Need feedback jepps vs NOS charts

[pilothouston123]

We are a small aircraft management/135 operator. We have a few Gulfstreams and mid size jets. Our New chief wants us to switch from jepps to Nos charts.

Most guys hate this idea. Management says its a cost issue. I believe its because of the difficulty keeping up with updates.

I am looking for feedback on the pros and con's to making this switch and some suggestions on how to keep up with the updates.

__________________

 

[hawkerjet]

I hate to prank your management, but you've got to be kidding! I'm sure you're not the first to do this, but this is the first I've ever heard, it's usually the other way around. I'd check the background of the knucklehead making this decision and be willing to bet, he's not a very good manager. If money is that tight, just download them for free off of Airnav.
I am not getting on you, but someone in your organization isn't doing his/her job. Charts & Plates ( known as "navigation subscriptions " to the owners) are supposed to be part of the operating cost of the airplane and passed on to the owner.
I'd be willing to bet that a cost analysis of each aircraft hasn't been done and the manager is just using standard numbers for similar aircraft. This is what quite a few managers do when they don't know how to do it correctly.
That being said, Jeppesen is the world wide leader in Navigation Charts and I've used them for decades along with training on them. I wouldn't know where to find a training site for the NOS Charts which would require ground training for your 135 ops.

The 2 biggest ways to save money is fuel and maintenance. Get 5-6 contract fuel accounts such as Colt, Arrow Energy, World Fuel, Phoenix, or Jet Fleet International. You will see results in a few months. Also, make sure that you have someone dependable in overseeing maintenance. A good pit bull overseeing maintenance will allow for efficient work and keep the pricing down. A good DOM is hard to find. Also, pick 1-2 hotel chains and agree to a set price. I currently use Marriott hotels only and have negotiated a set price across the board for all their hotels. ( marriott, residence inn, courtyard, etc) I gaurantee them "X" amount of stays a year and get a set price for this. That way you're staying at nice hotels but paying less and if you charter and get $600/night, you'll be making more money.

 

[landlover]

jepp, nos its all the same when using them for flying. this course that frequency and break out at 200 agl. if the company will save money this way, so be it.

 

[mavrck]

I manage 5 airplanes and we switched to NOS simply because it was so hard to keep up with the updates and different subscriptions/plane. When NOS comes, you throw out ALL the old and in with the NEW. Takes 5mins to do the whole USA.

 

[hawkerjet]

Unless I am missing something here, what is so hard about updating Jeps. Each aircraft is assigned a Captain to oversee the updates and VOR/portable fire extinguisher checks. He/She can delegate this responsibility when in another aircraft away from base. Jepps are issued on a 2 week schedule so there should be no surprises and can be fed exed overnight if your on a trip. If jepps are a problem I'd hate to see your maintenance.

 

[dhc8fo]

Get the Q service from Jepp. No updating but it costs more...so I guess that kind of defeats your purpose....

 

[pilotpat]

But in reality...if you have to cut costs so much that you switch from Jepps to NOS, then it seems there are bigger problems in the cash flow arena. I mean, the cost of a yearly subscription is paid for with the first revenue trip of the year! Even Q service could be paid for.

Just my .01364 (adjusted for inflation and working for a 135 op)