Topo Map for Aviation
Question:
Sorry, I meant to ask "aviation grade" map software that you can zoom in and out or maybe get a profile view or 3D view etc. You can lay the sectional images over DEM data for a 3Dish view. Commercial software like ERDAS Imagine can readily handle this. I know there’s Free software to do it, but I haven’t tackled it yet. (Pointers will be appreciated.)
DEMs can be downloaded/ordered from http://seamless.usgs.gov/ Something I too think would be interesting to try. Something I would investigate "in my copious spare time". I’ve downloaded a good-sized chunk of the western US, but I need to whack together some stitching software to put all the individual sections back together into a seamless dataset. See spare time comment above. — -Mark
Response:
I bought the National Geographic Topo Backroads for about $50 (covers US incl Hawaii and Alaska). It is possible to use this to generate a profile or elevation view if you know your route segments. It has a GPS interface, so potentially you could use it on a notebook or PDA. It is certainly not certified for aviation use. http://maps.nationalgeographic.com/topo/backroads.cfm
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is there any particular topo map that’s suitable for aviation use (should I say certified?) Jizhong
Response:
Not certified for aviation but I use Topo! USA. I like to know the names of the mountains and rivers that I see. I run it on a laptop with Delorme’s ~$100 USB GPS reciever. Mike MU-2
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Is there any particular topo map that’s suitable for aviation use (should I say certified?) Jizhong
Response:
Kyler and Mark, Thanks for the idea and usgs data link. Looks like potentially you can get really good map out of the data. Right now I just don’t have anytime to do it. I’d like to get something ready to use. But your sectional link is great. At least I don’t have to run to the local store if I don’t have the sectional when I’m planning. I wish there is a software to run(zoom in/out) those sectional data. Still need to figure out how to run http://seamless.usgs.gov/viewer.htm Martin, FlightSoft seems to be a neat program but I’m not sure I want to fork out $200 for it. Mike, The Topo USA seems pretty easy to use. Don’t know how accurate it is. I don’t see any reason why it’s not. They (Delorme or even Jeppesen…) must be using the data from similar sources. So, thanks everyone. So maybe I’ll just stick with the old sectionals for now until some really good mapping software comes out. Jizhong – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Not certified for aviation but I use Topo! USA. I like to know the names of the mountains and rivers that I see. I run it on a laptop with Delorme’s ~$100 USB GPS reciever. Mike MU-2 Is there any particular topo map that’s suitable for aviation use (should I say certified?) Jizhong
Response:
Isn’t it obviouse. Sorry, I meant to ask "aviation grade" map software that you can zoom in and out or maybe get a profile view or 3D view etc. I’d like to use it with the online flight planner software.
I use RMS’ FlightSoft program and found it helpful for just this kind of task. I once got stranded by bad wx and had to leave my plane at Bishop, CA. When the wx broke and I drove back up to get it, I wanted the fastest route home that didn’t involve crossign 14k foot peaks, which local people told me involved a pass just behind Mammoth Mtn ski resort. While I waited for the wx to clear, I simulated the flight and could see that the pass really was about 9300′ as I had been told, and was not that hard to find even though surrounded by some very high peaks. Given that I usually crossed at Tioga Pass at Yosemite (10k feet), this pass was no problem. But it sure was nice to be able to "fly" the route a few times in my study. I am still using a much earlier version of the software so it would be wise to check. I also have found DeLorme’s TopoUSA CDROM useful. Hope this helps. Martin
Response:
Sorry, I meant to ask "aviation grade" map software that you can zoom in and out or maybe get a profile view or 3D view etc.
You can lay the sectional images over DEM data for a 3Dish view. Commercial software like ERDAS Imagine can readily handle this. I know there’s Free software to do it, but I haven’t tackled it yet. (Pointers will be appreciated.) I noticed recently that some of the FlightGear http://flightgear.org/ folks are starting to use the FAA sectional images from my collection. I’m not sure how that works, but I’m guessing you could "fly" the route with a fairly realistic out-the-window view while monitoring your progress on the sectional. The next computer I make is going to be designed for FlightGear. –kyler
Response:
Isn’t it obviouse. Sorry, I meant to ask "aviation grade" map software that you can zoom in and out or maybe get a profile view or 3D view etc. I’d like to use it with the online flight planner software. Jizhong – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Is there any particular topo map that’s suitable for aviation use (should I say certified?) << Yes. It’s called a "sectional" and is available at most small airports. Look for the flight school. You can probably get outdated ones free if you ask, but they won’t be suitable for aviation any more. (they go out of date every six months). Jose
Response:
Is there any particular topo map that’s suitable for aviation use (should I say certified?) Yes. It’s called a "sectional" and is available at most small airports.
No need to get off your butt just to get sectionals… http://aviationtoolbox.org/munge/mosaic –kyler
Response:
Is there any particular topo map that’s suitable for aviation use (should I say certified?) Jizhong
Response:
Is there any particular topo map that’s suitable for aviation use (should I say certified?) << Yes. It’s called a "sectional" and is available at most small airports. Look for the flight school. You can probably get outdated ones free if you ask, but they won’t be suitable for aviation any more. (they go out of date every six months). Jose — (for Email, make the obvious changes in my address)
