Narrative:

Part of our clearance from teb to roa included J48. After initial vectoring, we were cleared direct lanna to join J48 on course. At this time, we discovered we could not find our high altitude chart to define the airway. ZNY was too busy to name the vors that define the route. After further searching the cockpit, the chart was found. Fortunately, we were also able to contact new york radio (FSS) for assistance in defining the route. Flcs need to make certain all necessary navigation charts are on board and accessible before departure. The previous crew had apparently misplaced the chart under the seat and we did not look for it until we needed it in-flight. Further complicating the situation was our company changing from commercial charts (which include high altitude airways on low altitude charts) to government charts (which do not). We mistakenly assumed the government low altitude chart would also have jet airways depicted and that was the only chart we had readily available.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN ATX BEECH BE90 FAILED TO FOLLOW FLT ASSIGNED FLT PLAN RTE DUE TO MISPLACEMENT OF THE HIGH ALT INST AIRWAY CHART. AFTER CONTACTING ATC AND FSS THEY WERE ABLE TO GET BACK ON ASSIGNED RTE.

Narrative: PART OF OUR CLRNC FROM TEB TO ROA INCLUDED J48. AFTER INITIAL VECTORING, WE WERE CLRED DIRECT LANNA TO JOIN J48 ON COURSE. AT THIS TIME, WE DISCOVERED WE COULD NOT FIND OUR HIGH ALT CHART TO DEFINE THE AIRWAY. ZNY WAS TOO BUSY TO NAME THE VORS THAT DEFINE THE RTE. AFTER FURTHER SEARCHING THE COCKPIT, THE CHART WAS FOUND. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO CONTACT NEW YORK RADIO (FSS) FOR ASSISTANCE IN DEFINING THE RTE. FLCS NEED TO MAKE CERTAIN ALL NECESSARY NAV CHARTS ARE ON BOARD AND ACCESSIBLE BEFORE DEP. THE PREVIOUS CREW HAD APPARENTLY MISPLACED THE CHART UNDER THE SEAT AND WE DID NOT LOOK FOR IT UNTIL WE NEEDED IT INFLT. FURTHER COMPLICATING THE SIT WAS OUR COMPANY CHANGING FROM COMMERCIAL CHARTS (WHICH INCLUDE HIGH ALT AIRWAYS ON LOW ALT CHARTS) TO GOV CHARTS (WHICH DO NOT). WE MISTAKENLY ASSUMED THE GOV LOW ALT CHART WOULD ALSO HAVE JET AIRWAYS DEPICTED AND THAT WAS THE ONLY CHART WE HAD READILY AVAILABLE.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.