Airport diagrams, airport charts, or aerodrome charts are

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...

maps that are designed to assist ground traffic to move around complex

runway In aviation, a runway is an elongated, rectangular surface designed for the landing and takeoff of an aircraft. Runways may be a human-made surface (often asphalt concrete, asphalt, concrete, or a mixture of both) or a natural surface (sod, ...

and

taxiway A taxiway is a path for aircraft at an airport connecting runways with Airport apron, aprons, hangars, Airport terminal, terminals and other facilities. They mostly have a hard surface such as Asphalt concrete, asphalt or concrete, although sma ...

configurations.

Regulation

International Civil Aviation Organization The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO ) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that coordinates the principles and techniques of international air navigation, and fosters the planning and development of international sch ...

(ICAO) Annex 4 "Aeronautical Charts" Chapter 13 "Aerodrome/Heliport Chart" specifies that the chart "shall provide flight crews with information which information which will facilitate the ground movement of aircraft" between the aircraft stand and the runway. For helicopter movement, the chart shall provide information between the helicopter stand, the touchdown and lift-off area, and the final approach and take-off area; the chart should also supplement information along helicopter ground and air taxiways and air transit routes. In addition, essential operational information should also be provided.

Content

According to ICAO, airport diagrams shall show coordinates, field elevations, runways,

apron An apron is a garment worn over other clothing to cover the front of the body to protect from liquids. They have several purposes, most commonly as a functional accessory that protects clothes and skin from stains and marks. However, other typ ...

s, taxiways, hot spots, taxiway routes, air transit routes, lighting,

air traffic control Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled air ...

(ATC) service boundary, communication channels, obstacles, slope angles, buildings and service areas, VOR checkpoints, and movement area permanently unsuitable for aircraft. In addition, an airport diagram may display information on its margin area about chart's relevance and accuracy, including airport identifier, chart type, version number, version date, etc.

Hot spot

A hot spot is a location on an airport movement area with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion, and where heightened attention by pilots and drivers is necessary. It is believed that this extra awareness can improve planning and navigation. Hot spots are shown on both airport diagrams and chart supplements. An area is likely to become a hot spot if it has: * hold short line infractions * approach hold issues * complex taxiway configurations * movement-non movement boundary area issues * tower line of sight problems * marking and signage issues

Usage

Airport diagrams is mostly used to assist taxiing around the airport and are henceforth sometimes referred to as a "taxi diagrams". If pilots study the diagram prior to their arrival or departure, they can expect what runway to use and routes to take while navigating around a complex airport. When communicating with ATC, pilots will already be familiar with their routes and hence have better

situation awareness Situational awareness or situation awareness, often abbreviated as SA is the understanding of an environment, its elements, and how it changes with respect to time or other factors. It is also defined as the perception of the elements in the envi ...

. For pilots who were unable to establish radio communication with ATC, the diagram shows where the

control tower Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled a ...

is and hence where light signals may come from.

Publication

In the United States, airport diagrams are published as part of Terminal Procedures Publication and are updated every 56 days unless there is a critical safety issue. In Canada, airport charts are published by

Nav Canada Nav Canada (styled as NAV CANADA) is a privately run, non-profit corporation that owns and operates Canada's civil air navigation system (ANS). It was established by statute in accordance with the ''Civil Air Navigation Services Commercializati ...

. In Europe, while

European Union Aviation Safety Agency The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) is an agency of the European Commission with responsibility for civil aviation safety in the European Union. It carries out certification, regulation and standardisation and also performs inve ...

(EASA) does not publish aerodrome charts directly, it does regulate the chart content published in

Aeronautical Information Publication In aviation, an Aeronautical Information Publication (or AIP) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as a publication issued by or with the authority of a state and containing aeronautical information of a lasting char ...

s from its member states. Commercial providers such as

Jeppesen Jeppesen (also known as Jeppesen Sanderson) is an American company offering navigational information, operations planning tools, flight planning products and software. Jeppesen's aeronautical navigation Aeronautical charts, charts are often call ...

also publish their own version of airport diagrams and can include additional airport details.

Airport sketches

In the United States,

Aeronautical Information Service The Aeronautical Information Service, or AIS (French: , SIA) is a service established in support of international civil aviation, whose objective is to ensure the flow of information necessary for the safety, regularity, and efficiency of internati ...

s provide airport sketches of the airport on the lower portion of

approach plate Approach may refer to: Aviation *Visual approach *Instrument approach *Final approach (aeronautics), Final approach Music * Approach (album), ''Approach'' (album), by Von Hertzen Brothers * ''The Approach'', an album by I:Scintilla Other uses *A ...

s. Airport sketches are simplified version of airport diagrams that include runway information such as dimensions, slopes, touchdown zone elevation, type of runway end lighting systems. Taxiway shapes are also shown, but the taxiways are not named. Jeppesen instrument approach plates do not have airport sketches.

References

External links

FAA Airport Diagrams
airport diagrams of airports in United States {{Aeronautical charts Aeronautical charts Airports