FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)Airspace and NavigationMedium
While reviewing a sectional chart, a pilot notices that a nearby airport symbol is printed in blue rather than magenta. What does this indicate?
- AThe airport is located within a Restricted Area
- BThe airport has no control tower
- CThe airport is a private-use facility only
- DThe airport has an operating control tower
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. The airport has an operating control tower
On sectional charts, airport symbols are printed in blue if the airport has an operating control tower, and in magenta if it does not. This color coding helps pilots quickly identify whether they need to establish two-way radio communication before entering the airport's traffic pattern or associated airspace.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Restricted areas are shown with hashed blue lines, unrelated to airport symbol color.
- B. Non-towered airports are shown in magenta, not blue.
- C. Public vs. private use is shown by a different symbol (circle with tick marks), not color.
Sectional Airport Symbol Colors
Airport symbols on sectional charts are color-coded: blue indicates an airport with an operating control tower, and magenta indicates one without.
- Blue symbol = towered airport
- Magenta symbol = non-towered airport
- CT frequency listed nearby indicates part-time tower operations
Memory trick: Blue sky, Big tower — magenta means make your own calls