AIM
4/3/14
9−1−1
Types of Charts Available
Chapter 9. Aeronautical Charts and
Related Publications
Section 1. Types of Charts Available
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1. General
Civil aeronautical charts for the U.S. and its
territories, and possessions are produced by Aero-
nautical Navigation Products (AeroNav),
http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/
aeronav
which is part of FAA’s Air Traffic
Organization, Mission Support Services.
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2. Obtaining Aeronautical Charts
a.
Most charts and publications described in this
Chapter can be obtained by subscription or one−time
sales from:
Aeronautical Navigation Products (AeroNav)
Logistics Group, AJV−372
Federal Aviation Administration
10201 Good Luck Road
Glenn Dale, MD 20769−9700
Telephone: 1−800−638−8972 (Toll free within U.S.)
301−436−8301
301−436−6829 (FAX)
e−mail: 9−AMC−Chartsales@faa.gov
b.
Public sales of charts and publications are also
available through a network of FAA chart agents
primarily located at or near major civil airports. A
listing of products, dates of latest editions and agents
is available at the AeroNav Web site:
http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/
aeronav
.
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3. Selected Charts and Products
Available
VFR Navigation Charts
IFR Navigation Charts
Planning Charts
Supplementary Charts and Publications
Digital Products
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4. General Description of each Chart
Series
a. VFR Navigation Charts.
1. Sectional Aeronautical Charts.
Sectional
Charts are designed for visual navigation of slow to
medium speed aircraft. The topographic information
consists of contour lines, shaded relief, drainage
patterns, and an extensive selection of visual
checkpoints and landmarks used for flight under
VFR. Cultural features include cities and towns,
roads, railroads, and other distinct landmarks. The
aeronautical information includes visual and radio
aids to navigation, airports, controlled airspace,
special−use airspace, obstructions, and related data.
Scale 1 inch = 6.86nm/1:500,000. 60 x 20 inches
folded to 5 x 10 inches. Revised semiannually, except
most Alaskan charts are revised annually.
(See FIG 9−1−1 and FIG 9−1−11.)
2. VFR Terminal Area Charts (TAC).
TACs
depict the airspace designated as Class B airspace.
While similar to sectional charts, TACs have more
detail because the scale is larger. The TAC should be
used by pilots intending to operate to or from airfields
within or near Class B or Class C airspace. Areas with
TAC coverage are indicated by a
• on the Sectional
Chart indexes. Scale 1 inch = 3.43nm/1:250,000.
Charts are revised semiannually, except Puerto
Rico−Virgin Islands revised annually.
(See FIG 9−1−1 and FIG 9−1−11.)
3. World Aeronautical Chart (WAC).
WACs
cover land areas for navigation by moderate speed
aircraft operating at high altitudes. Included are city
tints, principal roads, railroads, distinctive land-
marks, drainage patterns, and relief. Aeronautical
information includes visual and radio aids to
navigation, airports, airways, special−use airspace,
and obstructions. Because of a smaller scale, WACs
do not show as much detail as sectional or TACs, and;
therefore, are not recommended for exclusive use by
pilots of low speed, low altitude aircraft. Scale
1 inch = 13.7nm/1:1,000,000. 60 x 20 inches folded
to 5 x 10 inches. WACs are revised annually, except
for a few in Alaska and the Caribbean, which are
revised biennially.
(See FIG 9−1−12 and FIG 9−1−13.)