Abstract:
The Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) National Aeronautical Charting
Office (NCAO) s responsible for the public distribution of National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration/National Ocean Service
(NOAA/NOS) U.S. nautical charts and National Imagery and Mapping
Agency (NIMA) worldwide aeronautical and nautical charts and
publications as well as United States government
... civil aeronautical
charts and flight information publications.
The National Imagery and Mapping Agency's and NOAA/NOS's public sale
Worldwide Aeronautical Charts are available for sale through select
Authorized Chart Agents and from the National Aeronautical Charting
Office's Distribution Division.
The NIMA aeronautical charts (also known as the Defense Mapping Agemcy
(DMA) aeronautical charts), consists of the following:
Flight Information Publications (FLIPs) - these are used in
area flight planning for many regions around the globe at different
altitudes.
Aeronautical Chart Updating Manual (CHUM) - CHUM contains LORAN and
miscellaneous notices to all DMA and NOAA charts that affect flight
safety.
DOD Weather Plotting Charts (WPC) - these are non-navigational charts
showing locations and identifications of weather observing stations.
Tactical Pilotage Charts (TPC) - these charts are on a scale of
1:500,000 and are used to support high speed, low altitude, radar and
visual navigation of high performance tactical and reconnaissance
aircraft at very low - medium altitudes.
Global Navigation and Planning Charts (GNC) - these charts are on a
scale of 1:5,000,000 and are used for flight planning and operations
over long distances. These charts show principal towns, drainage,
primary roads and railroads, prominent culture, shaded relief, and
spot elevations.
Global LORAN-C Coastal Navigation Charts (GLCC) - these charts are on
a scale of 1:2,000,000 and are a series of three charts used for LORAN
navigation for entry into the U.S. These charts show spot elevations,
principal cities and international boundaries, drainage and lake
elevations.
Jet Navigation Charts (JNC) - these charts are on a scale of
1:2,000,000 and are used for long range, high altitude, high speed
navigation. Features shown include large cities, roads, railroads, and
drainage. Relief is shown by contours, spot elevations and gradient
tints.
Jet Navigation Charts - High Altitude (JNCA) - these charts are at
1:3,000,000 scale and provide coverage for high altitude, long range
navigation over the polar areas. These charts include spot elevations
and contours and large level terrain areas with elevations marked for
radar altimetry. Principal cities, roads and railroads are shown.
Lakes, drainage, permanent ice and snow areas and limits of polar ice
pack are shown. Lake elevations are marked for radar altimetry.
LORAN-C Navigaton Charts (LCC) - are at a scale of 1:3,000,000 and are
related to the JNCA series to cover the polar areas. These charts are
used for polar navigation in support of weather reconnaissance, air
search and rescue missions and other operations in the Arctic area.
Spot elevations, major cities railroads and roads, coast lines, major
lakes and rivers are shown.
Operational Navigation Charts (ONC) - are at a scale of 1:1,000,000.
These charts are used for visual, celestial, and radio navigation and
for high speed radar navigation.
Joint Operations Graphics - Air (JOG) - these charts are at 1:250,000
for the U.S. only.
Aeronautical information changes rapidly, and it is vitally important
that pilots check the effective dates on each aeronautical chart and
publication to be used. Obsolete charts and publications should be
discarded and replaced by current editions. To make certain a chart or
publication is current, refer to the next scheduled edition date
printed on thecover or consult the Dates of Latest Editions. Pilots
should also consult the Aeronautical Chart Bulletin available online
or contained in an Airport/Facility Directory and Notice to Airmen
(NOTAMs) for changes, essential to the safety of flight, that may
occur during the effective dates of a chart or publication. 
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