How are the main airspace classes shown on a sectional chart?

Class B uses solid blue boundaries, Class C solid magenta, Class D dashed blue, Class E to the surface dashed magenta, and Class E beginning at 700 feet AGL a faded magenta vignette.

What does an airspace label like 40/15 mean?

The top number is the ceiling and the bottom number the floor, normally in hundreds of feet MSL. A 40/15 shelf extends from 1,500 feet MSL to 4,000 feet MSL.

What is the difference between MSL and AGL on a sectional chart?

MSL is altitude above mean sea level and is used for most charted elevations and shelf labels. AGL is height above local ground and is used for the Part 107 altitude limit, cloud bases, and stated airspace floors such as 700 feet AGL.

Part 107 · Chart orientation

Learn a sectional in five passes

Use the same five-step process for symbols, coordinates, airspace, airport data, and FAA supplement figures.

Open the FAA chart lab Take the sectional drill

VFR · SECTIONAL

Chart study order

Read every sectional in the same five steps.

Choose a lesson below or open the chart lab to practice the complete sequence on one figure.

01
Symbols
Identify the mark before you interpret the nearby labels or numbers.
Open lesson
02
Coordinates & scale
Place the point, then turn degrees, minutes, and chart distance into direction.
Open lesson
03
Airspace: top & side
Read the boundary overhead, then translate its floor and ceiling into a vertical shape.
Open lesson
04
Airport data & radio
Decode the airport block and match CTAF, weather, and advisory frequencies to the scene.
Open lesson
05
Full FAA figure
Use an official supplement figure to combine the marker, chart labels, and question.
Open lesson

Review explained airspace and chart questions Take the sectional drill

MSL or AGL?

First ask what the number is measured from.

MSL starts at mean sea level. AGL starts at the ground directly below the point. The chart uses both, so the label and context matter.

Open the scaled altitude lab

Part 107 maximum altitude: AGL; Measured above the ground under the aircraft, with the structure exception.
Class E vignette: AGL; A faded magenta band commonly marks Class E beginning at 700 ft AGL.
METAR cloud bases: AGL; BKN018 means a broken layer 1,800 ft above the reporting station.
Airspace shelf labels: MSL; 40/15 means a 4,000 ft MSL ceiling over a 1,500 ft MSL floor.
Airport elevation and MEF: MSL; Field elevation, terrain, and Maximum Elevation Figures are referenced to mean sea level.
Obstacle labels: Both; 1549 (612) means 1,549 ft MSL at the top and 612 ft above local ground.

Official symbol dictionary

Keep the FAA chart guide beside the lab.

Use it to verify airport symbols, obstacle marks, line styles, notes, and publication conventions. It explains the chart; it does not replace live airspace, NOTAM, TFR, weather, or authorization checks.

Open FAA guide Open current PDF

Airport frequencies in contextSee where CTAF, weather, and UNICOM frequencies live in airport data, then hear each channel.NOTAMs and TFRsAdd temporary restrictions, outages, hazards, and closures to the standing chart picture.METAR and weatherDecode observations and connect ceiling, visibility, wind, and density altitude to the flight decision.

Exam mode

Put the chart back inside a timed question.

The practice simulator keeps the question, matching FAA figure, calculator, scratch pad, and explanations together.

Take the practice exam

Learn a sectional in five passes

Read every sectional in the same five steps.

Symbols

Coordinates & scale

Airspace: top & side

Airport data & radio

Full FAA figure

First ask what the number is measured from.

Keep the FAA chart guide beside the lab.

Put the chart back inside a timed question.