Aeronautical chart

<h2 id="use-under-instrument-flight-rules">Use under instrument flight rules</h2>
<p>When an aircraft is flying under <a href="/facts/Instrument_flight_rules/RPfLUgbe">instrument flight rules</a> (IFR), the pilot will often have no visual reference to the ground, and must therefore rely on external (e.g. <a href="/facts/Global_Positioning_System/DKVLnzF3">GPS</a> or <a href="/facts/VHF_omnidirectional_range/XV2txX9M">VOR</a>) aids in order to navigate. Although in some situations <a href="/facts/Air_traffic_control/G2cQebVb">air traffic control</a> may issue radar vectors to direct an aircraft's path, this is usually done to facilitate traffic flow, and will not be the sole means of navigating to an important point, such as the position from which an aircraft commences its approach to landing.
</p><p>Charts used for IFR flights contain an abundance of information regarding locations of <a href="/facts/Waypoint/JAytkj9C">waypoints</a>, known as "<a href="/facts/Fix_(position)/yY41HfWV">fixes</a>", which are defined by measurements from electronic beacons of various types, as well as the routes connecting these waypoints.  Only limited topographic information is found on IFR charts, although the minimum safe altitudes available on the routes are shown.
</p><p><a href="/facts/En-route_chart/hWPq8fhs">En-route</a> low- and high-altitude charts are published with a scale that depends upon the density of navigation information required in the vicinity.
</p><p>Information from IFR charts is often programmed into a <a href="/facts/Flight_management_system/K2M4Sb9C">flight management system</a> or <a href="/facts/Autopilot/cypCha01">autopilot</a>, which eases the task of following (or deviating from) a flight plan.
</p><p>Terminal procedure publications such as <a href="/facts/Standard_terminal_arrival/X0C8j3rl">standard terminal arrival</a> plates, <a href="/facts/Standard_instrument_departure/n350seqe">standard instrument departure</a> plates and other documentation provide detailed information for arrival, departure and taxiing at each approved airport having instrument capabilities of some sort.
</p>
<h2 id="sources-for-charts">Sources for charts</h2>
<p>Aeronautical charts may be purchased at <a href="/facts/Fixed-base_operator/pwEmj2bF">fixed-base operators</a> (FBOs), <a href="/facts/Internet/Xw1rVvJU">internet</a> supply sources, or catalogs of aeronautical gear. They may also be viewed online from the <a href="/facts/Federal_Aviation_Administration/PYsXt3YT">Federal Aviation Administration</a>.
</p>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Index_of_aviation_articles/n9ggqxDH">Index of aviation articles</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Moving_map_display/CFJcPUEQ">Moving map display</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Nautical_chart/3UQrLQaN">Nautical chart</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/World_aeronautical_chart/nVaxWNra">World aeronautical chart</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Sectional_chart/e2bB9INa">Sectional chart</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Terminal_area_chart/y3wcTpB0">Terminal area chart</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/En-route_chart/hWPq8fhs">En-route chart</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Standard_terminal_arrival/X0C8j3rl">Standard terminal arrival</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Standard_instrument_departure/n350seqe">Standard instrument departure</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Global_positioning_system/DKVLnzF3">Global positioning system</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Flight_management_system/K2M4Sb9C">Flight management system</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Electronic_flight_bag/FRy0uzjD">Electronic flight bag</a></li>
<li><a href="/facts/Spherical_trigonometry/3G3Fhk2h">Spherical trigonometry</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>
<ul><li><a href="http://skyvector.com/">SkyVector Aeronautical Charts online & Flight Plan</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/aero_guide/">FAA Aeronautical Chart User's Guide</a> at <a href="/facts/Federal_Aviation_Administration/PYsXt3YT">Federal Aviation Administration</a> website</li>
<li><a href="https://www.openflightmaps.org/">open flightmaps - high quality VFR maps</a></li></ul>

Aeronautical chart open-in-new

Aeronautical chart