(Ben Jackson) wrote
having to redraw the TFRs a few times. I've seen mixed reviews of
their home-grown VFR products, but how badly could they screw up a
reprint of the sectionals?

By leaving out something important? I used their IFR service. One
fine day I filed across the Gulf - Marco Island, FL to Houma, LA. I
filed based on the briefer's suggestion - one of the G-routes. While
already out over the Gulf, I was rerouted via a Q-route - seems the
G-routes were decomissioned. No problem - the Gulf inset is part of
L-16, and I'm supposed to have all of the NACO charts in the atlas.
And I do - everything but that one part of that one chart. Had to get
the controller to read me the fixes on my route. Ugly.

Whether you like the "captain's guide" probably depends on what you fly.
They keep it small by limiting it to 2500' hard-surface runways. If
you fly a twin you're probably not missing anything.

Don't bet on it. Lots of us twin drivers are perfectly capable of
using grass strips and short paved strips - especially if we have to.
The Captain's guide is not a substitute for an A&FD, for that and the
other reasons you mentioned.

IFR atlas I'd lump in with the sectionals. Actual NACO charts, but
ring bound. Updates probably no big deal.

True - but see above.

The approach plates sound like a nightmare. NACO books or loose leaf
(your choice) combined with manual (as in you write on the chart) updates
of the charts.

Actually not a major deal - updating a plate by hand is no biggie, and
some updates are pointless anyway. Here's the gotcha - if new plates
show up, you don't get those. You have to go to their web page, enter
a code, download, and print out. This is particularly bad when a new
STAR or DP is issued...

Bottom line - I'm not renewing my subscription.

Michael