C310 HAS ALTDEV DUE TO PROBS WITH NEW FORMAT OF NOAA CHARTS AND RINGS PROB.

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ENRTE IFR DPA TO FMY WITH FUEL STOP PLANNED FOR PIM. DIVERTED TO RMG FOR PERSONAL REASONS. DSNDED INTO RMG IN STEPS FROM 11000 FT; FINAL 'PRE APCH' DSCNT TO 3700 FT. WHILE DSNDING I TOOK OUT THE SE VOL #2 PLATES (THE 'NEW' LOOSE LEAF KIND). THESE HADN'T BEEN USED YET ON THIS CYCLE; SO RINGS HAD TO BE INSERTED; THE COVER TORN OFF AND THE NEW APCH PLATE FOUND WITHOUT TEARING THE PAGES. FRANKLY; I BECAME TOO ENGROSSED AND IRRITATED BY THIS TASK THAT I MISSED MY ALT AND APCH (IN A NICE WAY) CALLED IT TO MY ATTN. I WAS MAINTAINING A VISUAL WATCH FOR TFC AND TERRAIN (I WAS WELL ABOVE IT) BUT I SHOULD HAVE HAD THIS TASK DONE SOONER. I WAS EXPECTING AND RECEIVED A VISUAL APCH. REALLY A 'NON EVENT' BUT A REAL 'BUSTED ALT.' NOTE: THESE 'NEW' FORMAT PLATES ARE A HAZARD AND NUISANCE IN MANY WAYS. I'M GLAD TO HEAR GOV ORGANIZATION MAY BACK OFF. I ENCLOSE FYI A LETTER I WROTE A YR AGO ON THE SUBJECT. NO REPLY FROM THE ADDRESSEE; BUT THOSE I 'COPIED' WROTE BACK; ALL SAYING THEY AGREED COMPLETELY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING INFO: RPTR STATES THAT HE STAYS WITH THE GOV CHARTS BECAUSE HE FINDS THEM VERY COMFORTABLE TO USE -- PRIOR TO THE CHANGE TO RINGS. A LETTER WAS INSERTED WITH THE JULY PLATES INDICATING A SURVEY HAD BEEN TAKEN IN WHICH 58 PERCENT OF THE USERS DID NOT LIKE THE NEW PUB WITH RINGS. 42 PERCENT DID LIKE THE NEW METHOD. THE CARTOGRAPHIC STANDARDS BRANCH HAS REQUESTED THAT GOV MAKE BOTH VERSIONS AVAILABLE. RPTR HOPES THAT IT WILL BE SOON. RPTR DID ADMIT THAT HE SHOULD HAVE MADE HIS REVISIONS AT HOME PRIOR TO THE FLT; BUT DID NOT EXPECT TO LAND AT THE ARPT HE DID. THE OTHER REASON FOR COMPLETING THE REVISIONS AT HOME IS DUE TO THE FALLOUT OF ALL THE PUNCHOUTS ALL OVER THE ACFT. HE LIKELY WILL NOT DO THIS AGAIN. RPTR KINDLY FAXED A COPY OF THE LETTER FROM THE CARTOGRAPHIC STANDARDS BRANCH.