VFR Sectional Aeronautical Charts by Region

VFR Sectional Aeronautical Charts

A VFR sectional aeronautical chart is the core visual-navigation tool for flying under Visual Flight Rules. Each FAA sectional is drawn at 1:500,000 scale and packs terrain and obstacle elevations, airspace boundaries, radio frequencies, and airport data onto a single sheet, so you can plan a route, brief the airspace, and stay oriented in the cockpit. Every chart in this collection is a current FAA edition published on the standard 56-day revision cycle, and paper remains a reliable backup the day a tablet battery quits.

Find Your Region at a Glance

Each sectional is named for a major city near its center and covers the surrounding region. Pick the title that contains your route; a longer cross-country may span two adjoining charts.

Types of Aeronautical Charts

VFR Sectional Charts

The sectional is the everyday VFR planning chart, showing a wide region at 1:500,000 scale with terrain shading, obstacles, airspace, navaids, and airport details. It is what most pilots reach for first to lay out a cross-country route.

Terminal Area Charts

Around the busiest Class B airports, a terminal area chart zooms in to 1:250,000 for finer detail in congested airspace. Many pilots carry the matching terminal area chart alongside the sectional that covers the same city.

Supporting Publications

Round out the planning kit with the broader range of FAA charts and the regional Chart Supplements found in the Chart Supplements and Airport Facility Directories, which list airport services, frequencies, and procedures the sectional cannot fully detail.

How to Choose the Right Sectional Chart

• Match the chart to your region. Choose the titled sectional that contains your departure, route, and destination. Plan to carry both charts when a flight crosses the boundary between two adjoining sectionals.
• Check the effective date. The FAA revises VFR sectionals on a 56-day cycle, and the dates printed on the cover define the window the chart is legal and current for. Order the edition that covers the dates of your flight.
• Decide between a sectional and a terminal area chart. A sectional gives you the wide picture; a terminal area chart gives you fine detail near a major Class B airport. Busy-airspace flights often warrant both.
• Build the full cockpit kit. Plot your course with flight computers and plotters, organize the panel with cockpit supplies and a kneeboard, log the trip in a pilot logbook, and keep it all together in a flight bag.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are VFR sectional charts used for?

VFR sectional charts are used for visual navigation under Visual Flight Rules, giving pilots detailed terrain, obstacle, airspace, navaid, and airport information on a single 1:500,000-scale sheet so they can plan and fly a route while staying oriented and clear of controlled airspace.

How often are VFR sectional charts updated?

The FAA revises VFR sectional charts on a 56-day cycle, and the effective dates printed on the cover define the window the chart is current for, so pilots should always fly with the edition that covers the dates of their flight.

Which sectional chart should I buy for my region?

Buy the sectional titled for the major city nearest your route, since each chart is named for a city at its center and covers the surrounding region; a longer cross-country that crosses a chart boundary requires both adjoining sectionals.

What is the difference between a sectional chart and a terminal area chart?

A sectional chart shows a wide region at 1:500,000 scale for general VFR planning, while a terminal area chart zooms in to 1:250,000 around the busiest Class B airports for finer detail, and many pilots carry both for flights into congested airspace.

Can I use a VFR sectional chart for flight planning?

Yes, the VFR sectional chart is the foundational flight-planning tool for visual navigation, providing the topographic, airspace, and navigational detail needed to build a route, brief the airspace, and maintain situational awareness in flight.