FAA aeronautical charts are updated every 28 or 56 days, depending on type. Check exact cycles, expiry dates and interim NOTAM changes.
Most FAA aeronautical charts are issued on a fixed cycle rather than updated continuously. VFR sectional, terminal area and IFR enroute charts generally use a 56-day cycle, while digital terminal procedures, including approach plates, follow a 28-day cycle. Always check each chart’s effective dates and interim NOTAMs.
FAA chart update cycles by product
The standard cycle is 56 days for most visual and enroute charts, and 28 days for downloadable terminal procedures.
| FAA chart or publication | Normal update cycle | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Sectional Aeronautical Charts | 56 days | VFR airspace, airports, obstructions, terrain and navigation features |
| Terminal Area Charts | 56 days | Detailed VFR coverage around major terminal areas; associated flyway charts follow the chart edition |
| IFR enroute low, high and area charts | 56 days | Airways, fixes, navaids and IFR route information |
| Chart Supplement | 56 days | Airport, facility and operational information |
| Digital Terminal Procedures Publication | 28 days | Instrument approaches, SIDs, STARs, airport diagrams and related procedure pages |
Printed terminal-procedure volumes and specialised products may have separate edition arrangements, so their cover dates take precedence over a general rule. Our FAA chart index with edition dates separates visual charts from terminal procedures and identifies the applicable cycles.
A cycle date is a nationally scheduled effective date. It is not 28 or 56 days from when the file was downloaded, and a chart released in advance may not yet be effective.
How can I tell whether an FAA chart is current?
A chart is current only when its effective period covers the planned flight date and time.
- Identify the product: an approach plate does not use the same digital publication cycle as a sectional.
- Read the edition dates: sectional charts show effective and next-edition information in the chart collar or margin. Our sectional download pages list the edition and supersession dates for each chart.
- Check the intended flight date: do not use the download date, file timestamp or date added to an electronic flight bag as evidence of currency.
- Review interim changes: check applicable NOTAMs and other required preflight information even when the chart edition remains valid.
A mistake we see constantly is keeping a PDF or image in a local folder and assuming it updates automatically. It does not; the saved copy remains the same after the next cycle becomes effective.
Why can an approach plate show an old amendment date?
The procedure amendment date is not the plate’s expiry date. An unchanged approach can remain in several consecutive 28-day digital publication cycles, so verify the d-TPP cycle containing the plate rather than rejecting it solely because its amendment identifier looks old.
Can FAA chart information change before the next edition?
Yes. Urgent or temporary operational changes can take effect through NOTAMs without waiting for the next chart cycle.
Examples include a closed runway, an out-of-service navaid, changed procedure minima or a temporarily unusable fix. The chart graphic remains unchanged until a later edition, but the published notice governs the operation. A chart being within its printed dates therefore does not replace a proper preflight briefing.
Which chart cycle should I use in a flight simulator?
For accurate IFR simulation, use charts whose cycle matches the simulator’s FMS or GPS navigation database whenever possible.
- Real-world flying or formal training: use the latest effective FAA material plus all required notices and briefing information.
- IFR procedure practice in a simulator: matching chart and navdata cycles reduces missing fixes, changed courses, frequency differences and procedure-selection problems.
- VFR simulation: the latest sectional is usually the most useful reference, although older simulator scenery may not reflect new airspace, towers or runway numbers.
If a valid FAA chart disagrees with the simulator, the chart is not necessarily wrong. Check the simulator’s navdata cycle and the age of its airport scenery first. Our guide to chart currency and practical simulator use explains how these mismatches affect flight planning.