FAA proposes ‘radically higher prices’ for digital chart data

AVweb is reporting that the FAA’s AeroNav charting division told vendors this week that it proposes to charge end users of digital charting producers about $150 a year to close a $5 million shortfall in its budget due to declining paper chart sales. The report notes that the new fee, if adopted, would presumably more than double the cost of some popular iPad and Droid applications such as ForeFlight and WingX. The story quotes one vendor: “To me, it’s pretty clear that these prices are a non-starter. I know pilots aren’t going to pay $150 for these products without screaming about it.”