Posted for Sky2high@aol.com:

 
 It just got better again!
 Online Approach Charts From AOPA
Faster, Sharper
 (http://www.aero-news.net/#) AOPA has improved its online instrument
 approach chart service available free to all members.
 "Our online instrument charts have been hugely popular with our members since
 first introduced in 2001," said AOPA President Phil Boyer. "Now they're even
 better — crisper and faster to download."
For more than three years, AOPA members have enjoyed electronic access to
 instrument approach procedures (IAPs) through AOPA's Airport Directory
Online.
 Now the association is able to offer higher resolution charts while
decreasing
 the file size — and that decreases the download time.
 These instrument approaches and terminal procedures charts — published by
FAA's National Aeronautical Charting Office (NACO) — are legal for navigation
 
 and free to AOPA members. They can be viewed, downloaded, and printed.
 NACO now offers the charts in a digital format with much greater resolution
 than the scanned charts previously on AOPA Online. But with greater
resolution
 comes much greater file size. However, in order to decrease download times
 for  members, AOPA is dramatically reducing file sizes using a process that
 only  minimally affects resolution.
 "These enhancements mean that members will have even more powerful flight
 planning tools at their fingertips using a new generation of approach charts
—
 sharp in detail, yet very small in file size — accessible directly from
AOPA's
 Airport Directory Online and AOPA's Real-Time Flight Planner," said Boyer.
 In a simple flight planning session, AOPA members can plot a route, check for
 temporary flight restrictions, obtain weather, and file a flight plan. With
 just  a few additional clicks, they can also download kneeboard-sized airport
 
 directory data and the new instrument approach charts.
 The digital processing reduces file size by as much as 80 percent from the
 original NACO digital files — for a fast download, even with slower dial-up
 Internet connections.
For example, the original NACO approach charts for Salinas, California, are
 well over 1 MB, yet the reduced versions of the same charts are less than 200
 
 KB. One major image improvement members will notice immediately is the crisp
 
 sharp detail of the new digitally produced charts — some with color depiction
 of  high terrain contours thanks to NACO's initiative to provide essential
 safety  features for approaches situated near rising or high terrain.
 A full chart set of more than 13,000 procedures will be posted every 28 days,
 with AOPA's Airport Directory Online following the government aeronautical
 charting schedule.
 "To help AOPA members identify charts that have changed since the previous
 28-day period, there will be an indication next to the chart's download link
 
 that shows whether it was added, deleted, or changed during that time frame,"
 
 said Machteld Smith, director of AOPA's Airport Directory. "This same
 information will also be available in each member's personal 'My Procedures'
 area,
 where AOPA members can store links to all of the procedures for their
 favorite
 airports and from where they can access these procedures to  batch-download
 multiple charts to their personal computer."
 (http://www.aero-news.net/#)
 Other planned enhancements include a history lookup in "My Procedures" so
 users can determine when a procedure has changed.
 "Unlike the printed charts, NACO currently does not provide the effective
 date on the digital charts," said Smith. "But by checking the chart's history
of
 changes, one can determine if a chart previously printed was changed during
 subsequent update cycles. While it is always incumbent upon the user to find
 out  if the chart is current or has changed, AOPA felt it would be beneficial
 to  provide chart history in 'My Procedures' to help with this process. AOPA
 will  also assist members in understanding how to interpret the official
 amendment  date printed on each chart."
 With the launch of the new charts on June 10, AOPA will for the first time
 include military airports and their associated instrument procedures in
AOPA's
 Airport Directory Online. This information can be invaluable in emergency
 situations. And pilots may make practice instrument approaches (without
landing)
 at military fields with proper permission from air traffic control.
 AOPA reminds pilots that it is the pilot's responsibility to use current
 charts and to make sure that all charts necessary for a flight are available
 
 during that flight; AOPA does not advocate flying on instruments without the
 
 approach procedures for the entire route on board. The online charts are also
a
 perfect complement to a full chart service for student training, instrument
 proficiency flights, and trips slightly outside a region of chart
subscription
 coverage.
FMI: _www.aopa.org_ (http://www.aopa.org)
 
 Scott Krueger  AKA Grayhawk
 Sky2high@aol.com
 II-P N92EX IO320 Aurora, IL  (KARR)
 
 LML, where ideas collide and you  decide!