9-1-1. 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.


9-1-2. Obtaining Aeronautical Charts

Public sales of charts and publications are 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 on the AeroNav website at:

http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/

aeronav.


9-1-3. Selected Charts and Products

Available

VFR Navigation Charts

IFR Navigation Charts

Planning Charts

Supplementary Charts and Publications

Digital Products


9-1-4. 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 biannually, except

most Alaskan charts are revised annually.
(See FIG 9-1-1 and FIG 9-1-2.)

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 biannually, except Puerto

Rico-Virgin Islands which is revised annually.

(See FIG 9-1-1 and FIG 9-1-2.)

3. U.S. Gulf Coast VFR Aeronautical Chart.

The Gulf Coast Chart is designed primarily for

helicopter operation in the Gulf of Mexico area.

Information depicted includes offshore mineral

leasing areas and blocks, oil drilling platforms, and
high density helicopter activity areas. Scale 1 inch =

13.7nm/1:1,000,000. 55 x 27 inches folded to
5 x 10 inches. Revised annually.

4. Grand Canyon VFR Aeronautical Chart.
Covers the Grand Canyon National Park area and is
designed to promote aviation safety, flight free zones,
and facilitate VFR navigation in this popular area.
The chart contains aeronautical information for
general aviation VFR pilots on one side and
commercial VFR air tour operators on the other side.