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Aeronautical Chart Users’ Guide

FAA Chart Users’ Guide Version 9 July 2026
All Library Documents

U.S. Terminal Procedures Publication

User-friendly explanations of instrument approach charts, planviews, profiles, minimums, airport diagrams, departures, arrivals, and visual procedures.

Airport Elevation and Touchdown Zone Elevation The airport elevation is shown enclosed within a box in the upper left corner of the sketch box and the touchdown zone elevation (TDZE) is shown in the upper right corner of the sketch box. The airport elevation is the highest point of an airport’s usable runways measured in feet from mean sea level. The TDZE is the highest elevation in the first 3,000 feet of the landing surface. Circling only approaches will not show a TDZE. Runway Declared Distance Information Runway declared distance information when available will be indicated by and is shown to the right of the airport elevation in the sketch box. Declared distances for a runway represent the maximum distances available and suitable for meeting takeoff and landing distance performance requirements. Runway Lights Notes regarding approach lighting systems are shown at the bottom of the sketch box. Runway lights (HIRL) (MIRL) (LIRL) (TDZL) (TDZL/RCLS) shall be indicated by a note, e.g. HIRL Rwy 9-27. Pilot capability to acitvate the airport lighting is shown using a symbol. Other approach lighting is shown on the airport sketch as a symbol on the side of the runway where they are actually located. Symbols that are shown in negative indicate pilot-controlled lighting. Runway centerline lights (RCLS) are installed on some precision approach runways to facilitate landing under adverse visibility conditions. They are located along the runway centerline and are spaced at 50 foot intervals. Runways with RCLS are shown in a negative dot pattern through the middle of the solid runway as illustrated in the airport sketch to right. Runway centerline lights will be indicated by a note only when pilot controlled or when paired with TDZL, e.g., TDZL/RCLS Rwys 10 and 33L. Time/Distance Table When applicable, a Time/Distance Table is provided below the airport sketch. The table provides the distance and time that is required from the final approach fix to the missed approach point for select groundspeeds. Base Information (Copter Approaches Only) Base Information, as required and necessary to identify the MAP area and in the vicinity of the landing area shall be provided. Information shall be limited to and depict significant visual landmark features at and surrounding the MAP area and the heliport/pad of intended landing. AIRPORT DIAGRAMS Airport Diagrams are specifically designed to assist in the movement of ground traffic at locations with complex runway/ taxiway configurations. Airport Diagrams are not intended for use in approach and landing or departure operations. An airport diagram assists pilots in identifying their location on the airport, thus reducing requests for “progressive taxi instructions” from controllers.
Source page 123

Airport Diagram Features:

  1. Runways a. Complete with magnetic headings (including magnetic variation and epoch year) and identifiers. b. Runways under construction shall also be shown. c. Runway dimensions, displaced thresholds, runway end elevations. d. Runway surface composition e. Weight bearing capacity (landing gear configuration or Pavement Classification Number) f. Land and Hold Short (LAHSO) lines, ILS hold lines, Localizer/Glide Slope Critical Areas. g. Arresting Gear. To include Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS).
  2. Taxiways, with identifiers. Taxiways under construction shall also be shown.
  3. Hot Spot locations.
  4. Parking areas, run-up pads, alert areas, landing pads, “Non-Movement” areas (where pilot is NOT under air traffic control), ramps, aprons and hold pads.
  5. Turnarounds and run-up areas.
  6. Stopways, overruns, and blast pads.
  7. Large tanks, including fueling area.
  8. Control towers.
  9. Airport beacon.
  10. Landing direction indicators.
  11. Lighting.
  12. Navigational Aids (NAVAIDs).
  13. Helicopter pads.
  14. Radar reflectors.
  15. Any building that pilot can taxi to. Other buildings to include terminal/administration and Base operations, fire station, NWS, AFSS, FAA, FSDO, ANG, USCG, FBO.
  16. Comm Frequencies. Note: Star when used in the Comm Frequencies indicates part-time status. Check Chart Supplement for times of operation.
FAA aeronautical chart visual associated with “Airport-diagram example with runway, taxiway, hot-spot, and lighting symbology” (source page 123).
Airport-diagram example with runway, taxiway, hot-spot, and lighting symbology — source page 123.
Airport Diagram Features: 1. Runways a. Complete with magnetic headings (including magnetic variation and epoch year) and identifiers. b. Runways under construction shall also be shown. c. Runway dimensions, displaced thresholds, runway end elevations. d. Runway surface composition e. Weight bearing capacity (landing gear configuration or Pavement Classification Number) f. Land and Hold Short (LAHSO) lines, ILS hold lines, Localizer/ Glide Slope Critical Areas. g. Arresting Gear. To include Engineered Materials Arresting System (EMAS). 2. Taxiways, with identifiers. Taxiways under construction shall also be shown. 3. Hot Spot locations. 4. Parking areas, run-up pads, alert areas, landing pads, “Non-Movement” areas (where pilot is NOT under air traffic control), ramps, aprons and hold pads. 5. Turnarounds and run-up areas. 6. Stopways, overruns, and blast pads. 7. Large tanks, including fueling area. 8. Control towers. 9. Airport beacon. 10. Landing direction indicators. 11. Lighting. 12. Navigational Aids (NAVAIDs). 13. Helicopter pads. 14. Radar reflectors. 15. Any building that pilot can taxi to. Other buildings to include terminal/administration and Base operations, fire station, NWS, AFSS, FAA, FSDO, ANG, USCG, FBO. 16. Comm Frequencies. Note: Star when used in the Comm Frequencies indicates part-time status. Check Chart Supplement for times of operation.
Source page 124

Runway Construction

Paved or hard surfaced runways consisting of concrete, asphalt, bitumen, or macadam are shown in solid color. Metal surfaced runways are shown using a solid color crosshatch pattern. Ultralight areas, ski landing areas, unpaved or runway other than hard surface, such as sod, clay, gravel, etc., is shown using a solid color dot pattern. Further details regarding runway surface and surface treatment can be found in the Chart Supplement.
Runway construction is depicted as follows:
Hard SurfaceOther Than Hard SurfaceMetal SurfaceClosed RunwayUnder ConstructionTaxiways, Parking AreasDisplaced ThresholdClosed PavementWater RunwayStopways, Overruns, Blast Pads
Hard Surface | Other Than Hard Surface | Metal Surface | Closed Runway | Under Construction Taxiways, Parking Areas | Displaced Threshold | Closed Pavement | Water Runway | Stopways, Overruns, Blast Pads
FAA aeronautical chart visual associated with “Runway-construction symbols — hard, other-than-hard, metal, closed, under construction” (source page 124).
Runway-construction symbols — hard, other-than-hard, metal, closed, under construction — source page 124.
FAA aeronautical chart visual associated with “Runway-construction/support-area symbols — taxiways/parking, displaced threshold, closed pavement, water runway, stopways/overruns/blast pads” (source page 124).
Runway-construction/support-area symbols — taxiways/parking, displaced threshold, closed pavement, water runway, stopways/overruns/blast pads — source page 124.

Hot Spots

Hot Spots (HS) are a runway safety related problem area or intersection on an airport. Typically it is a complex or confusing taxiway/taxiway or taxiway/runway intersection. A confusing condition may be compounded by a miscommunication between a controller and a pilot, and may cause an aircraft separation standard to be compromised. The area may have a history of surface incidents or the potential for surface incidents.

DEPARTURE PROCEDURES (DPs)

Departure Procedures (DPs) are designed specifically to assist pilots in avoiding obstacles during the climb to the minimum enroute altitude, and/or airports that have civil IFR takeoff minimums other than standard. There are two types of DPs: Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs), printed either textually or graphically and Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs), always printed graphically. SIDs are primarily designed for system enhancement and to reduce pilot/controller workload, and require ATC clearance. ODPs provide obstruction clearance via the least onerous route from the terminal area and may be flown without ATC clearance. All DPs provide the pilot with a safe departure from the airport and transition to the enroute structure.
Generally, DP charts are depicted “not to scale” due to the great distances involved on some procedures or route segments. A “to scale” portrayal may be used if readability is assured.
The DP will show the departure routing, including transitions to the appropriate enroute structure. All routes, turns, altitudes, NAVAIDs, facilities forming intersections and fixes, and those facilities terminating the departure route are shown. A textual description of the departure procedure is also provided. For RNAV DPs, the transition text consists of the transition name and associated computer code. On non-RNAV DPs, the transition text will also include the description of all turns, altitudes, radials, bearings and facilities/fixes needed to guide the user from the common departure point to the terminating facility fix.