Sectional aeronautical chart

A sectional chart shows topographical features that are important to aviators, such as terrain elevations, ground features identifiable from altitude (rivers, dams, bridges, buildings, etc.

Sectional charts are published by the National Aeronautical Navigation Services Group of the FAA.

A number of commercial enterprises, notably Jeppesen, produce compatible, certified sectionals.

The sectionals are complemented by terminal area charts (TACs) at 1:250,000 scale for the areas around major U.S. airports, and until 2016 by World Aeronautical Charts (WACs) at a scale of 1:1,000,000 for pilots of slower aircraft and aircraft at high altitude.

[2] The first sectional chart was published in 1930; in 1937 the full series of the lower 48 states was completed.