Approved Charts

4EngineETOPS

4EngineETOPS

Well-Known Member
Out of curiousity, does anyone know if SkyVector is approved for dispatchers? I've been doing some research on approved electronic charts, but I haven't been about to find much in the way of relevant information. I looked through AC 120-76c, but most of the guidance appears to apply to flight crews and EFBs. Are there any regs, ACs, or other relevant documents containing a list of approved electronic charts for dispatchers/flight planning in general? My assumption is that that this info is found in the company's OpSpecs or approval from an airline's PI. I would guess that Jeppesen's desktop eViewer and EFB mobileFD terminal charts are approved, but I can't figure out what is used for enroute. Can anyone shed some light on what their OCC uses?
 
I know where I am SkyVector is not an approved source. That doesn't mean you cant use it and back up your route with the clunky and very un-user friendly source though ;)
 
I used it and then copied it into our terrible system at PSA. SABRE is very unfriendly for route building. Also WSI is difficult to me as well. Now I use NavTech and its a great program, does everything I need it to without a doubt.
 
Doesnt NavTech take forever even to open sometimes? I heard by the time it opens the window you need, you could have the plan already halfway done in Sabre.
 
A1TAPE said:
Doesnt NavTech take forever even to open sometimes? I heard by the time it opens the window you need, you could have the plan already halfway done in Sabre.
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NavTech it's great for international planning. Sabre (dispatch monitor) is built for speed. No way you could use NavTech at a regional and keep up if you ask me. NavTech is pretty awesome for route building whereas Fusion had to makeup for the route building shortcomings of Sabre. Haven't had any issues loading NavTech either.
 
bbmikej said:
I know where I am SkyVector is not an approved source. That doesn't mean you cant use it and back up your route with the clunky and very un-user friendly source though ;)
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To the OP, I 2nd this. Our ops specs state Jepp/GOVT charts as approved sources, Skyvector sure is handy but purely supplemental.

You are also correct in your assumption that this is governed by an airline's OPSPECS. My shop also lists WSI as an approved source of aeronautical data.
 
At G7, our approved charts are Lido/mPilot electronic charts. Our pilots get a tablet loaded with them as part of their EFB.
 
Approved or not who cares if it get you the route you want and ATC takes accepts it. I used vfrmap.com all the time at EV, build the route in Fusion, and copy it into Sabre and it was never a hassle.
 
Altimeter said:
Approved or not who cares if it get you the route you want and ATC takes accepts it. I used vfrmap.com all the time at EV, build the route in Fusion, and copy it into Sabre and it was never a hassle.
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We also use Lido's software for flight planning, and it's good. It normally generates good routes we can use. When ATC has reroutes in effect, we'll copy and paste those into Lido.
 
Altimeter said:
Approved or not who cares if it get you the route you want and ATC takes accepts it. I used vfrmap.com all the time at EV, build the route in Fusion, and copy it into Sabre and it was never a hassle.
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We also use Fusion's Route Manager utility, which is very useful. You can see GRAPHICALLY how the route will look, where it will take you, and whether or not it'll get you around thunderstorms, etc. You can then copy and paste that route into Lido to plan the flight.
 
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4EngineETOPS said:
Out of curiousity, does anyone know if SkyVector is approved for dispatchers? I've been doing some research on approved electronic charts, but I haven't been about to find much in the way of relevant information. I looked through AC 120-76c, but most of the guidance appears to apply to flight crews and EFBs. Are there any regs, ACs, or other relevant documents containing a list of approved electronic charts for dispatchers/flight planning in general? My assumption is that that this info is found in the company's OpSpecs or approval from an airline's PI. I would guess that Jeppesen's desktop eViewer and EFB mobileFD terminal charts are approved, but I can't figure out what is used for enroute. Can anyone shed some light on what their OCC uses?
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Technically, the only charts approved are the ones on an airlines specs.
 
who'swho said:
NavTech it's great for international planning. Sabre (dispatch monitor) is built for speed. No way you could use NavTech at a regional and keep up if you ask me. NavTech is pretty awesome for route building whereas Fusion had to makeup for the route building shortcomings of Sabre. Haven't had any issues loading NavTech either.
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I don't mess Dispatch Monitor nor it's non-existent diversion tool, red light/green light crap and lack of ability to fully plan a flight to the degree Navtech can.
 
Delta Echo said:
I don't mess Dispatch Monitor nor it's non-existent diversion tool, red light/green light crap and lack of ability to fully plan a flight to the degree Navtech can.
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The diversion tool in DM I always thought was super handy. Especially for planning fuel burns for a diversion enroute.
 
Luigi said:
The diversion tool in DM I always thought was super handy. Especially for planning fuel burns for a diversion enroute.
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That thing didn't work at all when I used that system. It was horrible and forget planning a diversion route in it; one time I was attempting to compute a diversion and the system didn't like it because the arrival changed and wanted me to go back and build the entire thing like a new release to compute. Don't have that type of time when someone is looking for burns.

I currently use Navtech and it has an awesome diversion set up. Just plug waypoint, altitude, new destination (if required) and current FOB in the main planning page and BAM, numbers. Sometimes you have to build a route and that is super easy, too.
 
Delta Echo said:
That thing didn't work at all when I used that system. It was horrible and forget planning a diversion route in it; one time I was attempting to compute a diversion and the system didn't like it because the arrival changed and wanted me to go back and build the entire thing like a new release to compute. Don't have that type of time when someone is looking for burns.

I currently use Navtech and it has an awesome diversion set up. Just plug waypoint, altitude, new destination (if required) and current FOB in the main planning page and BAM, numbers. Sometimes you have to build a route and that is super easy, too.
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I agree with Luigi. Sounds like you just weren't taught how to use it. It's super handy and quick to use if you were trained correctly on how to use it. Navtech is probably easier, but DM i have never had any issues with running multiple reroute burns for en-route crews.
 
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I'm going to assume that it's not approved any where because many times I have found SkyVector to be incorrect.
 
4EngineETOPS said:
Out of curiousity, does anyone know if SkyVector is approved for dispatchers? I've been doing some research on approved electronic charts, but I haven't been about to find much in the way of relevant information. I looked through AC 120-76c, but most of the guidance appears to apply to flight crews and EFBs. Are there any regs, ACs, or other relevant documents containing a list of approved electronic charts for dispatchers/flight planning in general? My assumption is that that this info is found in the company's OpSpecs or approval from an airline's PI. I would guess that Jeppesen's desktop eViewer and EFB mobileFD terminal charts are approved, but I can't figure out what is used for enroute. Can anyone shed some light on what their OCC uses?
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If it's approved, it'll be in your Ops Specs.I don't think SkyVector is approved anywhere. If for no other reason, how do you know the charts are current? It's a great supplementary tool, along the lines of a wall planning chart. But you should always use your approved sources of information for flight planning decisions.

Whatever the pilots have on the airplane is what you should have at your desk. If they have an EFB, you should have an EFB; If they have a paper route manual, you should have a paper route manual. You shouldn't reference any source (in terms of official flight planning decisions) that the pilots can't reference from the flight deck and vice versa.
 
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