Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Chart Or Publication; Manuals
The Charts+ app is severely lacking in flight planning/briefing information. It has no radar/weather; METAR/TAF; or NOTAMs. While the flight release has some of this information; it is also helpful to have the information in our EFB app as well. The JeppFD app has everything we need in an easy to use format. When we are on a quick turn; there isn't always time to dig through every single NOTAM in the release. JeppFD puts them in an easy to read format in order of future and current. When we are flying around the summer time thunderstorms or any other storms; it is very helpful to overlay radar and echo tops on the route to have an idea what's the best direction to deviate from the weather before we depart. It's very helpful having the turbulence map to brief my FAs (Flight Attendants) on areas of possible turbulence. JeppFD also has the D-ATIS feature that is great for planning. When we are doing short flights like ZZZ-ZZZ1; we can quickly and easily pull up the ATIS for ZZZ1. Since [Company] won't use D-ATIS thru ACARS; this is very helpful. Sometimes Dispatch will plan the incorrect arrival flow and we end up with a possible fuel situation. I.e. they might plan the ZZZZZ3; and the airport is actually in west flow using the XXXXX5. That's a few hundred pounds of fuel possibly. Knowing this information before departing; we can put extra fuel onboard. With Charts+ we are basically losing all useful situational awareness. Charts+ is completely useless for situational awareness and planning.Why do we have to potentially jeopardize safety and lose a lot of situational awareness? Keep our reliable and safe JeppFD.
Air carrier Captain reported concerns with the use of alternate Charts App.