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Section 4

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Aeronautical Chart Users’ Guide

Front Matter
Section 1: INTRODUCTION
Section 2: WHAT’S NEW?
Section 3: EXPLANATION OF VFR TERMS AND SYMBOLS
Section 4: VFR SECTIONAL AND TERMINAL AREA CHARTS
Section 5: VFR FLYWAY PLANNING CHARTS
Section 6: HELICOPTER ROUTE CHARTS
Section 7: CARIBBEAN VFR AERONAUTICAL CHARTS (CAC)
Section 8: AIRSPACE
Section 9: EXPLANATION OF IFR ENROUTE TERMS
Section 10: IFR ENROUTE LOW / HIGH ALTITUDE SYMBOLS (U.S., PACIFIC AND ALASKA CHARTS)
Section 11: U.S. TERMINAL PROCEDURES PUBLICATION
Section 12: U.S. TERMINAL PROCEDURES PUBLICATION SYMBOLS
Section 13: REFERENCES
Section 14: ABBREVIATIONS

Aeronautical Chart Users’ GuideChart Users’ Guide · 9 July 2026

Section 04

VFR SECTIONAL AND TERMINAL AREA CHARTS

20 pagesPages 23–42

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GENERAL INFORMATION

The symbols shown in this section illustrate those that appear in the Sectional Aeronautical Charts (Sectionals) and Terminal Area Charts (TACs). The same symbology is utilized in VFR Flyway Planning Charts, Helicopter Route Charts and Caribbean Aeronautical Charts (CACs), however the scale of the symbols may be different due to the particular chart scales. Where symbology is distinctive to a given chart, examples and explanations are given in the additional examples. These charts are updated every 56 days.

AIRPORTS

Landplane: Civil Non-Towered Towered Airports having control towers (CT) are shown in blue, all others are shown in magenta. All recognizable runways, including some that may be closed, are shown for visual identification purposes. Fuel available. Runway patterns will be depicted at airports with at least one hard surfaced runway 1500´ or greater in length.

Non-Towered Towered Landplane: Civil-Military

Landplane: Military Refueling and repair facilities not indicated.

Heliport (Selected)

Foreign

Foreign Airport Note

NOTE: Airports outside the U.S. Flight Information Region (FIR) are shown with the standard symbol. Only the airport names and ICAO identifiers are shown.

Ultralight Flight Park (Selected)

Landplane:

Landmark Value
Non-Towered Towered
Non-Towered Towered

PUBLIC USE - (Soft surfaced runway, or hard surfaced runway Fuel not available less than 1500’ in length.) Fuel not available. or Complete information RESTRICTED OR PRIVATE - is not available. (Soft surfaced runway, or hard surfaced runway less than 1500’ in length.) Non-public use having landmark value. OBJECTIONABLE is an airport that has an airspace determination based upon a number of factors including conflicting traffic patterns with another airport, hazardous runway conditions, or natural or man-made obstacles in close proximity to the landing area. UNVERIFIED - A landing area available but warranting more than ordinary precaution due to: (1) lack of current information on field conditions, and/or (2) available information indicates peculiar operating limitations. ABANDONED - Depicted for Appropriate note as landmark value or to prevent required for hard surfaced confusion with an adjacent usrunways only: “(CLOSED)” able landing area. (Normally at least 3000’ paved).

Facility With Runway Seaplane Facility No Fuel Facility With Fuel and Waterway Non-Towered Towered Airport Data Grouping Boxed airport name indicates airport for which a Special Traffic Rule has been established. (Pvt): Non-public use having landmark value. “OBJECTIONABLE”: This airport may adversely affect airspace use. UNICOM UNICOM Flight Service Station on field Elevation in feet Airports where fixed wing special VFR opera- Lighting in operation Sunset to Sunrise tions are prohibited (shown above airport name) FAR 91 Lighting limitations exist; refer to Chart Supplement Indicates FAR 93 Special Air Traffic Rules and Length of longest runway in hundreds of Airport Traffic Pattern feet; usable length may be less. Location Identifier Aeronautical advisory station ICAO Location Identifier Runways with Right Traffic Patterns (public Control Tower (CT) - primary frequency use) See Chart Supplement Star indicates operation part-time. See tower frequencies tabulation for hours of operation VFR Advisory Service Shown when ATIS is not available and frequency is other than the primary CT frequency. Follows the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency (CTAF) Weather Camera Automatic Terminal Information Services Airport of Entry Automatic Flight Information Service When information is lacking. the respective character is replaced by a dash. Lighting Automated Surface Weather Observing codes refer to runway edge lights and may Systems; shown when full-time ATIS is not not represent the longest runway or full available. length lighting.

RADIO AIDS TO NAVIGATION

VOR

Operates less than contiuous or On-Request Underline indicates no voice on this frequency

VORTAC

When an NDB NAVAID shares the same name and Morse Code as the VOR NAVAID the frequency can be collocated inside the same box to conserve space.

VOR-DME

Crosshatch indicates Shutdown status

DME

DME co-located at an airport Note: DMEs are shown without the compass rose.

Compass Rose Compass Rose is “reference” oriented to magnetic north Example of VOR NAVAID co-located at airport

Non-Directional Radio Beacon (NDB)

NDB-DME

NAVAID Used To Define Class B Airspace

ILS Components ILS-DME TAC - Shown when used in description of Class B airspace.

Compass Rosette Shown only in areas void of VOR roses. Compass rosette will be based on the five year epoch magnetic variation model.

Automated Weather Broadcast Services

VHF/UHF LF/MF Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) / Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS).

Flight Service Station (FSS)

Heavy line box indicates Flight Broadcast Stations (BS) Service Station (FSS). Frequencies 121.5, 122.2 and 243.0 are avail- On request by the proper auable at many Alaskan FSSs and are thority or when a VFR Checknot shown above boxes. All other point frequencies are shown. Frequencies transmit and receive except those followed by an R. Remote Communications Outlet (RCO) R - receive only Frequencies above thin line box are remoted to NAVAID site. Other frequencies at FSS providing voice communication may be available FSS Radio determined by altitude providing and terrain. Consult Chart Supplement for voice complete information. communications Thin line box without frequencies and controlling FSS name indicates no FSS frequency available.

AIRSPACE INFORMATION

Class B Airspace Sectional

Appropriate notes as required may be shown. Only the airspace effective below 18,000 feet MSL are shown. (Mode C see FAR 91.215 / AIM)

Off Airport AWOS/ASOS

Off-Airport Weather Camera Locations

WX CAM

Broadcast Stations (BS) On request by the proper authority or when a VFR Checkpoint

Frequencies above thin line box are remoted to NAVAID site. Other frequencies at FSS providing voice communication may be available FSS Radio determined by altitude providing and terrain. Consult Chart Supplement for voice complete information. communications Thin line box without frequencies and controlling FSS name indicates no FSS frequency available. Terminal Area Chart (TAC) All mileages are nautical (NM). All radials are magnetic.

Class C Airspace

Appropriate notes as required may be shown. (Mode C see FAR 91.215/ AIM)

Class E Airspace

The limits of Class E airspace shall be shown by narrow vignettes or by the dashed magenta symbol. Individual units of designated airspace are not necessarily shown; instead, the aggregate lateral and vertical limits shall be defined by the following: Airspace beginning at the surface designated for airports and extension areas. Airspace beginning at 700 feet AGL that laterally abuts 1200 feet or higher Class E Airspace. Airspace beginning at 700 feet AGL that laterally abuts uncontrolled (Class G) airspace. Airspace beginning at 1200 feet AGL that laterally abuts uncontrolled (Class G) airspace. Differentiates floors of airspace greater than 700 feet above the surface. When the ceiling is less than 18,000 feet MSL, the value prefixed by the word “CEILING”, shall be shown along the limits.

Class D Airspace

Altitude in hundreds of feet MSL (A minus in front of the figure is used to indicate “from surface to but not including...”)

Airspace beginning at the surface designated for airports and extension areas. Airspace beginning at the surface with an airspace exclusion area where Class E airspace is excluded below 1200’ MSL.

Class E Airspace (Continued) Low Altitude Airways VOR and LF/MF (Class E Airspace) Low altitude Federal Airways are indicated by centerline. Only the controlled airspace effective below 18,000 feet MSL is shown

Miscellaneous Air Routes Combined Federal Airway/RNAV 2 “T” Routes are identified in solid blue type adjacent to the solid magenta federal airway identification. The joint route symbol is screened magenta.

Flight Information Regions (FIR) Offshore Control Areas MEXICO FIR MMFR WINNIPEG FIR CZWG NEW YORK OCEANIC CTA/FIR KZNY Oceanic Control Areas (OCA) OAKLAND OCEANIC CONTROL AREA Foreign Airspace Note Control Areas (CTA) MONTERREY CTA SECTOR 3

Special Conservation Areas NOAA Regulated National National Park, Wildlife Marine Sanctuary Refuge, Primitive and Designated Areas Wilderness Areas, etc. Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) Relating to National Security Example: Washington DC Appropriate notes as required may be shown. Note: Delimiting line not shown when it coincides with International Boundary, projection lines or other linear features.

Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) Relating to National Security Example: Washington DC Appropriate notes as required may be shown.

Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA)

Special Use Airspace

Only the airspace effective below 18,000 feet MSL is shown. The type of area shall be spelled out in large areas if space permits. * Alert Areas do not extend into Class A, B, C and D airspace, or Class E airport surface areas. Special Air Traffic Rules / Airport Patterns (FAR Part 93) Appropriate boxed note as required shown adjacent to area. Inside the FAR Part 93 boundary area, the cross hatching is at a 45 degree angle. The hypsometric tint shall be masked within the area around the yellow city tint when applicable (should not be confused with white glacier tint).

Flight Restricted Zone (FRZ) Relating to National Security

National Security Area

Appropriate notes as required may be shown Small Area NOTICE FOR REASONS OF NATIONAL SECURITY PILOTS ARE REQUESTED TO AVOID FLIGHT BELOW 1200' MSL IN THIS AREA

Special Awareness Training Areas

Mode C (FAR 91.215)

A Appropriate notes as required may be shown.

Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ)

Note: Delimiting line not shown when it coincides with International Boundary, projection lines or other linear features.

High Energy Radiation Areas Appropriate notes as required may be shown

Military Training Routes (MTR)

Special Military Activity Routes (SMAR) SPECIAL MILITARY ACTIVITY Boxed notes shown adjacent FOR IR850, IR851, IR852 CTC BANGOR RADIO ON 122.4 255.4 FOR ACTIVITY STATUS to route.

IFR Routes

Arrival Departure Arrival/Departure TAC only

Special Security Notice Permanent Continuous Flight Restriction Areas

Sporting Event Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) Sites

National Defense Airspace Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) Areas

Space Operations Area (FAR Part 91.143)

Miscellaneous Activity Areas

Aerobatic Practice Area Glider Operations Hang Glider Activity Ultralight Activity Unmanned Aircraft Activity Parachute Jumping Area with Frequency Space Launch Activity Area

VFR Transition Routes

Appropriate notes as required may be shown. Uni-directional Bi-directional Bi-directional with NAVAID Ident and Radial TAC only

Terminal Radar Service Area (TRSA)

TRSA Name TRSA Boundaries TRSA Sectors Appropriate notes as required may be shown.

Example: Harrisburg, PA

NAVIGATIONAL AND PROCEDURAL INFORMATION

Isogonic Line and Value

Isogonic lines and values shall be based on the five year epoch magnetic variation model.

Local Magnetic Notes

Unreliability Notes

Intersections

Examlple: Los Angeles

Named intersections used as reporting points. Arrows are directed toward facilities that establish intersection.

Aeronautical Lights By Request Rotating or Oscillating Isolated Location Site Rotating Light with Flashing Code Identification Light Rotating Light with Course Lights and Site Number

Airport Beacons

Rotating or Flashing Isolated Locations

VFR Checkpoints Underline indicates proper name of VFR Checkpoint.

Waypoints

RNAV VFR Stand-Alone VFR Collocated with Checkpoint

Obstruction

Above 200’ & below 1000’ AGL (above 299’ AGL in urban area) Under Construction (UC) or reported and position/elevation unverified 1000’ and higher (AGL) Wind Turbine

High-Intensity Obstruction Lights

Less than 1000’ (AGL) 1000’ and higher (AGL) Wind Turbine Group obstruction Wind Turbines High-intensity lights may operate part-time or by proximity activation.

Marine Lights

With Characteristics of Light Land Light Red White Green Blue Orange Black Yellow Sector Fixed Single Occulting Group Occulting Composite Group Occulting Isophase Flashing Group Flashing Composite Group Flashing Quick Interrupted Quick/Interrupted Quick Flashing Morse Code Fixed and Flashing Alternating Group Long Flash Group Quick Flashing Very Quick Flashing Group Very Quick Flashing Interrupted Very Quick Flashing Ultra Quick Flashing Interrupted Ultra Quick Flashing * Marine Lights are white unless otherwise noted. Alternating lights are red and white unless otherwise noted.

Group Obstruction

Above 200’ & below 1000’ AGL (above 299’ AGL in urban area) 1000’ and higher (AGL) At least two in group 1000’ and higher (AGL) Wind Turbines

Wind Turbine Farms

When highest wind turbine is unverified, UC will be shown after MSL value. 2894 UC

Maximum Elevation Figure (MEF)

(see VFR Terms tab for explanation)

Chart Limits Outline on Sectional of Terminal Area Chart Outline on Sectional of Inset Chart TAC Outline of Special Chart on Sectional and Terminal Area Chart

CULTURE

Railroads Railroad Yards Limiting Track To Scale Single Track Location Only Double Track Railroad Stations More Than Two Tracks Railroad Sidings and Short Spurs Electric Non-operating, Abandoned or Under Construction Roads Road Markers Dual-Lane Divided Highway Interstate Route No. Category 1 Primary U.S. Route No. Category 2 Air Marked Identification Label Secondary Category 2 Road Names Trails Roads Under Construction Category 3 Provides symbolization for dismantled railroad when combined with label “dismantled railroad.”

Related Features to Railroads and Roads Bridges and Viaducts Bridges and Viaducts Railroad Road Causeways Ferries, Ferry Slips and Fords Overpasses and Underpasses Tunnels-Road and Railroad

Populated Places Yellow tinted areas indicate populated places. Small circle indicates an area too small to depict using yellow tint. Font Style and Size indicate the category of the populated area: Large Cities Category 1 - population more than 250,000 Cities and Large Towns Category 2 - population 25,000 to 250,000 Towns and Villages Category 3 - population less than 25,000

Boundaries International Time Zones State or Province Convention or Mandate Line Date Line

Miscellaneous Cultural Features Dams Dam Carrying Road Small Locks Passable Locks Weirs and Jetties Seawalls Breakwaters Piers, Wharfs, Quays, etc. Pipelines Power Transmission and Telecommunication Lines Underground Landmark Features Tanks Outdoor Theater Mines or Quarries Shaft Mines or Quarries Race Tracks Wells Coast Guard Station Other than water Landmark Areas Lookout Towers (Elevation Base of Tower) ₆₁₈ Aerial Cableways,Conveyors, Etc.

HYDROGRAPHY

Open Water

Open/Inland Water

Lakes

Label as required.

Perennial

When too numerous to show individual lakes, show representative pattern and descriptive note. Number indicates elevation.

Non-Perennial

(dry, intermittent, etc.) Illustration includes small perennial lake.

Reservoirs

Natural Shorelines Man-made Shorelines Label when necessary for clarity Too small to show to scale Under Construction

Inland Water

Shorelines

Definite Fluctuating Unsurveyed Indefinite Man-made

Streams

Perennial Non-Perennial Fanned Out Alluvial fan Braided Disappearing Seasonally Fluctuating with undefined limits with maximum bank limits, prominent and constant Sand Deposits in and along riverbeds

Wet Sand Areas Within and adjacent to desert areas

Canals To Scale Abandoned or Under Construction Abandoned to Scale

Small Canals and Drainage / Irrigation Ditches

Perennial Non-Perennial Abandoned or Ancient Numerous Representative pattern and/or descriptive note.

Aqueducts

To Scale Abandoned or Under Construction Underground Suspended or Elevated Tunnels Kanats Underground with Air Vents

Falls

Double-Line Single-Line

Rapids

Double-Line Single-Line

Salt Evaporators and Salt Pans Man Exploited

Hummocks and Ridges

Peat Bogs

Rice Paddies

Extensive areas indicated by label only.

Springs, Wells and Waterholes

Swamps, Marshes and Bogs

Mangrove And Nipa

Cranberry Bogs

Land Subject To Inundation

Reefs-Rocky or Coral

Fish Ponds and Hatcheries

Miscellaneous Underwater Features Not Otherwise Symbolized

Wrecks Exposed

Rocks-Isolated

Bare or Awash

Tundra 3939

Permanent Snow and Ice Areas Glaciers Ice Permanent Polar Ice Glacial Moraines Ice Cliffs Pack Ice Snowfields, Ice Fields And Ice Caps Foreshore Flats Tidal flats exposed at low tide. Ice Peaks

RELIEF

Contours Basic Depression (Illustration includes mound within depression) Approximate Values Intermediate Auxiliary

Sand or Gravel Areas

Sand Dunes To Scale

Hachuring

Spot Elevations

Position Accurate Position Accurate, Elevation Approximate Highest in General Area Highest on Chart

Mountain Pass

Distorted Surface Areas

Lava Flows

Sand Ridges To Scale

Shaded Relief

Quarries To Scale

Craters

Unsurveyed Areas

Label appropriately as required

Levees And Eskers

Rock Strata Outcrop

Strip Mines, Mine Dumps And Tailings To Scale

Escarpments, Bluffs, Cliffs, Depressions, Etc.

Uncontoured Areas

Label appropriately as required RELIEF DATA INCOMPLETE

Regulations Referenced in This Chapter

14 CFR 91.215 14 CFR Part 91

Previous SectionSection 3: EXPLANATION OF VFR TERMS AND SYMBOLS Next Section Section 5: VFR FLYWAY PLANNING CHARTS

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