Definition
Large-scale aeronautical charts (1:250,000) published by the FAA that depict the airspace surrounding designated Class B airports in detail. They show airspace boundaries, altitudes, visual checkpoints, terrain, obstructions, navigation aids, and airports, and are designed to help pilots navigate visually in and around busy Class B airspace.
Plain English
A zoomed-in map of the airspace around a major airport. It shows the shape of the controlled airspace, the altitudes that apply, and the landmarks pilots use to find their way visually.
Context Anchor
You will use these when planning or flying a visual flight near a large, busy airport area where a regular sectional chart may not show enough detail.
Derivation
VFR stands for Visual Flight Rules. 'Terminal' refers to the area around an airport where arriving and departing traffic is concentrated. The chart is named for the type of flying it supports (VFR) and the area it covers (the terminal area around a Class B airport).
Why Pilots Care
They supply the extra detail required to fly safely and legally through complex airspace around major airports without creating conflicts with IFR traffic or restricted areas.
Analogy
A sectional chart is like a road map of a whole state. A VFR Terminal Area Chart is like a city map that zooms in where the streets, exits, and restrictions are more crowded.
Intuition Check
Do not read “terminal” as the airport passenger terminal. In this term, “terminal area” means the busy flying area around a major airport.
Example Sentence 1
Before flying near Class B airspace, the pilot pulled out the VFR Terminal Area Chart to review the floor and ceiling of each airspace shelf.
Example Sentence 2
During preflight planning the instructor pointed out a tower on the VFR Terminal Area Chart that did not appear on the sectional.