Xref: utzoo rec.aviation:7619 comp.graphics:2612 comp.sys.mac:16813 comp.sys.mac.programmer:1091 comp.sys.mac.hypercard:750 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!husc6!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!osu-cis!killer!csccat!jack From: jack@csccat.UUCP (Jack Hudler) Newsgroups: rec.aviation,comp.graphics,comp.sys.mac,comp.sys.mac.programmer,comp.sys.mac.hypercard Subject: Re: Need Airport Database Message-ID: <763@csccat.UUCP> Date: 6 Jun 88 06:55:50 GMT References: <2726@juniper.UUCP> Reply-To: jack@csccat.UUCP (Jack Hudler) Organization: Computer Support Corporation. Dallas,Texas Lines: 36 In article <2726@juniper.UUCP> mentat@juniper.UUCP (Robert Dorsett) writes: > >al@qiclab.UUCP (Al Peterman) writes: > >> Does anyone know where to acquire a database of airport information. >> What we need is the information in the Airports Facilities Directory in >> a format that can be converted to MacIntosh Hypercard. > >As I indicated in a post about three weeks ago, the National Oceanic and >Atmospheric Administration distributes the navaid information. They are treat- >ing it very seriously, however, and, in conformity with a 1985 recommendation >to impose mandatory updates to data, will ONLY sell the data as a subscrip- >tion (and no, pleading as a Mac developer won't help--I tried). And rightfully so! How do they really know what you data will be used for!? Say you are working on a fight planner for pilots.. and you go and distribute this program for a fee or for nothing. And a pilot files a flight plan using the data and the data has an error concerning.. oh say a frequency of a VOR on the way.. or something just as trivial. Or the program fails to tell the pilot of in flight obsticals like moutains. The pilot may get pissed off or worse and then the lawyers start making money. Or a student pilot plays around with it :-). Anyway I am getting carried away with this tangent as I really don't know what you are going to use the data for.. but one could guess and I am tring to make a point (i hope). The goverment wants to know everyone who has the data so that as errors are found in the data (and there are errors) the corrections (ie. updates) can be sent out to those who are registered. I get astronomical data from NASA and they impose the same types of limits and astronomical data is not as important as airport data. They just don't want alot of outdated data out there and they have to make it as painfull as possiable to make sure your damn serious and not playing around. -- See above (214)661-8960