Learn how aeronautical charts in flight simulation support VFR and IFR flying, which chart to use, and how to prevent nav-data mismatches.
Aeronautical charts are specialised maps and diagrams showing airspace, airports, radio-navigation aids, routes, terrain and published procedures. For general flight simulation, they turn a free-form flight into one flown using real aviation information, helping you plan safely, follow clearances, fly instrument procedures and navigate without relying entirely on the simulator’s moving map.
Main types of aeronautical chart
No single chart shows everything; each chart filters aviation information for a particular phase of flight. Using the correct type is more useful than opening the most detailed chart available.
| Chart type | What it shows | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| VFR or sectional chart | Terrain, landmarks, obstacles, airports, navigation aids and controlled airspace | Visual route planning and cross-country navigation |
| IFR en-route chart | Airways, fixes, radio aids, route directions and minimum altitudes | Instrument flight between terminal areas |
| Airport or aerodrome chart | Runways, taxiways, aprons, holding points and known ground hot spots | Taxi planning and runway familiarisation |
| SID or STAR chart | Published tracks, fixes, transitions, altitude limits and speed restrictions | Instrument departure or arrival |
| Instrument approach chart | Approach course, required altitudes, minima, missed-approach instructions and relevant navigation information | Approach and landing in instrument conditions |
Chart producers may use different colours, symbols and layouts for the same underlying information. Learn the legend belonging to the chart in front of you rather than assuming every symbol is universal; our guide to chart symbols, scales and abbreviations explains the reading process.
Procedure charts are especially dense because every line can affect the route or aircraft configuration. A separate explanation of SID and STAR fixes, transitions and restrictions covers those charts without treating them as ordinary route maps.
Why are charts important in flight simulation?
Charts matter because they explain not only where to fly, but also the routes, altitudes, restrictions and procedures expected at each stage of the flight.
- Realistic planning: A chart helps you select a sensible runway, route, altitude and approach before starting the aircraft.
- Accurate procedure flying: SID, STAR and approach charts let you verify the route loaded into an FMS instead of trusting it blindly.
- Better situational awareness: Airspace boundaries, terrain, obstacles, missed approaches and taxiway layouts provide context that a simplified cockpit display may omit.
- ATC compatibility: Published fixes and procedures give pilots and controllers a shared reference. This becomes particularly important with structured or online ATC.
- Transferable navigation skills: Reading charts develops route briefing, VOR tracking, dead reckoning and instrument-procedure skills that work across different simulators and aircraft.
A moving map answers “Where am I?” A chart also answers “What is around me, what restrictions apply, and what should happen next?” For a practical explanation of when each document enters the cockpit, see our phase-by-phase chart workflow.
Charts are not live weather displays and do not necessarily contain temporary closures or other short-lived changes. A simulator may also omit some real-world airspace rules, obstacles or navigation aids, so charts improve realism without guaranteeing that every depicted feature is modelled.
Do you need charts for every simulated flight?
Charts are optional for an unstructured local flight, but they become essential when you want to follow a published route, fly an instrument procedure or comply with realistic ATC instructions.
- Local sightseeing: A chart is not required, although it helps identify airspace, nearby airports and landmarks.
- VFR cross-country flight: Use a sectional or equivalent visual chart for checkpoints, terrain, obstacles and controlled airspace. Our downloadable sectional charts for visual-navigation practice provide practical examples.
- IFR general aviation: Carry airport, en-route and approach charts, plus any departure or arrival procedure being flown.
- Airliner operations: Airport diagrams, SIDs, STARs and approach charts should be briefed even when the route is already loaded into the flight-management system.
You do not need every chart for the region. Collect the smallest set covering the departure airport, route, destination, likely approach and alternate airport.
Why does a chart sometimes disagree with the simulator?
Chart mismatches usually occur because the chart, aircraft navigation database and airport scenery represent different revisions of the real world.
This is a mistake we see constantly: a simmer assumes the procedure was entered incorrectly when the FMS simply contains a different data cycle. Navigation information is revised in AIRAC cycles, while scenery may preserve an older runway or taxiway layout for much longer.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| A procedure or waypoint is missing | The chart and aircraft navigation database use different cycles | Match their data cycles where possible, or choose a procedure available in both |
| The runway number has changed | Magnetic variation or a real airport update has renumbered the runway | Identify the physical runway and check which designation the scenery and avionics use |
| Taxiways or stands do not match | The airport scenery represents an older or simplified layout | Follow the simulated geometry while treating the chart as the operational reference |
| An ILS frequency or course differs | Old scenery, navigation data or chart information | Verify the data modelled by the simulator before beginning the approach |
| A heading differs by a small amount | Magnetic variation, rounding or database conventions | Check the effective dates before assuming the chart is wrong |
Updating navigation data does not automatically update airport buildings, taxiways or runway geometry. Think of the chart, avionics database and scenery as three separate datasets that should agree, but sometimes do not.
How should a beginner start using aeronautical charts?
The easiest method is to use a small chart set on a short, familiar flight rather than attempting a complex airline route immediately.
- Choose a simple route: Use two nearby airports and predictable weather.
- Collect only the necessary charts: Start with an airport diagram and a VFR chart, or one departure, en-route and approach set for IFR.
- Check compatibility: Compare runway names and procedure identifiers with those shown by the simulator or aircraft avionics.
- Brief the flight: Mark the runway, first heading or fix, key altitude restrictions and missed-approach instructions before moving.
- Cross-check in flight: Compare the aircraft’s position and avionics sequence with the chart instead of following the magenta line without verification.
Charts intended for simulation, archived publications and screenshots must never be used for real-world navigation. In the simulator, however, they are one of the most effective tools for turning cockpit switch operation into realistic flight planning and navigation.