Airspace7 min readApril 2026

How to Read a Sectional Chart for the Part 107 Test

About 20 to 25 percent of the Part 107 test references sectional charts. The good news: you only need to recognize a dozen specific symbols, not read a chart like a manned pilot. Here is what each color means, how to read airspace altitudes, and what to practice before test day.

About 20 to 25 percent of the Part 107 test references aviation sectional charts. At the testing center you get a paper supplement (FAA-CT-8080-2H), and questions point you to specific figures and areas to look up.

Good news: you do not need to read a sectional chart like a manned aircraft pilot. You need to recognize about a dozen specific symbols and understand what the colored lines mean for your drone operation. That is it.

What do the airspace colors on a sectional chart mean?

Every airspace class has a distinctive depiction on a sectional chart. Knowing these by memory means you can answer chart questions in seconds without flipping through the supplement.

Class	How it looks on the chart	Authorization needed?
Class B	Solid blue lines	Yes: LAANC or DroneZone waiver
Class C	Solid magenta lines	Yes: LAANC or DroneZone waiver
Class D	Dashed blue lines	Yes: LAANC or DroneZone waiver
Class E (surface)	Dashed magenta lines	Yes: LAANC or DroneZone waiver
Class E (700 ft AGL)	Faded magenta shading	No, but airspace is controlled above 700 ft
Class G	No depiction; it's what's left	No authorization required

How do I read airspace altitudes on a sectional chart?

Airspace shelves (the stacked layers around major airports) show floors and ceilings as fractions. Format is always ceiling over floor, in hundreds of feet MSL.

For example, "40/10" on a Class B shelf means the airspace extends from 1,000 feet MSL to 4,000 feet MSL at that location. Top number is the ceiling. Bottom number is the floor. Multiply both by 100.

When the floor is at the surface, you will see "SFC" instead of a number. Class D airspace typically shows its ceiling as a number in a dashed blue box. For example, "[28]" means the ceiling is 2,800 feet MSL.

What do airport symbols on a sectional chart mean?

The test occasionally asks about airport information that appears on the chart or in the supplement. The most common references are CTAF (Common Traffic Advisory Frequency) at non-towered airports, and ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) at towered airports.

Towered airports appear in blue on a sectional. Non-towered airports appear in magenta. The color tells you whether to expect Class D airspace (blue, requires authorization) or Class E or G (magenta, often no authorization needed).

What are the special use airspace symbols?

MOA (Military Operations Area). Shown with magenta hashing and labeled with the MOA name. When active, avoid unless you have information about the activity schedule. Check NOTAMs.
Restricted Area. Labeled "R-" followed by a number (R-2508, for example). You may not enter without authorization from the controlling agency.
Warning Area. Labeled "W-" followed by a number. Found offshore; similar hazards to Restricted Areas but over international waters.
TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction). Not shown on standard sectional charts. Always check NOTAMs and the FAA's UAS Data tool or B4UFLY before flying.

What do I actually need to know for the chart questions?

You will not be asked to interpret an entire chart from scratch. Test questions point you to a specific figure (for example, "Refer to Figure 22, area 3") and ask a targeted question about what you see there.

The work is looking up the right figure, finding the area, and reading the specific detail being asked about. Knowing how to use the supplement quickly matters as much as knowing what the symbols mean.

Practice with the actual FAA supplement. Open SkyVector (skyvector.com), a free online sectional chart tool, and spend time looking at familiar airports. Find the dashed blue lines around Class D airports. Find the solid magenta circles of Class C. Get comfortable with how the layered altitude notations look before test day.

Chart questions on this site

This site currently covers the text-based Part 107 questions. Chart and figure questions (which require the actual sectional chart images from FAA-CT-8080-2H) are planned for a future update.

Until then, the best supplement to this site for chart practice is the FAA's own free practice test at faa.psiexams.com, which includes the actual figure-based questions you will see at the testing center.

Ready to test your knowledge?

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Frequently asked questions

How much of the Part 107 test is about sectional charts?

Roughly 20 to 25 percent of the Part 107 knowledge test references aviation sectional charts. You are given a paper supplement (FAA-CT-8080-2H) at the testing center, and questions point you to specific figures and areas to look up. You do not need to read a chart from scratch; you need to find the right detail in the supplement and answer a targeted question.

What do the colors on a sectional chart mean for Part 107?

Solid blue lines mean Class B airspace. Solid magenta means Class C. Dashed blue means Class D. Dashed magenta means Class E starting at the surface. Faded magenta shading means Class E starting at 700 feet AGL. The absence of any of these is Class G. All controlled classes (B, C, D, surface E) require authorization to fly in.

How do I read airspace altitudes on a sectional chart?

Airspace shelves show floors and ceilings as fractions on the chart, in hundreds of feet MSL. For example, "40/10" means the airspace extends from 1,000 feet MSL (floor) to 4,000 feet MSL (ceiling). "SFC" as the floor means the airspace reaches the ground.

What does SFC mean on a sectional chart?

SFC stands for "surface" and means the airspace floor reaches ground level. You will see it on airspace shelves where the airspace extends all the way down. Class D airspace and the inner ring of Class B and C airspace typically have SFC floors.

Do I have to read a sectional chart from scratch on the Part 107 test?

No. The FAA's supplement (FAA-CT-8080-2H) contains figure images, and each chart question references a specific figure and area, like "Refer to Figure 22, area 3." Your job is to look up the figure, find the area, and read the detail being asked about. You are not asked to interpret an entire chart on your own.