What is Sectional chart?
A sectional chart is the FAA's standard aviation map covering airspace, terrain, navigation aids, and obstacles in a given region. Drone pilots can use sectionals to identify airspace classes and obstacles, though most rely on simplified airspace tools.
Sectional charts are published by the FAA at 1:500,000 scale, organized into 37 named regions covering the contiguous US (Atlanta sectional, Los Angeles sectional, Seattle sectional, etc.). Each is updated every 56 days.
For drone pilots, the relevant chart features are: • Class B, C, D, E airspace boundaries (color-coded lines) • Special use airspace (restricted, prohibited, MOA — military operations area) • Major obstacles (towers, smokestacks) • Airports with instrument approaches
Most drone pilots use simplified tools rather than raw sectionals — Altoa's airspace check, B4UFLY, or LAANC provider apps interpret the sectional automatically. Raw sectional reading is taught in the Part 107 exam.
What this means for pilots
Learn to read a sectional during Part 107 prep. For day-to-day flight planning, use a drone-specific tool — sectionals contain enormous amounts of irrelevant data (airways, navaids) that obscure the airspace classification you need.
FAQ
Do I need a sectional to fly drones?
Not in practice. Drone-specific tools interpret the sectional for you. Sectional literacy is required for the Part 107 exam.
Where do I get sectional charts?
FAA Aeronautical Information Services publishes them. Free digital versions at vfrmap.com or skyvector.com.
How often are sectionals updated?
Every 56 days, on the FAA AIRAC cycle.
Related terms
FAA regulations change. Verify current rules at faa.gov/uas before relying on this article for flight planning. Altoa is not the FAA.