FAA Chart Users' Guide, VFR terms and symbols

Reading a sectional chart

A sectional packs the airspace, airport and obstacle information you need into one page. Here is the order to read it in and the colors and numbers to look for.

Part 107, explained › Airspace Classification and Operating Requirements · Last reviewed October 25, 2026 against the eCFR and faa.gov. UAV Campus is not affiliated with the FAA.

How do you read a sectional chart as a drone pilot?

Start with the legend, then read the airspace. On a sectional, airports with control towers and their data are blue and all others magenta. Class D has a dashed blue line, a Class E surface area a dashed magenta line, and Class B and C altitudes are printed in blue and magenta. Unless marked otherwise, altitudes are feet MSL.

A Sectional is drawn at a scale of 1:500,000 (the Study Guide gives 1 inch = 6.86 NM, about 8 statute miles) and is named after a major city in its area. The legend lists the aeronautical, topographical and obstruction symbols. Sectionals are updated every 56 days, so check the effective date and always use the current edition.

Read the airspace first: the lines, vignettes and altitude figures of Classes B, C, D and E tell you whether the airspace needs the authorization explained on our 14 CFR 107.41 page. Then read the airport data (see our airport symbols page), then special use airspace and military routes, then obstacles and terrain, which the chart shows with contour lines, shaded relief, color tints, obstruction symbols and Maximum Elevation Figures.

The chart does not show everything. Class A is not depicted, Controlled Firing Areas are not charted, temporary MOAs are not charted, and only TFRs relating to national security are charted. NOTAMs and the Chart Supplement fill in the rest.

Sources: Chart Users' Guide, Introduction · Chart Users' Guide, Explanation of VFR Terms · Chart Users' Guide, Airports · Chart Users' Guide, Airspace · Chart Users' Guide, Airspace (Class E, uncontrolled) · Remote Pilot Study Guide, Sectional Charts · AIM 3-4-1, Special Use Airspace General

What the FAA says

Chart Users' Guide, Explanation of VFR Terms

These charts include the most current data at a scale of (1:500,000), which is large enough to be read easily by pilots flying by sight under Visual Flight Rules.

Chart Users' Guide, Introduction

Unless otherwise indicated, miles are nautical miles (NM), altitudes indicate feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL), and times used are Coordinated Universal Time (UTC).

Chart Users' Guide, Airports

Airports with Control Towers (CT) and their related data are shown in blue. All other airports and their related data are shown in magenta.

Chart Users' Guide, Airspace

Controlled airspace floors of 700' above the ground are defined by a magenta vignette; floors other than 700' that laterally abut uncontrolled airspace (Class G) are defined by a blue vignette; differing floors greater than 700' above the ground are annotated by a symbol and a number indicating the floor.

Sources: Chart Users' Guide, Explanation of VFR Terms · Chart Users' Guide, Introduction · Chart Users' Guide, Airports · Chart Users' Guide, Airspace

Exam traps

  • Chart altitudes are MSL unless marked otherwise, but the 700-foot Class E floors are above the ground.
  • Blue airports have control towers and magenta airports do not; blue is not "Class B or C" and magenta is not "Class E".
  • Class A is not depicted on visual charts, so the absence of a boundary does not mean the airspace is uncontrolled.
  • Only TFRs relating to national security are charted, so a clear chart does not replace a NOTAM check.

Quick quiz: 3 questions

Similar to the FAA test, not the actual test questions. Each answer shows its FAA source.

Question 2 of 3

Which is true concerning the blue and magenta colors used to depict airports on Sectional Aeronautical Charts?

  1. A Airports with control towers underlying Class C, D, and E airspace are shown in magenta.
  2. B Airports with control towers underlying Class B, C, D, and E airspace are shown in blue.
  3. C Airports with control towers underlying Class A, B, and C airspace are shown in blue; Class D and E airspace are magenta.
Show the answer
Answer: B. Airports with control towers underlying Class B, C, D, and E airspace are shown in blue.

This question is frequently misinterpreted by students. It asks about the colors used to depict airports on Sectional Charts. Magenta indicates non-towered airports, while blue represents towered airports.

FAA source: FAA-CT-8080-2H Appendix 1, Legend 1 Sectional Aeronautical Chart

How often is a sectional chart updated?

Every 56 days. The Chart Users' Guide stresses using current editions, and 0901Z is the changeover time for updated aeronautical information in the United States.

Sources: Chart Users' Guide, General Information · Chart Users' Guide, Introduction

Does a sectional show every temporary restriction?

No. Only Temporary Flight Restrictions relating to national security are charted, and the Chart Users' Guide tells pilots to check NOTAMs for time-critical information not published on charts.

Sources: Chart Users' Guide, Airspace · Chart Users' Guide, Introduction

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More on this topic: Part 107 airspace and charts, task by task.