The VFR sectional chart is a pilot’s primary map. It packs airspace, airports, terrain, obstacles, and frequencies into one detailed picture. Learning to read it fluently is a core skill for navigation and a heavily tested checkride topic.
Part of our Navigation and Flight Planning guide.
What a sectional chart is
A sectional is a VFR aeronautical chart drawn at a scale of 1 to 500,000. Since February 2021, VFR sectionals are revised on a 56-day cycle (they were previously updated about every six months), so always fly with a current edition or a current electronic version. Each chart covers a region and overlaps its neighbors so you can plan flights across the boundary.
What is on the chart
- Airports: shown in blue for those with an operating control tower and magenta for non-towered fields, with data about runways, lighting, and frequencies.
- Airspace: Class B in solid blue, Class C in solid magenta, Class D in dashed blue, and Class E transitions in faded magenta or blue, plus special use airspace.
- Terrain: color shading and contour lines show elevation, with maximum elevation figures in each quadrant.
- Obstacles: towers and other obstructions with their heights.
- Navaids and frequencies: VORs, communication frequencies, and more.
Use the legend
Every symbol on the chart is defined in the chart legend. Early in training, keep the legend handy and look up anything you do not recognize. Within a few flights the common symbols become second nature.
Plotting a course
To plan a leg, draw a line between your departure and destination, then use a plotter to measure the true course and the distance against the chart’s latitude and longitude scale. Those numbers feed directly into your flight planning.
Stay current
Charts change as airspace, frequencies, and obstacles are updated. Flying an outdated chart can put you into airspace you did not expect or miss a new obstacle. Check the edition date, or use an electronic flight bag that updates automatically.
What you'll need
Chart-reading and plotting tools from PilotMall.com.
Frequently asked questions
What scale is a sectional chart?
1 to 500,000, the standard VFR sectional scale.
What color are towered airports on a sectional?
Blue. Non-towered airports are shown in magenta.
How often are charts updated?
VFR sectionals follow a 56-day revision cycle (since February 2021). Always fly with a current chart or an auto-updating electronic version.