Definition
A former office within the FAA responsible for producing and maintaining the aeronautical charts and flight publications used by U.S. pilots, including sectional charts, instrument approach procedures, en route charts, and the Chart Supplement. Its charting functions have since been absorbed into the FAA's Aeronautical Information Services (AIS), but the NACG name still appears in older handbooks and references.
Plain English
The FAA group that used to make the official maps and chart books pilots use for flying. Its work is now done under a different name, but you'll still see NACG mentioned in older training material.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of FAA chart products, instrument charts, chart updates, and official sources of flight information.
Derivation
The name is descriptive: 'aeronautical charting' simply means making charts (maps) for aviation. 'Group' indicates it was a working office within the larger FAA organization.
Why Pilots Care
If you trained from older materials, you may see references to NACG as the publisher of charts you rely on. Knowing it's the same charting function — now under FAA Aeronautical Information Services — prevents confusion when comparing older and newer publications.
Intuition Check
NACG is not a type of chart or a navigation procedure. It is the name of the FAA group that produced the chart products.
Example Sentence 1
The instrument approach plates in that older binder were originally published by the NACG.
Example Sentence 2
Updates from the National Aeronautical Charting Group ensured the approach plates reflected current runway and navigation aid information.