Navigraph Announce nDAC 3.0

Posted on Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:12:21 GMT

Just announced from Navigraph is nDAC 3.0.  nDAC is a digital aeronautical charts software that features airport data, plates and now enroute charts.  For the full story, click on Read More.Navigraph Press Release - March 08, 2007

New and existing users are invited to download the new nDAC 3.0 as the new version becomes publically available on the morning of March 8, 2007. nDAC 3.0 contains several improvements to the previous version - the most noticable one being the addition of the capability of downloading updated and worldwide covering Enroute Charts delivered by the data provider European Aeronautical Group (EAG).

Updated Worldwide Coverage of Enroute Charts available in nDAC 3.0

During spring 2006 Navigraph performed an improvement survey among its users to gather requests for continued development. Now, nearly a year later, all major points for change have been made and are released in the 3.0 version.

As the by far largest request, to provide FMS Data, was catered to in October 2006 the Navigraph Development Team set out working towards the second largest request - to provide Enroute Charts. In the new version of nDAC, 96 different Enroute Charts can be downloaded directly to the user's computer through the same download interface as for the Airport Charts. For viewing and organizing a new tab has been added and the user interface resembles that of the Airport Charts (see enclosed screen shots). An existing user should easily find his way in the new interface and a new user should be quite comfortable with the intuitive workings of the software.

Coverage

The Enoute Charts cover the entire world. Two index charts illustrate the coverage. The charts are from various parts of the world, including some overlap and magnification. The charts contain both upper and lower airways.

Accuracy

The Enroute Charts are updated within days after they are delivered from the data provider. On average, an enroute charts is updated every 3 to 6 months with no delay compared to the real world counterpart. When new charts are available nDAC will notify the user upon the next launch of the software that a new "Enroute Chart Index" is available and the new charts can be automatically selected and downloaded or individually picked and queued.

Pricing

Downloading one chart is 10 Navigraph credits. Updating one chart is 10 Navigraph credits. (Equivalent to approx 1.00 EUR, 1.31 USD, 0.68 GBP.)

Specifications

• Operating System: Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP, Windows Vista
• Display: Min. 1024 x 768 px, 24-bit color
• Processor: Min. Pentium III type processor, 500 MHz
• RAM: Min. 256 MB
• HDD: Min. 1.4 GB for all currently available airports
• Other: Internet connection. Broadband (DSL or faster) highly recommended.

Forrmat and Printing

As any chart provided by Navigraph the graphic is vectorized. This means that there is an infinite resolution which allows for both 6400% zoom but also printing in any size. Users should note however that because of the large paper format of an enroute chart, a default A4 printer will not suffice unless it supports tiled printing. Printers that do not support tiling can still print enroute charts on several sheets of paper with the proper software supporting this functionality - the full version of Adobe Acrobate ® Professional* being one of them.

Navigraph however recommends that the charts are kept within the nDAC that is one of its major contributions - to serve as a paperless resource for aeronautical material.

Other Improvements to nDAC 3.0

The 3.0 version also offers new features on other areas:

1. Bulk printing
   Another important point in our user improvement survey was the ability to print several terminal charts in sequence. This feature has now been added. By selecting an airport all its related charts can be sent to the printer. It is also possible to filter the selected charts that are to be printed if only certain types of charts are of interest.
2. Automatic Backup
   When nDAC is closed it checks to see how old the backup is, if any. It it is more than one week old nDAC suggests to perform a new backup. This feature was added in a later build of version 2.0, but has been improved and made more robust so as to handle the increasing amount of data.
3. Google ® Earth* Visulization
   nDAC can export all the availble aiports to a KML-file which can be imported into Google Earth. This was added since 2.0, but now airports that are already downloaded, and available airports, have different icons so that the user can easily see where he needs to add coverage.
4. Microsoft Windows ® 2000* Support
   By replacing some of the software code developed by third party nDAC is once again compatible with Microsoft Windows ® 2000
5. Learning Center - BETA
   Yet another tab has been added to make room for an interface where a user can download movie material. For yet a few days, this service will be beta tested before the real titles go live. More information on this to be announced.

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