When I had FS2000, it came with a lovely thick book, that was full of approach plates and charts and stuff. I enjoyed reading this book, as I always learned something from it.

Over time, I've lost the game & the book.

Yesterday, we went to several book stores in the area, and any time I would ask about a book of approach plates or airport charts, I received the exact same result:

First, the clerk would take a step or two back (this kills me, do I stink all of a sudden?)
Next, they look me up and down, and then say, "You need to contact the FAA for those kind of things because they are either:

a) top secret"
b) not available due to terrorism"
c) not for the public"
d) all of the above"

No amount of explaining how these things were freely available on the Internet, and that I was just tired of buying ink to print them out would calm them.
I would be followed around the store as though I was going to shoplift.


So, to my question, since such a reference is not available at your local Barnes & Nobel,  could someone recommend a rather comprehensive collection of charts & plates in good old printed paper version?

Thanks for the help.

Or, http://naco.faa.gov

For sim purposes, nothing beats out-of-date charts and plates... because they are free.   

Go to any FBO, preferably not a fancy one with fake plants, uniforms, and a car rental desk, and ask if they have any stuff they're throwing out.

Yeah, free is good.. and dated charts are plentiful. Even if you don't get any first time out.. just ask them to keep some for you  





(they aren't fake plants.. they're carefully engineered hybrids bred to survive short periods of time, sharing air with FAA agents)

(if you get there before sunrise, you might catch the A&P guy feeding them with drained 100LL)

KRID...  been there...  



I'm sure I've mentioned this...  When I'm in Columbus, I try to get out to Urbana (I74) for a $100 burger, and to check up on the B17 restoration.

THey have a great little cafe.. right on the tarmac.  I'll give you a heads up, next time I head that way..

go to www.airnav.com

click "airports" and type in the airport ID

it will bring all the airport info up

if you scroll to the bottom of the page (bottom 1/3rd) it will have links to PDF approach charts you can print at home for free

A good source for approach plates is right here at REAL AVIATION/AVIATION INFORMATION/US AIRPORT DIAGRAMS.

This thread in a round-about way answered my question, which was, is there a way to view approach plates in the game itself? I guess the answer to that is no. Jeppesen had EXACTLY what I was looking for - http://simcharts.jeppesen.com/help/SimChartsHelp.htm#SIMCharts_in_FSX.htm - but they stopped the service on April 1 of this year.