Find current FAA charts for KLAX: airport diagram, taxi layout, SIDs, STARs, approach plates and published minimums, with currency checks.
You can find current FAA charts for Los Angeles International Airport on our KLAX airport charts page. It collects the airport diagram for taxiing, departure procedures, standard terminal arrivals, instrument approach plates and published minimums. Confirm each document’s effective dates before using it, particularly around a chart revision.
For Aviation & Real-World Flying, “current” means effective on the planned flight date—not simply the last file downloaded. KLAX is the ICAO identifier, while FAA chart headings may show LAX; both refer to Los Angeles International Airport.
Which KLAX chart do I need?
The correct chart depends on the phase of flight. What simmers often call the KLAX taxi chart is formally the Airport Diagram.
| FAA chart | What it is used for | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Airport Diagram | Runways, taxiways, aprons, holding positions and published hot spots | Taxiway names, runway crossings and temporary closures |
| DP or SID | Published IFR routing after departure | Exact procedure, runway, transition, equipment requirements and climb restrictions |
| Take-off Minimums and ODP | Published take-off restrictions and obstacle departure instructions | Runway-specific notes, required climb gradients and whether a textual or graphical ODP applies |
| STAR | Standardised IFR arrival into the Los Angeles terminal area | Entry transition, altitude and speed constraints, and the expected runway or approach connection |
| Instrument Approach Procedure | ILS, RNAV, VOR and other approaches to a particular runway | Complete procedure title, amendment, minima, missed approach and required equipment |
| Alternate Minimums | Airport-specific restrictions used when selecting an IFR alternate | Category-specific minima and any “NA” limitations |
A STAR is not an approach plate: it normally feeds the aircraft towards an approach or vectors rather than taking it to the runway. Likewise, an airport diagram helps you follow a taxi clearance but does not provide the clearance itself.
How do I make sure a KLAX chart is current?
A KLAX chart is current only when its publication cycle covers the flight date and it has not been superseded or amended by operational information.
- Confirm the airport. Check that the document identifies Los Angeles International and shows LAX or KLAX, not another Los Angeles-area airport.
- Check the effective period. Use the chart package or page’s effective dates. An old-looking amendment date does not automatically mean a plate is obsolete; unchanged procedures can retain an earlier amendment date across several publication cycles.
- Match the complete procedure name. Similar ILS, RNAV and arrival names can cover different runways, transitions or equipment.
- Review operational updates. Static charts may not show temporary runway closures, disabled navaids, construction, cranes or short-notice procedure changes. Real-world crews must check applicable NOTAMs and obtain an approved briefing.
- Remove superseded copies. Keeping several undated chart files together is a common cause of loading the wrong plate during a busy arrival.
Why do current FAA charts not match my simulator?
Current KLAX charts can disagree with a simulator when its navigation database or airport scenery represents an older cycle. Missing procedures, different waypoint sequences, renamed taxiways and changed runway designations are typical signs.
- If the FMS lacks a SID, STAR or approach shown on the chart, compare the installed navigation-data cycle with the chart cycle.
- If the procedure exists but its fixes or constraints differ, do not combine parts of the two versions. Update the simulator data or use a chart matching the installed database for simulator-only practice.
- If taxiways differ, the scenery may be older than the airport diagram. Updating compatible scenery may correct the layout, but it will not necessarily update the aircraft’s navigation database.
For real flying, never switch to an obsolete chart merely because it matches a simulator. The operational chart, NOTAMs and authorised flight information take precedence.
Do I also need a Los Angeles TAC or sectional chart?
Terminal procedures cover KLAX itself, while VFR charts show the surrounding airspace and visual navigation context. The Los Angeles Terminal Area Chart provides the more detailed view around the Class B airspace, published VFR routes and nearby airports.
For a broader Southern California overview, use the Los Angeles Sectional Chart. Neither chart replaces the KLAX airport diagram, SID, STAR or approach plate.