FlightSim.Com How To: Find Navigation Aids

HOW TO FIND A PLACE TO OBTAIN NAVIGATION AIDS

ne of the strong points of Microsoft Flight Simulator is the realism of navigation. It has enough scenery and radio navigation aids that you can fly the sim just as if it were the real world.

One of the weaknesses of Microsoft Flight Simulator is that it doesn't come with sufficient documentation to make full use of the navigation possibilities. The answer is to turn to the same charts and other references that real pilots use.

Here are some charts you might want to consider:

Sectional Charts: these 1:500,000 scale charts cover a wide area but with more than sufficient detail for VFR (visual) flights. They also includes navaids such as VORs and NDBs so you can use them for IFR navigation (though real pilots would not).
World Aeronautical Charts: these 1:1,000,000 scale charts use a similar design to the Sectionals, but because of the difference in scale lack some of the finer details.
Terminal Area Charts: these 1:250,000 scale charts cover only a small area around certain high traffic airports. They are in the same format as sectionals but include more detail.
En Route Low & High Altitude Charts: these charts are used for IFR (instrument) navigation and thus include minimal ground detail though newer ones have more detail than the older ones did. Ideal if you're interested in airline type flying.

The question then is how to obtain these charts? The first place to look is your local airport. Most airports have some form of pilot shop where pilots can obtain supplies. This may be a separate business or part of the FBO. If you're lucky, they might even be willing to part with obsolete charts at no cost to you.

Charts can also be obtained via mail order. One of the better sources is Sporty's Pilot Shop. They can supply you with any aviation chart but you might want to ask for a catalog before ordering. Here's how you can reach them:

Sporty's Pilot Shop
Clermont County Airport
Batavia, OH 45103
Phone: 800-543-8633 or 513-735-9000
http://www.sportys-catalogs.com
FAX: 513-732-6560

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