Terminal Area Charts

Question 1

Why do you think the chart is entitled “Terminal” area chart?

Answer 1

Specifically depicts the airspace surrounding major airports: focusing on the terminal phase of flight, landing and takeoff occur.

Question 2

What is the scale for the chart?

Answer 2

Every 1” on the chart represents 250,000” of the world (~3/4 NM)

Question 3

How often are new VFR Terminal Area Charts issued?

Answer 3

Every 56 days.

Question 4

What are the reasons charts must be continually updated?

Answer 4

Airport radio frequencies can change
Airports could add, close, or extend runways
Magnetic variation in the area can change
Airspace boundaries can be changed
New cities, roads, dams, or other visual checkpoints may be built

Question 5

The surface area of Class D airport is shown with a ________ border line.

Answer 5

Thin blue dashed

Question 6

Why are the vertical limits of the airspace surrounding a Class D airport only shown with single number?

Answer 6

All Class D airspace begins at the surface, so only the top of the airspace is needed to define the vertical limits.

Question 7

[-15] indicates that the…

Answer 7

Class D airspace extends from the surface up to, but not including 1,500 ft AGL

Question 8

Name at least two Class D airports on the San Francisco VFR Terminal Chart.

Answer 8

San Carlos (KSQL)
Palo Alto (KPAO)
Moffet Federal Airfield (KNUQ)

Question 9

Class C boundaries are shown as…

Answer 9

Thick, solid magenta lines

Question 10

The vertical limits of each Class C airspace region is shown by two numbers that look like a fraction which represent.

Answer 10

The top number = numerator = the ceiling of the class airspace in ft.
The bottom number= denominator = the base of the class airspace in ft.

Question 11

“SFC” indicates that the area immediately surrounding a Class C or Class B airport, the controlled airspace begins…

Answer 11

At the surface

Question 12

The surface area of the Class C airspace is centered around…

Answer 12

The center of the airport

Question 13

Why do you think Class B and Class C airspace are typically broken up into many individual regions?

Answer 13

To accommodate the needs of arriving IFR traffic while still allowing sufficient transition pathways and terrain clearance for local VFR traffic.

Question 14

Name at least two Class C airports on the San Francisco VFR Terminal Area Chart…

Answer 14

KSJC, KOAK

Question 15

The surface areas of a Class B airport is shown with a ________ border line.

Answer 15

Thick Solid Blue Line

Question 16

For Class B airspaces defined as concentric circles, the circles are centered around…

Answer 16

A VOR (radio navigation beacon) usually located at the center of the airport

Question 17

The airport symbols themselves are intended to represent…

Answer 17

The length and orientation of airport’s runways

Question 18

The airport symbol is shown in either blue or magenta and…indicates…

Answer 18

Indicates whether there is an airport control tower

Question 19

The airport information text adjacent to an airport symbol will be printed in Blue for Class B and Class D airports, and what color for Class C airports

Answer 19

Blue

Question 20

The numbers following “CT -“ in the airport information represent

Answer 20

The control tower radio frequency

Question 21

The words “ATIS”, “AWOS” and “ASOS” followed by numbers indicate the frequency on which a pilot could tune and listen to automated or recorded _______ information.

Answer 21

Weather.

Question 22

What is the three-letter code in parentheses following the name of the airport?

Answer 22

The unique identifier for the airport.

Question 23

Define the terrain elevation associated with light green chart color.

Answer 23

Terrain elevation starts at sea level -1000ft

Question 24

Define the terrain elevation associated with dark green chart colors:

Answer 24

Terrain elevation starts a 1000ft-2000ft

Question 25

Define the terrain elevation associated with light tan chart colors:

Answer 25

Terrain elevation starts at 2000ft-3000ft

Question 26

Define the terrain elevation associated with dark tan chart colors:

Answer 26

Terrain elevation starts at 3000ft-4400ft (This can also be rounded to 5000ft)

Question 27

On VFR charts, blue surface area represents

Answer 27

Water

Question 28

What color is used to represent the lighted pattern areas of towns and populated areas as they would appear on a VFR pilot n a night flight ?

Answer 28

Yellow.

Question 29

In addition to terrain elevation colors and contour lines, the chart shows the elevation of some other spots locations using …

Answer 29

Geometric symbols.

Question 30

Why are automobile roads, highways, bridges, and tunnels shown on a VFR airplane chart?

Answer 30

They are usually identifiable from the air and can aid a pilot in navigation.

Question 31

What other 6 items might also have their location indicated on a VFR chart if it was thought that it might aid a pilot in navigation

Answer 31

Farm (Ranch), golf course, cement plant, building, tower, windmills

Question 32

Electric power lines are thin and hard to see from the air. Why might VFR charts show the location of electric power lines?

Answer 32

The paths that power lines take through wooded areas is usually clear cut of trees to prevent fires, making for swaths through mountains that are easily identifiable by pilots and useful in visual navigation.

Question 33

A capitalized and underlined name next to a flag symbol represents…

Answer 33

A VFR waypoint (known location to pilots and controllers)

Question 34

The grid of a vertical and horizontal black lines on the chart shows longitude and latitude. One minute of latitude (distance between ticks on any of the vertical lines) equals to…

Answer 34

1 nautical mile

Question 35

Some Terminal Areas, like San Francisco, have a second, less detailed map of the region which is printed on the back of paper charts. What is the purpose of the second map?

Answer 35

The charts shows VFR flyways for pilots who such to plan flights outside of tower controlled airspace. It is not intended to be used in navigation, (Just for planning)