apply to most users here.
Quite correct. Also, 91.103 is a PRE-FLIGHT requirement. There is NO requirement to carry charts for a Part 91 flight.
Decades ago, when I was an approach controller, I had to have all charts within my airspace memorized.
So I knew all approaches, everything on each plate, and within that area I didn't need a plate to refer to when flying approaches. I guess new CFIs are so wedded to Foreflight they wouldn't know how to fly without it.
I do carry the Class B terminal chart for my area, because it has information not on the sectional. I also subscribe to the Seattle avionics charts to have a full EFB, but it isn't required.
 

Raymo

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Thanks for the feedback. My CFI also pointed me to the following AC, which agrees that the built-in Dynon maps are acceptable replacements for paper charts.

https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Advisory_Circular/AC_91_78.pdf

snippet:

a. EFBs/ECDs can be used during all phases of flight operations in lieu of paper reference material when the information displayed meets the following criteria:

(1) The components or systems onboard the aircraft which display precomposed or interactive information are the functional equivalent of the paper reference material.

(2) The interactive or precomposed information being used for navigation or
performance planning is current, up-to-date, and valid.
 
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