Definition
On an FAA instrument approach chart, a light blue (cyan) rectangular box drawn around a piece of information to highlight that it is specific to a particular airport — most commonly used to enclose airport-specific notes, alternate minimums references, or take-off minimums references that apply only to that airport.
Plain English
A blue box on an approach chart that draws your eye to information that applies only to this airport, not to airports generally.
Context Anchor
Seen on electronic charts or moving-map displays when selecting an airport to view more details.
Derivation
‘Cyan’ comes from the Greek ‘kyanos,’ meaning dark blue. On FAA charts, cyan (light blue) is used as a deliberate visual code — different from the black text and brown terrain shading — so the eye picks out airport-specific information at a glance.
Why Pilots Care
Information inside a cyan box often includes things like non-standard alternate minimums or take-off minimums that affect whether the approach is legal or usable. Missing the box can mean missing a restriction that applies only at that airport.
Grounding Statement
When the selector is placed on an airport, the display may draw a cyan box around it to show that airport is the one currently selected.
Intuition Check
A cyan box is not a physical box and it is not an airspace boundary. It is only a screen highlight showing the selected item.
Example Sentence 1
During the approach briefing, the pilot pointed to the cyan box on the chart and noted that take-off minimums were non-standard at this airport.
Example Sentence 2
Inside the cyan box were details about local noise abatement procedures for that airport.