What’s New? | Aeronautical Chart Users’ Guide

Source page 8

Update as of 9 July 2026

The following charting items have been added to the Chart Users’ Guide since the Guide was last published on 22 January 2026:

On the March 19, 2026 publication date, weather camera locations were added to the Continental US VFR Sectional and Helicopter Route Charts. Previously, weather camera locations were only charted in Alaska. This change also incorporated updated symbology.

No Significant Changes Applied

Airport Diagram Magnetic Variation Depiction

A new process for publishing magnetic variation values has been implemented on FAA airport diagrams published in the TPP and Chart Supplement. To ensure alignment with instrument flight procedures, the magnetic variation published on FAA airport diagrams has been updated to align with the values documented on FAA Form 8260. This change ensures alignment across all FAA aeronautical charts and publications. Airport diagrams may display a year stamp based on the procedure date (e.g., “2015”) rather than the last calculation date using the WMM (e.g., “2025”). In some geographic areas, differences between the two methods may be significant, but the new process will ensure consistency with existing source data. (See Charting Notice 26-01)

Format Changes for ICA Criteria

The FAA has redefined the initial climb area (ICA) criteria used to evaluate and identify the obstacles that penetrate the 40:1 obstacle clearance surface. This update removes the requirement to publish the specific location of each individual or group of low, close-in obstacles on Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Obstacle Departure Procedures (DPs). Instead, when low, close-in obstacles are identified for a departure runway, they will now be documented by the distance of the closest obstacle from the departure end of runway (DER). This change reduces the overall quantity of listed low, close-in obstacle notes.

To ensure the pilot knows which evaluation was accomplished, the charting will be different by bolding certain headers and runway information to indicate the new ICA criteria has been used (See page 125 and Charting Notice 26-03).

WHAT’S NEW? Update as of 9 July 2026 The following charting items have been added to the Chart Users’ Guide since the Guide was last published on 22 January 2026: VFR CHARTS On the March 19, 2026 publication date, weather camera locations were added to the Continental US VFR Sectional and Helicopter Route Charts. Previously, weather camera locations were only charted in Alaska. This change also incorporated updated symbology. IFR ENROUTE CHARTS No Significant Changes Applied TERMINAL PROCEDURE PUBLICATION (TPP) Airport Diagram Magnetic Variation Depiction A new process for publishing magnetic variation values has been implemented on FAA airport diagrams published in the TPP and Chart Supplement. To ensure alignment with instrument flight procedures, the magnetic variation published on FAA airport diagrams has been updated to align with the values documented on FAA Form 8260. This change ensures alignment across all FAA aeronautical charts and publications. Airport diagrams may display a year stamp based on the procedure date (e.g., “2015”) rather than the last calculation date using the WMM (e.g., “2025”). In some geographic areas, differences between the two methods may be significant, but the new process will ensure consistency with existing source data. (See Charting Notice 26-01) Format Changes for ICA Criteria The FAA has redefined the initial climb area (ICA) criteria used to evaluate and identify the obstacles that penetrate the 40:1 obstacle clearance surface. This update removes the requirement to publish the specific location of each individual or group of low, close-in obstacles on Standard Instrument Departures (SIDs) and Obstacle Departure Procedures (DPs). Instead, when low, close-in obstacles are identified for a departure runway, they will now be documented by the distance of the closest obstacle from the departure end of runway (DER). This change reduces the overall quantity of listed low, close-in obstacle notes. To ensure the pilot knows which evaluation was accomplished, the charting will be different by bolding certain headers and runway information to indicate the new ICA criteria has been used (See page 125 and Charting Notice 26-03).