FAA Sport Pilot Airplane (SPA)Airspace and NavigationHard
A pilot wants to fly beneath the outer shelves of Class B airspace surrounding a major metropolitan airport while avoiding entry into the Class B airspace itself. Which chart product is specifically designed to help the pilot plan a route for this purpose?
- AThe IFR Enroute Low Altitude Chart
- BThe Area Forecast Discussion for the region
- CThe VFR Flyway Planning Chart, printed on the reverse side of the associated Terminal Area Chart
- DThe Chart Supplement for the departure airport
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: C. The VFR Flyway Planning Chart, printed on the reverse side of the associated Terminal Area Chart
The VFR Flyway Planning Chart is printed on the back of the Terminal Area Chart for busy metropolitan areas and depicts flyway routes that help VFR pilots transition around or under Class B airspace shelves without needing ATC clearance into Class B airspace.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. IFR enroute charts are for instrument flight and do not depict VFR flyway routes.
- B. The Area Forecast Discussion is a weather product, not a navigation chart.
- D. The Chart Supplement provides airport data and frequencies, not flyway routing.
VFR Flyway Planning Chart
A chart printed on the back of a Terminal Area Chart depicting flyway routes to help VFR pilots avoid Class B airspace.
- Found on the reverse of Terminal Area Charts (TACs)
- Shows suggested VFR routes and altitudes around Class B shelves
- Does not require ATC clearance to use
- Available for major metropolitan areas with Class B airspace
Memory trick: 'Flyway = fly away from Class B' using the chart on the flip side of the TAC