Jepp Plate Advice

[therookie]

I'm in the midst of my IFR training and fast approaching the day I start shooting approaches (pun fully intended ). Anyway, my instructor pointed me at the training discount for the Jepp Plates and it seems to be a pretty good deal. The part I'm wondering about is the "binders". Is this really something worth the $36 (or $59 for fancy leather version)? I've got no experience using IFR charts beyond ground school, so just wondering if maybe it had enough little gadgets which made life better to be worth it.

Thanks!

[avi8tor]

If you plan on getting a jepp binder let me know I have a 2" leather one that has never been used that I am trying to get rid of PM me for details.

[wheelsup]

Originally Posted by therookie

I'm in the midst of my IFR training and fast approaching the day I start shooting approaches (pun fully intended ). Anyway, my instructor pointed me at the training discount for the Jepp Plates and it seems to be a pretty good deal. The part I'm wondering about is the "binders". Is this really something worth the $36 (or $59 for fancy leather version)? I've got no experience using IFR charts beyond ground school, so just wondering if maybe it had enough little gadgets which made life better to be worth it.

Thanks!

You'll definately need something to put the plates in. I had the cheap binders all thru training and as a CFI and was given the leather binders by my company, so I sold the cardboard/plastic ones on ebay. I don't notice a big difference.

However, that being said, once you get in the plane, most likely you will take out the approach plates for your local airports and carry them around on your knee-board. How you do that is up to you - I used this and loved it. When my first one melted in the sun I bought another. I thought it was very useful in staying organized, something high up the priority list when flying IFR. In fact, I even used my own lables for the tabs and put the different airports under each tab while doing my training. People also put their plates in chart protectors and use a small metal ring to tie them together, or just leave them loose, but I didn't like the way that worked because it sometimes took them a while to find their chart.

[desertdog71]

Same Binder I have. The Green IFR Flight File works great. I hate kneeboards to begin with, but this is a pretty handy little deal.

[ColMustard]

Originally Posted by desertdog71

Same Binder I have. The Green IFR Flight File works great. I hate kneeboards to begin with, but this is a pretty handy little deal.

I second that. Binder to organize the plates for that region, the Green IFR flight file to organize the flight.

-ColM

[Texasspilot]

You can use Gov. plates and get the looseleaf ones for like 5 bucks and then a binder for like 5 bucks. The bonus is you don't have to do revisions!

[subpilot]

Originally Posted by Texasspilot

You can use Gov. plates and get the looseleaf ones for like 5 bucks and then a binder for like 5 bucks. The bonus is you don't have to do revisions!

Amen...
Government charts do the same job but at a fraction of the cost. Plus you need to learn government charts for your written exam anyways.

[casey]

Originally Posted by subpilot

Amen...
Government charts do the same job but at a fraction of the cost. Plus you need to learn government charts for your written exam anyways.

If you get the JEPP IFR Express subscription (FULL set of plates every 56 days and a revision 28 days after the full, so just a mini-revision and throw it all away and replace, mini revision... etc) the price difference between jepp and government really isnt that big. Consider the price of buying IFR low enroute charts and plates for an entire region jepp covers, every 56 days vs what a jepp costs per year.

TX as an example is 3 (iirc) enroute charts and 3 approach books. 6 products @ 4.00/per, every 56 days for a year is $168. Jepp airway manual express revision service for texas for a year is $171. $4 difference, and everything is delivered to you, no runs to the store to get the updates.

Different areas of the country may be a bit different in price relationship, but dont let the dollar figure for jepps (express service, standard service is more expensive) throw you off. Look at how much your current charts are really costing you.

[Texasspilot]

Gov. plates get delivered to you as well and thiers not near as much crap to carry around

[aloft]

What's this training discount for Jepp plates??

I'll chime in with my two cents and say that it's probably better to know the NACO charts inside and out while in training because that's what your DEs will be grilling you on. Once you've got all your tickets, you can start learning the Jepps so you're ready for interview questions.

[Looking4Lower]

Originally Posted by therookie

Is this really something worth the $36 (or $59 for fancy leather version)?!

If you're a super cheapskate, you can go to your local Office Depot/Staples/OfficeMax and get one of their mini 3-ring binders. They're basically "Jepp-size" and the 3 rings line up with the holes in Jepp charts (and all 7-ring Jepp products) so you can snap them in and your cost is only a couple bucks. Problem with only 3 rings instead of 7, they can tend to tear the pages easily so the plastic protectors are recommended.

Just a thought.

[Bandit_Driver]

I think Jepps are worth the money. I used them when I was a CFII and they are the charts you will use when you go to an airline interview.

Spend the money and get the leather binder. I have had mine for 6 plus years and it looks great. The Jepp binders also have a great feature that locks the binder open. Jepp charters are also laid out much better than NOS in regards to SID and STARS.

You definately want to get a pack or two of sheet protectors they do rip easily if you are not carefull.

[casey]

Originally Posted by Texasspilot

Gov. plates get delivered to you as well and thiers not near as much crap to carry around

i dunno, a couple books / rings w/loosleaf naco charts or a binder with everything in it. I find the jepps a lot easier to manage personally.