Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

1 Answers

28 day versus 56 day IFR chart cycles

Asked by: 4432 views , , , ,
Airspace, Commercial Pilot, FAA Regulations

I am confused by the FAA and GPS chart cycles. My paper copies of both enroute and terminal procedure charts are on a 56 day cycle, but my GPS is on a 28 day cycle.

I don't get it, if the paper charts are legal for 56 days, why do I have to update my GPS every 56 days?  What extra information am I getting with the GPS for /G filing that I would not get in a NOTAM?   If my GPS database expires but my paper charts are still current (in other words, one is within the cycle of the other) what would I expect to be different?

Thanks,

 - Bill

Ace Any FAA Written Test!
Actual FAA Questions / Free Lifetime Updates
The best explanations in the business
Fast, efficient study.
Pass Your Checkride With Confidence!
FAA Practical Test prep that reflects actual checkrides.
Any checkride: Airplane, Helicopter, Glider, etc.
Written and maintained by actual pilot examiners and master CFIs.
The World's Most Trusted eLogbook
Be Organized, Current, Professional, and Safe.
Highly customizable - for student pilots through pros.
Free Transition Service for users of other eLogs.
Our sincere thanks to pilots such as yourself who support AskACFI while helping themselves by using the awesome PC, Mac, iPhone/iPad, and Android aviation apps of our sponsors.

1 Answers



  1. Timothy Broadwater on Feb 28, 2018

    TERPS also have a 28 day revision cycle but it is often not looked at with the FAA charts, the update is often just a handful of pages and isn’t always carried by chart distributors. Jeppesen sends out the 28 day update and if you use Foreflight chart updates are downloaded every 28 days.

    -1 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 1 Votes


The following terms have been auto-detected the question above and any answers or discussion provided. Click on a term to see its definition from the Dauntless Aviation JargonBuster Glossary.

Answer Question

Our sincere thanks to all who contribute constructively to this forum in answering flight training questions. If you are a flight instructor or represent a flight school / FBO offering flight instruction, you are welcome to include links to your site and related contact information as it pertains to offering local flight instruction in a specific geographic area. Additionally, direct links to FAA and related official government sources of information are welcome. However we thank you for your understanding that links to other sites or text that may be construed as explicit or implicit advertising of other business, sites, or goods/services are not permitted even if such links nominally are relevant to the question asked.