Attention All Pilots
On Monday, October 5, 2009, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will transition to a New Chart Agent Model. This change may affect where you currently purchase your FAA and/or NGA Aeronautical charts and related products. These changes are part of an overall High Performing Organization (HPO) plan that will save the FAA over $1,000,000 a year and it should create new sales outlets by leveraging new and established private sector distribution channels.
The requirements of the New Chart Agent Model are: Chart Agents must have a minimum annual net sales volume of $5,000, Chart Agent orders must be placed using the FAA e-commerce system, and Chart Agents are allowed to establish their own network of sales outlet(s) or utilize their existing dealer networks to sell navigation charts and related products.
Please know that under these new requirements, any existing Chart Agent that currently sells FAA and/or NGA aeronautical products may continue to do so as long as they meet the new requirements. If they do not, they may continue to do so as either an FAA Authorized Chart Agent with a network of Sales Outlets to meet the minimum net sales volume requirement or as a Sales Outlet for an FAA Authorized Chart Agent.
On August 7, 2009, the FAA began posting the names of newly Authorized FAA Chart Agents on our website who meet the new requirements and are interested in establishing their own network of Sales Outlets. On October 5, 2009, the FAA expects to have approximately 400–500 FAA Authorized Aeronautical Chart Agents throughout the country. We also expect these FAA Authorized Chart Agents to have established a sufficient network of Sales Outlets to meet market demand and ensure pilot safety.
Beginning October 5, 2009, to find the nearest FAA Authorized Chart Agent or Sales Outlet to your location, please go to our website at http://naco.faa.gov/, click on “Chart Retailers” and use the “Chart Agent Search”. Prior to that date, you may use the same website address, click on “Chart Retailers”, then “New Chart Agent Model”, scroll to the bottom of the page to view “New Chart Agent Model - Listing of FAA Authorized Chart Agents Who Have Signed New Agreements”.
If you do not have a Chart Agent or Sales Outlet in your local area, you may still purchase aeronautical charts and related products from a Chart Agent outside your local area or purchase directly from the FAA. You may use the FAA e-commerce website located at http://naco.faa.gov/or contact us directly at 1-800-638-8972 (toll free in U.S.) or 301-436-8301. Products may be purchased as a one-time order or by subscription. Products may be shipped directly from the FAA using either ground service (delivery in 10 days or less) or by express service (delivery in 1 or 2 days) for an additional fee.
On the same website, the FAA also offers several digital aeronautical products (i.e. Terminal Procedures Publications and Airport/Facility Directories) for free and downloadable products (i.e. Sectional Visual Charts, Terminal Area charts, IFR Enroute Charts, etc.) for a small fee.
Ultimately, it is the pilot’s responsibility to ensure they are prepared with all the necessary navigation information to fly safely through the National Airspace System. With proper planning, aeronautical charts and related products should be available to all users via Chart Agents, Sales Outlets, FAA e-commerce, telephone sales, or by free download.
For additional information about the New Chart Agent Model, please visit our website, http://naco.faa.gov/, click on “Chart Retailers”, then “New Chart Agent Model” or contact us at 1-800-638-8972 (toll free in U.S.) or 301-436-8301.
