The FAA has produced critical charting information for pilots in digital form that can be downloaded freely by any individual. This chart data is widely used in many computer, tablet, and web applications to aid pilots.
The FAA is closing off public access to the digital charts which will now be available only to companies who pay for the data. The FAA is requiring a fee based upon subscribers and to encumber the chart data with copy prevention means. The net effect will be to limit chart access to a few companies.
We petition that the FAA should not be allowed to close off access to the digital chart data to individuals. Free and simple access to this data contributes to safety, promotes innovation, and limits bureaucracy.