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Terminal area chart buying help

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a VFR Terminal Area Chart?

A VFR Terminal Area Chart, or TAC, is a large-scale FAA aeronautical chart published for metro areas with major Class B airspace. Drawn at 1:250,000, it shows the layered Class B shelves, VFR transition routes, frequencies, landmarks, and obstructions in greater detail than a sectional for safe terminal-area flying.

What is the difference between a Terminal Area Chart and a sectional chart?

A sectional is drawn at 1:500,000 and covers a large area for en route navigation, while a Terminal Area Chart is drawn at 1:250,000 and covers a single Class B metro in about twice the detail. The TAC is published only for select cities and makes complex terminal airspace far easier to read.

What scale is a VFR Terminal Area Chart?

A VFR Terminal Area Chart is drawn at a scale of 1:250,000, where roughly one inch equals 3.43 nautical miles. That is about twice the scale of a 1:500,000 sectional, so the TAC fits more detail into a smaller area and makes Class B shelves, routes, and obstructions easier to interpret.

How often are VFR Terminal Area Charts updated?

The FAA revises VFR Terminal Area Charts on the standard 56-day chart cycle, the same schedule used for sectionals. Each chart carries an effective date and an expiration date, so order the current edition for your route. The Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands TAC is the exception and is updated annually.

When should I use a Terminal Area Chart instead of a sectional?

Use a Terminal Area Chart whenever you operate within or near the Class B airspace it covers, because the larger scale makes the stacked shelves and VFR routes much clearer. For en route legs outside a charted terminal area, a sectional gives you the wider view, so many pilots carry both.

Do I still need a paper Terminal Area Chart if I use ForeFlight?

An electronic flight bag like ForeFlight is excellent, but a current paper Terminal Area Chart is a smart cockpit backup if a tablet overheats, loses power, or fails. Many pilots keep a paper TAC for the busiest airspace they fly so they are never without a readable chart when workload is high.