Sectional Chart Symbols
~13 min read · Decode airport symbols, tower frequencies and segmented circles on a sectional.
The sectional chart is the exam's favorite prop: expect at least a few questions that hand you a symbol and ask what it means. Airport colors, tower frequencies, and the segmented circle are the high-yield trio.
Airport symbols and colors
Blue airport symbols mark airports with an operating control tower; magenta airports have no tower. A circle with tick marks radiating outward indicates fuel and services; a star atop the symbol means a rotating beacon operates sunset to sunrise. Runway layouts drawn inside the circle appear when runways exceed about 8,069 ft. Private airports show as an 'R' in a circle; heliports as an 'H'.
- Blue = towered, magenta = non-towered
- Ticks around the circle = services/fuel available
- Star = rotating beacon (sunset–sunrise)
Airport data blocks
Beside each airport, the data block reads name, identifier, then a line like 'CT — 118.3' (control tower frequency), the elevation in feet MSL, an 'L' if lighting is available, the longest runway length in hundreds of feet, and the CTAF/UNICOM frequency. A star after the CT frequency means the tower is part-time. For a remote pilot, elevation matters for AGL math and the frequencies matter for monitoring traffic.
- CT 118.3★ = part-time tower on 118.3 MHz
- Elevation is MSL — subtract it from MSL altitudes to get AGL
- Runway '72' in the block = 7,200 ft
The segmented circle and traffic indicators
At non-towered airports, the segmented circle stands near the runway with a wind indicator in the center and L-shaped extensions showing the traffic pattern direction for each runway. The base of each L represents the base leg; if the L bends to the right of the runway alignment, that runway uses right traffic (the exception — standard is left). Reading it from the ground tells a drone crew where manned pattern traffic will flow.
Worked example
The chart shows a magenta airport symbol with tick marks, data block 'ELEV 1214, L 48, UNICOM 122.8'. A segmented circle on the field has the L for runway 13 bent to the right side of the runway line. What do you know before your nearby flight?
Magenta: no control tower — traffic self-announces on the CTAF, 122.8. Ticks: services available. Elevation 1,214 ft MSL: if you reference MSL altitudes, your 400-ft AGL ceiling is 1,614 MSL here. L: lighted; 48: longest runway 4,800 ft. The right-bent L for runway 13 means aircraft fly RIGHT traffic on 13, so departing and pattern traffic will be on the right (west or east depending on orientation) side — position your operation and your scanning accordingly, and monitor 122.8 for calls.
Common exam pitfalls
Reading magenta airports as 'restricted' because magenta also draws Class C.
Symbol color codes tower status (blue towered / magenta non-towered); airspace lines are a separate layer.
Missing the star on a tower frequency.
A star = part-time tower. When the tower is closed the field operates as non-towered on CTAF — but the airspace class may still be as charted unless a NOTAM says otherwise.
Assuming all traffic patterns are left-hand.
Left is standard, but the segmented circle's L-extensions (or chart notation 'RP' for right pattern) mark the exceptions.
Blue talks (tower), magenta doesn't; ticks mean gas; the bent L points where traffic turns.
Recap
- Blue airport = operating control tower; magenta = non-towered
- Tick marks = services; star = rotating beacon; runway diagram = long runways
- Data block: CT/CTAF frequencies, elevation MSL, lighting, runway length in hundreds of feet
- Star after CT frequency = part-time tower
- Segmented circle: wind indicator + L-extensions showing pattern direction per runway
- Right-bent L (or 'RP' on the chart) = right traffic for that runway
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