On 6/20/2005 12:30, Teranews wrote:

A pilot recently asked me a question, that I cannot find the answer to.

On a sectional chart, around cities, are yellow areas.
What are they?
Where on the legend can this be found?

These represent the congested parts of the cities. This should
(roughly) match the look of the city when lit up at night.


My answer was "congested areas of a city or town" which I though sounded
official
enough to work. Ah-Ha, he says, "Show me."

Have him look in the Aeronautical Chart User's Guide (from NACO).
You can see it on line he

http://www.naco.faa.gov/index.asp?xml=naco/online/aero_guide

Specifically, look in the section (PDF) titled "VFR Chart Symbols",
on page 19, under the entry titled "POPULATED PLACES OUTLINED".


The specific area in question is just south of Sunriver, on the Klamath
Falls sectional. (DSD 175 @ about 25nm) I've flown over it, and it is a
combination of golf courses.

Over beer last night, one fellow suggested that it is marked that way
for "National Security Reasons".

No.

Wink, Wink, nudge, nudge, "You are not supposed to ask.", "Why do you think
they left it off the legend."

The legend don't cover everything. That's why they have the book.

If you don't have it yet, you should pick on up (you can get one at
most Pilot shops for around $5) and read it. It includes lots of
great information. Then you can ask your pilot friend a few questions
that he won't be able to answer ;-)


Am I just blind? Is the print too small? Can anyone else find it on
the legend?

Al Gerharter





--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Student
Sacramento, CA