Importance of Jepp charts?
 

Hi, I'm a private pilot finishing up an instrument rating, and have been training with NOS charts. I have also bought some Jepps which I like better (and I love the look of the leather binders!!) The issue is that the Jepps are prohibitively expensive, and I'm wondering if I should just stick with NOS, since at this point I'm not planning on a career in the airlines. Do you think Jepps are so great that I should stick with them, or cut costs and use NOS? I know it's my decision/preference ultimately, but your opinion matters!!! Thanks-

Once you work for somebody... they will determine what you like... depending on what they pay to have in their planes, or to provide their pilots. I have used them both and they both are just fine.

Used NOS charts up until the point I got hired by United. Used Jepps ever since, cause they pay for them. Otherwise I would use NOS. Either way it will make no difference in you getting hired. It would be beneficial to have a working knowledge of Jepp charts before an interview, but that's about it.

If you stay in the private sector then you can use whatever you like. If you plan on entering the 135 or 121 world, I would definately get used to the Jepps, they are what most professional pilots use, because they are what most companys provide.

How much are you going to fly IFR? And locally or covering some distance? Prior to going 135 then 121 (both companies used/use Jepps), I bought a set of Jepps for personal flying. In my opinion, Jepps are far superior to NOS in several ways, but if you're just going to be flying maybe once a week, rarely going IFR, or you live somewhere that could require two area sets of Jepps, I'd definitely pass on the cost.

They both do the job. I'm a private flyer so I don't have the choice imposed on me by a company. I trained with the FAA's charts, came to prefer Jepp, and am now back to the FAA. The return to the FAA for me was in part due to FAA format changes but in larger part because of my move to the iPad and ForeFlight for my charts and the FAA charts are simply more available in that environment, not only less costly.

I think that's the bottom line. The world is changing and pilots, from private through 135 through 121 are heading toward EFBs.

Don't get too tied to those pretty brown leather binders. You won't be using them, sooner rather than later.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/05/bu.../05pilots.html

Depending on where you live/fly, annual jepp airway manual express subscription may not be that more expensive than buying NOS enroute and terminal charts for the whole year. IIRC, when I had the Florida subscripton, it came within 30 bucks of NOS charts for the whole year. Not to mention that they send revisions to your door steps. And if you have individual approach plate damaged/destroyed, Jepp is pretty good about sending you replacements.