How to Use an Aeronautical Sectional Chart
Private and commercial pilots rely on sectional aeronautical charts. These charts are available for visual flight reference (VFR) and instrument flight reference (IFR). Most sectionals used are the VFR charts. When you first view a sectional, it seems overwhelming because of the various frequency codes, color-coded circles, solid and broken lines and striation marks. Over time, the charts become second nature. Charts are used to plot flights, avoid obstacles and locate airports.
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Instructions
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Open a sectional and spread it out on a flat surface. Study the charts along the the FAA chart guide to decipher the icons, codes, line colors and frequency boxes. Memorize the colors surrounding airports, as they indicate the classification of the airspace. The classification is extremely important as it dictates what rules you must follow for the airspace and who to contact for direction.
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Study the icons. Memorize what they mean. Examples include radio towers, parachute jump zones, restricted airspace, mountains, private airstrips, military airspace and runways, and what kind of tower is at the public airports. Knowing these icons is crucial to using the charts successfully and flying safely and legally.
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Write up a mock flight plan. Do this under the supervision of your certified flight instructor (CFI). If you are training for your first cross-country solo flight, each segment of the flight must have at least 50 nautical miles between airports to qualify toward your license. Use the plotter, ensuring that the scale is 1:500,000 and that you are using the nautical scale. Flying in Alaska is an exception, as you would be using an Alaskan sectional, which uses high and low en route data.
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Use the chart to reference what distance out from your airports to contact air traffic control (ATC), how to request flight following, where obstacles are (for example, restricted air space, mountains or towers) and what VOR channels are available en route should you get lost. VOR channels are special frequencies used in conjunction with a device in the aircraft that helps re-establish vectors when off course or lost.
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Keep the chart in your kneeboard during flight, folded for ease of use for your prescribed route. A kneeboard is a hard board that straps around the leg allowing you to keep the chart steady and make notes as needed when radio communications or ATC gives you directions.
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References
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