Learn what FAA World Aeronautical Charts (WACs) showed, why they ended in 2015, and which current charts now cover navigation and planning.
FAA World Aeronautical Charts (WACs) were 1:1,000,000-scale charts for broad-area visual navigation and route planning, particularly in faster or higher-flying aircraft. The FAA discontinued the series in 2015. No single chart formally replaced it; sectional charts now handle detailed VFR navigation, while planning charts and digital displays provide the wider overview.
In Aviation & Real-World Flying, the name can be misleading: World identified a chart standard and series, not one map covering the globe. The FAA published separate regional sheets covering large areas.
What information did FAA WAC charts contain?
A WAC combined broad topographical coverage with selected aeronautical information needed for long-distance visual navigation. It showed terrain relief, coastlines, drainage, cities, prominent roads and railways, airports, radio navigation aids, airspace, obstructions and other significant features.
At 1:1,000,000 scale, one inch represented roughly 13.7 nautical miles. This allowed a long route to fit on relatively few sheets, but features appeared at half the linear scale used on a 1:500,000 sectional. WACs therefore omitted much of the local detail needed around busy airspace and aerodromes.
Why did the FAA discontinue WAC charts?
The FAA ended publication of its WAC series on 17 September 2015 after demand had declined and other paper and electronic charting options had taken over its functions. Previously issued WAC sheets then became historical products rather than maintained navigation charts.
This affected the FAA series specifically. The term World Aeronautical Chart may still appear in historical collections or international charting contexts, but it does not identify an active FAA chart series. Our summary of which present FAA chart product fits each type of flight explains the maintained alternatives.
What replaced FAA World Aeronautical Charts?
No direct 1:1,000,000 successor replaced the WAC. Pilots instead choose a chart according to the amount of detail and the type of flying involved.
| Purpose | Chart to use | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Normal VFR navigation | Sectional Aeronautical Chart, 1:500,000 | Covers less ground per sheet than a WAC |
| VFR flying near selected busy airports | Terminal Area Chart, 1:250,000 | Available only for designated terminal areas |
| Nationwide route overview | U.S. VFR Wall Planning Chart or a zoomed-out display of current chart data | Suitable for planning, not detailed navigation |
| IFR airway navigation | Low- or high-altitude enroute chart | Does not replace the visual terrain information on a WAC |
Sectionals are the closest practical replacement for VFR flying, although they existed alongside WACs rather than being introduced after them. Our sectional guide shows how to interpret the airspace, terrain and navigation symbols shown at the larger scale.
Can an old WAC chart still be used?
An old FAA WAC can be used for historical research, decoration or recreating a period flight in a simulator, but not for present-day operational navigation. Airports, frequencies, navigation aids, controlled airspace, obstacles and magnetic information may all have changed since its final edition.
For a modern simulated flight, use maintained charts and remember that the simulator's navigation database may follow a different update cycle. A disagreement between an old WAC and the simulator is therefore not necessarily a scenery fault. For real-world planning, obtain the applicable official chart files and verify their effective dates rather than relying on an archived WAC scan.