Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of pilot documents can I get on my Kindle?

AirBrief supplies FAA Terminal  Procedures volumes (also known as TERPs or approach plates) and complete Airport/Facility Directories for the entire United States. These are the complete documents, searchable by airport identifier. We also provide a number of FAA publications that have been optimized for reading on the Kindle. In addition to all of these, you can also download weather charts and other planning resources.

How do I get these?

After you register, you can copy AirBrief documents onto your Kindle via an internet download to your computer. It's really easy:
(1) Attach your Kindle to your computer using the USB cable.
(2) Right-click on the charts or books that you want to download from this website.
(3) Either save them on your computer and then transfer them to the Kindle, or save them directly to the Kindle.

AirBrief also includes an on-demand service that allows you to download certain documents and charts directly to your Kindle via the cellular Whispernet access. We call these LiveBriefs. No computer required - just select your LiveBrief using the Kindle browser, your smart phone, or a computer. The LiveBrief will arrive automatically on your Kindle in about 3 minutes. Note that Amazon will charge your account $0.15 per megabyte that is downloaded. Most LiveBriefs will be under 2 megabytes, and many will be under 1 megabyte.

How large are the TERP volumes and A/FDs?

The TERPs average about 150 megabytes and take from 5 to 15 minutes to download depending on your DSL speed. A/FDs average roughly 15 megabytes in size.

I've heard that it's hard to search within .pdf files on the Kindle DX.

Amazon chose not to support integral "bookmarks" (links within a document) for .pdf files. This meant that TERPs volumes and A/FDs were not directly searchable. Gold Seal innovated a new technique to solve this problem in a very simple, yet elegant, way. We call it "pageView". The first page of a TERPs volume or A/FD contains columns of airport identifiers in alphabetical order. Each includes its page number. You simply look up the page number, type it into Kindle's "Go to page" box, and click enter. You're whisked to the first page for that airport in less than two seconds.

If and when Amazon supplies a software upgrade to the Kindle that allows .pdf bookmarks, you'll find that the airports in pageView are also clickable. Nothing new to download, no changes in the way you do things. Just find the airport and click (or you can still type in the page number if you wish).

pageView was designed by Gold Seal. Others may try to copy it, but we are the innovators.

Does AirBrief handle the original Kindle differently than the Kindle DX?

Yes. AirBrief optimizes documents based on the Kindle model you have. You specify which model you own in your profile. Please note that some features are available for the DX, but not available for the original Kindle. Approach plates in particular currently are displayed in a degraded quality on the original Kindle, but they are razor-sharp and crystal-clear on the DX.

I am a VFR pilot. Does AirBrief have anything for me?

Yes. You may not need instrument approach charts, but the weather resources, A/FDs, and FAA publications are all things you will want to have on your Kindle. Plus, the LiveBriefs allow you to get last minute trip info delivered wireless to the device. (psst... we're really not supposed to tell you this, but Gold Seal is developing sectional/route support for the Kindle. Watch for news!)

How much does AirBrief cost?

Registration is free and is required before you can access any AirBrief services. Afterwards you may freely download current A/FDs and FAA publications with our compliments. You may use our Kindle-optimized weather website (wx.airbrief.com) without any charge, too. In order to download instrument approach charts and use the LiveBrief service, a monthly subscription fee of $9.99 is required.

Where can I learn more about the Kindle and maybe get one of my own?

We recommend the Amazon Kindle DX for aviation use. This link will take you directly to Amazon where you can learn all about it.