Visual Reference

Sectional Chart Symbols

A searchable guide to the symbols, lines, and notations on FAA VFR sectional charts.

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All Airports Airspace NAVAIDs Obstacles Special Use Topography
Showing 7 of 32 symbols
Airports
Towered Airport (Hard Surface)
A blue airport symbol indicates a public-use airport with a control tower. Hard-surfaced runways 1,500 to 8,069 feet are shown as a small filled circle.
Airports
Non-Towered Airport (Hard Surface)
A magenta airport symbol indicates a public-use airport without an operating control tower. Pilots use the CTAF for self-announcing.
Airports
Runway Layout Depiction
Airports with runways 8,069 feet or longer (or any with a hard-surfaced runway over 1,500 feet) are shown as a top-down diagram of the actual runway pattern, oriented to magnetic north.
R
Airports
Private/Restricted Airport
An "R" inside a circle marks a private or restricted-use airport. Permission from the owner is required before landing. Often shown with the "Pvt" notation.
Airports
Rotating Beacon (Star)
A small star above the airport symbol or name indicates a rotating beacon operating from sunset to sunrise. The beacon helps pilots identify the airport at night.
Airports
Seaplane Base
An anchor-like symbol marks a seaplane base. Color follows the same convention: blue for towered, magenta for non-towered.
Airports
Heliport
A circle containing a stylized "H" identifies a heliport. Heliports are shown in blue if towered or magenta if non-towered.