Nov 15, 2011 - Responding to an FAA announcement that direct downloads of digital aeronautical data through its AeroNav Products website would end on on April 5, 2012 and pilots would be required to purchase digital chart products from contracted vendors has motivated the IMC Club to post an online petition at the White House's We the People website. The petition asks for the following:

"We the members of the general aviation pilot community are strongly opposing and ask for reversal of the FAA's action that it will begin charging for downloads that were previously free starting April 5, 2012. This means charging fees to companies for downloads and no longer allowing individuals to access them at all. Only those with distribution contracts with Aeronav will be able to download the data. This action will put a financial burden on the flight instructors, pilots and students. It will affect small aviation safety material distribution companies. Only large aviation corporations will be able to offset those expenses. It will have serious and wide ranging implications for the general aviation economy and restrict access to basic safety and proficiency materials."

25,000 signatures are required by Dec. 14, 2011 and the total is already over 1,000. Please consider signing the petition.

• Petition Signature Page (petition page disabled)
• We the People Website