Low altitude chart buying help

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an IFR enroute low altitude chart?

An IFR enroute low altitude chart is a four-color FAA aeronautical chart used to navigate under instrument flight rules below 18,000 feet MSL. It depicts Victor airways, VOR and other navaids, intersections, minimum enroute altitudes, ARTCC boundaries, and the communication and obstruction-clearance data instrument pilots need enroute.

How often are IFR enroute low altitude charts updated?

The FAA revises IFR enroute low altitude charts on a 56-day cycle, the same schedule used across the instrument chart product line. Each new edition reflects changes to airways, navaids, frequencies, and altitudes, so pilots should replace the panels they actively fly every cycle to stay current and legal.

Which IFR low altitude chart do I need for my route?

Choose the panel that contains your departure and destination, then add any adjacent panels your airways cross. The conterminous United States is split into numbered panels, so a single route can require two or more. Use the coverage table above to match each panel pair to its region.

What altitude do IFR low altitude charts cover?

Low altitude enroute charts cover instrument navigation below 18,000 feet MSL, the low-altitude airway structure built around Victor airways and VOR navaids. For flights at or above 18,000 feet MSL in the high-altitude jet-route structure, you need the IFR enroute high altitude charts instead.

How do you read an IFR enroute low altitude chart?

Follow the Victor airways between navaid boxes, reading the MEA printed along each segment and noting any MOCA, MCA, or changeover point. Use navaid boxes for frequencies and identifiers, intersections for position fixes, and the chart legend for airspace, holding patterns, and ARTCC boundary and frequency information.

What is the difference between IFR low and high altitude enroute charts?

Low altitude charts cover the Victor airway structure below 18,000 feet MSL, while high altitude charts cover the jet-route structure at and above 18,000 feet MSL up to FL450. Most piston and training instrument flying uses the low altitude charts; turbine flights in the flight levels use the high altitude charts.