airport diagram

International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annex 4 "Aeronautical Charts" Chapter 13 "Aerodrome/Heliport Chart" specifies that the chart "shall provide flight crews with information which information which will facilitate the ground movement of aircraft" between the aircraft stand and the runway. For helicopter movement, the chart shall provide information between the helicopter stand, the touchdown and lift-off area, and the final approach and take-off area; the chart should also supplement information along helicopter ground and air taxiways and air transit routes. In addition, essential operational information should also be provided.{{cite book |publisher=International Civil Aviation Organization |chapter=Chapter 13. Aerodrome/Heliport Chart |title=Annex 4. Aeronautical Charts}}

File:ZGGG-202412.pdf, China]]

According to ICAO, airport diagrams shall show coordinates, field elevations, runways, aprons, taxiways, hot spots, taxiway routes, air transit routes, lighting, air traffic control (ATC) service boundary, communication channels, obstacles, slope angles, buildings and service areas, VOR checkpoints, and movement area permanently unsuitable for aircraft.

In addition, an airport diagram may display information on its margin area about chart's relevance and accuracy, including airport identifier, chart type, version number, version date, etc.{{cite web |title=Airport Diagrams Explained |url=https://pilotinstitute.com/airport-diagrams-explained/ |website=Pilot Institute |access-date=19 January 2025 |date=17 September 2023}}

A hot spot is a location on an airport movement area with a history or potential risk of collision or runway incursion, and where heightened attention by pilots and drivers is necessary. It is believed that this extra awareness can improve planning and navigation. Hot spots are shown on both airport diagrams and chart supplements.{{cite web |title=Hot Spots |url=https://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safety/hotspots |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration |access-date=20 January 2025 |language=en |date=October 3, 2024}} {{PD-notice}}

An area is likely to become a hot spot if it has:{{cite web |title=Hot Spot Standardized Symbology |url=https://www.faa.gov/newsroom/hot-spot-standardized-symbology |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration |access-date=20 January 2025 |date=July 15, 2024}} {{PD-notice}}

• hold short line infractions
• approach hold issues
• complex taxiway configurations
• movement-non movement boundary area issues
• tower line of sight problems
• marking and signage issues

Airport diagrams is mostly used to assist taxiing around the airport and are henceforth sometimes referred to as a "taxi diagrams".{{cite web |last1=Bencini-Tibo |first1=Luca |title=The Airport Diagram |url=https://www.ifr-magazine.com/charts-plates/the-airport-diagram/ |website=IFR Magazine |access-date=19 January 2025 |date=21 March 2023}} If pilots study the diagram prior to their arrival or departure, they can expect what runway to use and routes to take while navigating around a complex airport. When communicating with ATC, pilots will already be familiar with their routes and hence have better situation awareness. For pilots who were unable to establish radio communication with ATC, the diagram shows where the control tower is and hence where light signals may come from.

In the United States, airport diagrams are published as part of Terminal Procedures Publication and are updated every 56 days unless there is a critical safety issue.{{cite book |title=Digital - Terminal Procedures Publication (d-TPP)/Airport Diagrams |publisher=Federal Aviation Administration |url=https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/dtpp/ |access-date=19 January 2025}} In Canada, airport charts are published by Nav Canada. In Europe, while European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) does not publish aerodrome charts directly, it does regulate the chart content published in Aeronautical Information Publications from its member states.{{cite web |title=Easy Access Rules for Aerodromes (Regulation (EU) No 139/2014) |url=https://www.easa.europa.eu/sites/default/files/dfu/Easy%20Access%20Rules%20for%20Aerodromes%20%28Regulation%20%28EU%29%20No%201392014%29%20%E2%80%94%20Revision%20from%20April%202022.pdf |publisher=European Union Aviation Safety Agency |access-date=18 April 2025 |date=Apr 2022}} Commercial providers such as Jeppesen also publish their own version of airport diagrams and can include additional airport details.

File:KAOO Airport Diagram.png, United States]]

In the United States, Aeronautical Information Services provide airport sketches of the airport on the lower portion of approach plates. Airport sketches are simplified version of airport diagrams that include runway information such as dimensions, slopes, touchdown zone elevation, type of runway end lighting systems. Taxiway shapes are also shown, but the taxiways are not named.{{Cite IPH|chapter=1|page=2}} Jeppesen instrument approach plates do not have airport sketches.{{cite web |title=How to Brief an Instrument Approach (Step-by-Step) |url=https://pilotinstitute.com/how-to-brief-an-instrument-approach-plate-step-by-step/ |website=Pilot Institute |access-date=12 April 2025 |date=1 May 2024}}

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• [https://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safety/diagrams/ FAA Airport Diagrams], airport diagrams of airports in United States

{{Aeronautical charts}}

Category:Aeronautical charts

Category:Airports