FAA 107 Sectional Chart Reading & Navigation 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: On a sectional chart, a symbol showing 'MOA' with a defined boundary indicates:
- A Military Operations Area where high-speed military training may occur (Correct answer)
- A Mandatory Obstacle Avoidance zone
- A Modified Obstacle Area with updated tower data
- A Marine Operations Area restricted to military vessels
Correct answer: A Military Operations Area where high-speed military training may occur
MOA stands for Military Operations Area, where military training activities such as air combat maneuvers and low-altitude tactics may occur, posing hazards to civilian aircraft and drones.
Question 2: What does a group obstruction symbol (multiple towers clustered together) on a sectional chart depict?
- A wind farm or multiple towers within a small area (Correct answer)
- A single very tall tower with guy wires
- A cluster of buildings in an urban area
- Multiple NAVAIDs located at the same site
Correct answer: A wind farm or multiple towers within a small area
A group obstruction symbol on a sectional chart represents multiple obstacles (commonly wind turbines or communication towers) located within a small geographic area.
Question 3: A remote pilot consults a sectional chart and finds the notation 'SFC-4000' within a Class C airspace ring. What does this mean?
- The inner ring extends from the surface to 4,000 feet MSL (Correct answer)
- The outer ring's floor is at 4,000 feet MSL
- The Class C airspace exists only above 4,000 feet
- The airport elevation is 4,000 feet and the ring extends to the surface
Correct answer: The inner ring extends from the surface to 4,000 feet MSL
In Class C airspace notation, SFC-4000 means the airspace begins at the surface and extends up to 4,000 feet MSL, typically found in the inner circle around the primary airport.
Question 4: What are the two numbers shown next to an airport's ATIS or AWOS/ASOS frequency on a sectional chart?
- The primary ATIS frequency and the backup frequency
- The AWOS type number and its broadcast frequency (Correct answer)
- The unicom frequency and the CTAF frequency
- The airport identifier and the elevation in hundreds of feet
Correct answer: The AWOS type number and its broadcast frequency
Sectional charts show the AWOS/ASOS type designation (e.g., AWOS-3) and the broadcast frequency so pilots can tune in for automated weather observations.
Question 5: A remote pilot notes 'W' followed by a number (e.g., W-50) on a sectional chart over the open ocean area. What does this denote?
- A Warning Area over international waters where foreign military or hazardous operations may occur (Correct answer)
- A waypoint marker for oceanic navigation
- A weather observation buoy location
- A wildlife protection zone over water
Correct answer: A Warning Area over international waters where foreign military or hazardous operations may occur
Warning Areas (W-XXX) are depicted on sectional charts over international waters and contain activities that may be hazardous to non-participating aircraft, but the FAA lacks authority to restrict access.
Question 6: On a sectional chart, what does a shaded area with 'MTR' and a number below 1,500 feet AGL indicate?
- A Military Training Route flown at low altitude and high speed (Correct answer)
- A Mandatory Transponder Requirement zone
- A mountainous terrain region with high terrain clearance requirements
- A marine terminal radar service area
Correct answer: A Military Training Route flown at low altitude and high speed
MTR designations on sectional charts mark Military Training Routes used by military aircraft at high speeds, and routes below 1,500 AGL are depicted with four-digit route numbers.
Question 7: A remote pilot studying a sectional chart notes that a Victor Airway (e.g., V-105) is labeled with the number '5500' above a line and '3900' below it. What do these numbers represent?
- MEA of 5,500 feet and MOCA of 3,900 feet for that airway segment (Correct answer)
- The upper and lower bounds of Class E airspace along the airway
- The maximum and minimum filed altitudes permitted on that airway
- The departure and arrival altitudes for the airports the airway connects
Correct answer: MEA of 5,500 feet and MOCA of 3,900 feet for that airway segment
On a Victor Airway, the upper number is the Minimum Enroute Altitude (MEA) ensuring obstacle clearance and navigation signal reception, while the lower number is the Minimum Obstruction Clearance Altitude (MOCA).
FAA 107 Sectional Chart Reading & Navigation 5
On a sectional chart, a symbol showing 'MOA' with a defined boundary indicates: