The Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What is ChartValet?

ChartValet is a purpose-designed program designed to aid flight simulator pilots, ATCs, and enthusiasts with retrieving and viewing charts. It differs from other, similar chart-viewing solutions by recognizing that most of the time you're interested in doing something other than reading a chart. To that end, retrieving and viewing charts has been made incredibly simple and easy. If you've tried other electronic chart solutions, you'll be amazed at how fast and easy ChartValet is. It is truly the first viable alternative to printing paper charts for simmers.

What kind of system can I run it on?

ChartValet is a Microsoft .NET application and is compatible with Windows 2000, XP, and Vista (both 32-bit and 64-bit editions), but has very modest requirements other then that. While it's a perfect use for a spare computer or laptop, or just some extra monitor space on an existing machine, it's also perfectly happy to run alongside your flight sim or ATC client, and can easily be hidden and called up when necessary via keystrokes.

How does it work?

After signing up for a subscription to ChartValet, you'll download a quick and easy installer. Put in your ChartValet username and password, and you can begin retrieving charts quickly and easily by simply typing their name (i.e., KSEA SUMMA will load the KSEA SUMMA7, KATL 08L loads the KATL ILS 08L, and so on). ChartValet will then do its magic and automatically retrieve and display the chart for you. No messing around with websites or a PDF viewer here. You can rotate, zoom in and out, and try a couple inverted color options for better viewing. Since we know you controllers are working on seventeen things at once, every single ChartValet feature can be accessed via the keyboard - you'll never touch your mouse until you feel like it.

How much does it cost and what areas are covered?

At present, we are pleased to announce that ChartValet will have coverage of the entire United States, including Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, for a price you won't believe. For less than the cost of a skinny latte each month, you will gain continuous coverage of complete, up to date charts. We are continuously attempting to contact and negotiate with other countries and chart providers to obtain rights to re-distribute charts, and we hope to bring expansion beyond the U.S. in the near future. If you have any contacts within a charting provider (either a government or a commercial entity), please contact us as we'd love to work with you.

I don't want to download charts for places I never fly.

We don't want you to either! ChartValet doesn't download charts until you tell it to, and it also uses a cache, meaning that once a chart is downloaded, it's saved locally until it becomes out of date. You can pre-cache entire airports at once for airports you need charts for regularly, or you can just wait until you need it and retrieve it then. It's just that simple.

Why should I subscribe to ChartValet?

Great question. We've spent a lot of time making sure we have simply spectacular benefits considering our very low cost. Our advice is to try before you buy. Once ChartValet is released there'll be a fully-featured demo made available so you can see why we think ChartValet will rock your socks. We're very, very, confident that once you see how easy life is with ChartValet, you'll be a customer for life!

How old are the charts?

They're hot and fresh! One of the great features about ChartValet is that you'll always be working with the very latest charts without lifting a finger. We take care of it for you; every time you start ChartValet it makes sure you have a fresh database, and if you load a chart that you don't have the newest version of, it simply grabs it for you. Sound cool? We think so too.

I get lost easily at big airports.

That's not a question, but ChartValet can help you anyway! Check out our pilots page for some information on how ChartValet can show you where you are on an airport diagram.

And finally, the one question you've all been waiting for...

This all sounds like the best thing ever. When is it coming out?

It's just right around the corner... To be the first to know, sign up for our e-mail list..