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What is the scale of a VFR sectional chart?

1 to 500,000, about 6.86 nautical miles per inch.

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  1. 1 to 500,000 ✔
  2. 1 to 250,000
  3. 1 to 1,000,000

Why: The FAA handbook says sectional charts use a 1:500,000 scale, so one inch covers about 6.86 nautical miles, or roughly 8 statute miles. That scale leaves room for lots of detail.

Huh, didn't know that: Sectionals are the most common charts used by VFR pilots.

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References

Answer: 1 to 500,000. The FAA handbook says sectional charts use a 1:500,000 scale, so one inch covers about 6.86 nautical miles, or roughly 8 statute miles. That scale leaves room for lots of detail.

  1. Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Chapter 16 Navigation (FAA-H-8083-25C) www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/18_phak_ch16.pdf
    The charts have a scale of 1:500,000 (1 inch = 6.86 nautical miles (NM) or approximately 8 statute miles (SM))
    Checked 2026-10-07.

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