FAA Part 107107 License
Airspace · Chart reader

Read a sectional the way a check pilot does

Class B stacks, Class E floors, tower rings, CTAF frequency blocks, and MEF quadrants — walked aloud so you build the mental voice that turns a static chart into a decision.

Practice airspace questions

  1. #1

    Class B - Reading the Vertical Stack

    How to decode Class B floor and ceiling numbers like 70 over SFC or 100 over 30.

    Class B - Reading the Vertical Stack
    Backup voice · your device
    What to remember
    • Class B is a solid blue line around major airports
    • Vertical stack reads top over bottom as ceiling over floor
    • Both numbers are hundreds of feet MSL
    • SFC means the floor is at the surface
    • Part 107 requires prior authorization for any Class B layer
    AIM 3-2-314 CFR 107.41
  2. #2

    Class E Floors - Magenta and the Zipper

    Dashed magenta, shaded magenta, and zipper lines each mark a different Class E floor.

    Class E Floors - Magenta and the Zipper
    Backup voice · your device
    What to remember
    • Dashed magenta means Class E to the surface
    • Shaded magenta drops the Class E floor to 700 AGL
    • Shaded blue drops the Class E floor to 1200 AGL
    • Zipper line marks a change between two Class E floors
    • Default Class E floor is 1200 AGL over open terrain
    AIM 3-2-614 CFR 71
  3. #3

    Class C and D - Blue Solid, Magenta Dashed, Tower Numbers

    How to distinguish Class C from Class D and read the ceiling in hundreds of feet.

    Class C and D - Blue Solid, Magenta Dashed, Tower Numbers
    Backup voice · your device
    What to remember
    • Class C is solid magenta, Class D is dashed blue
    • Class D box shows a single ceiling in hundreds of feet MSL
    • A minus sign before the number means the ceiling is excluded
    • Class C shows ceiling over floor, both in hundreds of feet MSL
    • Part 107 requires prior authorization to enter either class
    AIM 3-2-4AIM 3-2-514 CFR 107.41
  4. #4

    CTAF, UNICOM, and MULTICOM Frequency Blocks

    How to read the airport data block and spot the bold C star for CTAF.

    CTAF, UNICOM, and MULTICOM Frequency Blocks
    Backup voice · your device
    What to remember
    • The bold C inside a solid circle marks the CTAF frequency
    • UNICOM is a private ground station, often also serving as CTAF
    • MULTICOM 122.9 is the default when no UNICOM exists
    • The airport data block lists name, elevation, lighting, and frequencies
    • Monitoring CTAF gives situational awareness of manned traffic
    AIM 4-1-9AIM 3-1-4
  5. #5

    MEF, Obstructions, and the Tallest Thing in the Quadrant

    Reading the big yellow MEF number and telling MSL from AGL on obstruction symbols.

    MEF, Obstructions, and the Tallest Thing in the Quadrant
    Backup voice · your device
    What to remember
    • The bold MEF number is the maximum elevation figure in feet MSL
    • Single arrows are single obstructions, joined arrows are groups
    • Top number is MSL, parenthetical number is AGL height
    • Obstructions 1000 AGL or taller show lightning bolts for high intensity lighting
    • As a Part 107 pilot the AGL height governs your 400 foot ceiling
    AIM 3-1-414 CFR 107.51