How to read a VNC VFR Navigation Chart

Flying a drone in Canada isn’t always as easy as just powering it up and taking off. A drone is a small plane, so it must adhere to local airspace regulations. Some of these regulations include knowing where to fly, the skill or certification required to fly in a particular region, and how to interpret the various airspace classifications.

All of this information is contained in what is called a VNC VFR navigation chart. However, these charts are highly coded, making it difficult to interpret them.

But not anymore, because today I will show you how to interpret the VNC VFR chart and the information you need to pay attention to as a drone pilot.

What Is A VFR Chart?

A VFR (Visual Flight Rules) chart contains airspace classifications and details on aerodromes such as elevation, type, aerodrome height, radio frequencies, manned aircraft flight routes, and other information you will need to know as a pilot. A VFR chart is a necessary tool, especially for an advanced pilot, since you will need to know what to do when flying in controlled airspaces, and you will need it during an advanced flight review.

VFR Charts are designed, updated, and maintained by NAV Canada. So, it’s always good to check what version you have to ensure you have updated information about the airspace you want to fly in.

VFR charts come in two scales; 1:500,000 (VNC), which is more generalized for areas that aren’t very populated, and 1:250,000 (VTA) for areas where you need to zoom in for more information. You can purchase VFR charts from vendors, including our SUGU Tools platform.

How to Read VNC VFR Chart?

To understand the VFR chart, you need to check the Legend and have the Designated Airspace Handbook. The Legend clarifies the information on the map, while the Designated Airspace Handbook explains what you need to do in each airspace type. While you can access the chart online, legends are available in hardcopy, and you will need to scan them. Let’s look at the primary information you can get from the VFR chart in more detail.

Aerodromes

This refers to an area where aircraft can take off and land. This includes airports, helipads, and hospital helipads, among others. Below is how they are presented on the chart.

Aerodromes are classified based on whether they have services or not, their sizes, the type of ground they are on, and their status. A large aerodrome will show the runways, including the directions they face. Small aerodromes will only have a filled circle, as shown above. Pay attention to status, land, and water symbols too.

Once you can identify the type of airfield, below is how you can get more information about it.

If the aerodrome is in uncontrolled airspace, you can find the info about it within the aerodrome. But if it’s in controlled airspace, the aerodrome may have the same information, including radio frequencies, as the entire controlled airspace.

Let’s look at some examples to understand how you can interpret aerodromes’ information.

The extract shown above is of the Chilliwack Airport. The runway is large enough. That’s why it shows the direction (east-west). Right below it, you can see the following data; 32L40M122.7. Below is what that means;

• 32 – This represents the height of the aerodrome in feet.
• L – This means that there is lighting. But it’s enclosed by a square. If you check the Legend, you will realize an L with a Square means ARCAL, which means the lighting is controlled remotely by ARCAL.
• 40 – This represents the length of the runway. You should always multiply the number by 100. So, the aerodrome is 4000 feet long.
• M122.7 – This represents Mandatory Frequency – If you fly in this area as an advanced pilot, you should tune your radio to the 122.7 frequency.

The solid line means that this is a certified aerodrome (but you should always confirm this on the CFS platform) with services. As a result, if you have a Basic Pilot’s certificate, you shouldn’t fly within 3 Nautical miles of this aerodrome or any other certified aerodrome. Only an advanced pilot is allowed to fly that close, and they should be in communication with the airport at all times.

Below is another example, the Vancouver International Airport.

Like the Chilliwack aerodrome, this aerodrome has large runways, three of them actually. The aerodrome information shows 13L108. Note the difference here. The L is not enclosed in a square, so the lighting is always available.

Being a controlled airspace means you must be an Advanced Pilot to fly in it. Outside the controlled airspace may not need an advanced pilot certificate. However, you will still need to pay attention to the proximity to other heliports, residential areas, and close to people.

Airspace Classification

Classes B to E all have different boundaries, as shown above. You will need to be an Advanced Pilot to fly in these airspaces and need authorization from NAV DRONE. You will also need to check the handbook I mentioned earlier to know what to do in such an airspace. Class F is labeled differently, featuring lines running inward perpendicular to the main line, as shown below.

There are three types of Class F classifications;

• CYA – This means advisory.
• CYD – This means Danger zones.
• CYR – This means Restricted zones.

To fly in a Class F zone, you will need authorization from the relevant user agency.

It is also possible for airspaces to exist on top of one another. For instance, a Class E airspace can start where a Class G airspace ends, and all that separates them is the vertical height.

Below is more information you will get from the Legend on how to interpret airspaces and information relevant to them.

Pay attention to the VFR routes, which indicate the route for manned aircraft. As a drone pilot, you must know the areas with high manned aircraft traffic, at what altitude they fly, and how to fly without interfering with the routes.

Communication Boxes

Another piece of information you will need to be aware of is the FSS (Flight Service Stations), radio stations that broadcast weather, traffic, and other information for manned aircraft. Below is how they are denoted in the Legend.

Parks

As a drone pilot, you also need to be able to identify parks since you are not always allowed to fly in them and will need authorization. Parks are not denoted in the Legend, but you can identify them by their brown boundaries, as shown below.

More Information

Below is more information you may need to be aware of as an Advanced Drone Pilot.

Conclusion

And there you have it. I hope you now understand how to read VNC VFR charts better. We cover the VFR chart in our Advanced Pilot certificate, too, among other courses. So if you’re not an Advanced Pilot yet or need to participate in the Flight Review, Sugu Drones has everything you’ll need.