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3 Answers

Do you HAVE to carry a sectional?

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FAA Regulations

Is there a regulation that says a pilot must carry specifically a sectional or will a WAC do the same job? I'm am preparing for my private pilot checkride and thought that would be a good piece of information to know. Thanks.

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3 Answers



  1. Matthew Waugh on Aug 17, 2010

    You don’t need any charts. You need to be familiar with all information relating to the flight (unless you are VFR in the vicinity of an airport). FAR 91.103.

    Most people carry a current chart as a talisman to ward off evil (or the FAA, whichever arrives first). But if, in the event of an inquiry, you can show that you were familiar with all information without using a chart then you’re good to go.

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  2. Thomas Vaillencourt on Aug 25, 2010

    I would venture to say that if you were on a flight and you saw a radio tower, a hilltop, or some other terrain or obstruction, and could not off the top of your head give its MSL altitude and AGL height, than you are NOT familiar with ALL information regarding your flight. This information could easily be found on your sectional. If you could not say with certainty, “yes I am inside/outside of this B,C,D,E airspace”, than you should carry a sectional.

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  3. Robert on Sep 27, 2011

    An ipad with a current sectional downloaded would make you familiar and would be sufficiant.

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