Before you "gear down and go," make sure you've caught these details:
A miniature diagram at the bottom of the page showing the runway configuration, runway lengths, lighting systems, and taxiway exits closest to the landing zone. Jeppesen vs. Government (FAA/NACO) Charts
Jeppesen charts, often called "Jepp charts," are high-detail aeronautical charts used by pilots for global IFR and VFR navigation
In the 1930s, an airmail pilot named Elrey Borge Jeppesen began writing down critical navigation details in a small black notebook. He recorded terrain elevations, runway lengths, and phone numbers of local residents who could provide weather updates. Realizing how valuable this information was for saving lives, he founded the company to publish these notes as cohesive charts. jeppesen chart
A Jeppesen chart is a specialized aeronautical map used by pilots for navigation, particularly during operations. While government agencies like the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) produce their own charts, Jeppesen (a Boeing company) provides a commercial alternative used by the vast majority of the world's airlines and corporate flight departments.
As you move down the chart, the top half is the (a map looking straight down). The bottom half is the Profile View (a side view of the descent path).
Are you a "paper purist" or are you fully digital? Let us know in the comments! 👇 Option 3: Quick Tips (Social Media/Engagement) 3 Things to Check on Every Jeppesen Chart 🧐 Before you "gear down and go," make sure
In recent years, the aviation industry has moved away from paper binders—which could require over a dozen 2-inch binders for the US alone—toward digital platforms.
Pilots often debate which chart is better. While both provide the same critical data, their presentation differs significantly:
Jeppesen uses feet (MSL) for altitudes universally, but they use Nautical Miles (NM) for distances. However, visibility on European Jeppesen charts might be in meters, while US charts use statute miles or RVR (feet). Always check the "Visibility" row in the minima section. He recorded terrain elevations, runway lengths, and phone
How to (like lighting systems or fixes)
You subscribe to a "Coverage Region" (e.g., Western US, Europe, Asia-Pacific). Every 14 days, you receive a "Revision" envelope. A pilot must manually pull the old chart from the binder and insert the new one. This is a tedious but sacred ritual known as "chart revision." If you miss a revision, you are legally not current for IFR flight.
