Welcome Guest. Sign in or Signup

4 Answers

Can I use sectionals before their issue date?

Asked by: 4657 views FAA Regulations

My new sectionals have arrived.  Can I discard the old ones and start using the news ones before their effective date?

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.

4 Answers



  1. Wes Beard on Sep 10, 2013

    It is a rather interesting question. From a logical point of view, Notams describing changes to the sectional chart and chart updates published in the back of the AF/D are incorporated into the latest sectional chart (the latest update is published on the front of the sectional chart).

    Using the latest charts ensures you have better data than a previous chart and less preflight work to make sure those changes are incorporated on the chart.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  2. John D Collins on Sep 11, 2013

    I would keep the old ones until the new ones are effective because items such as frequency changes, for example CTAF, are often coordinated with the charts effective date. You might find the pattern radio unusually quiet.

    +2 Votes Thumb up 2 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  3. Jonathan Seitz on Sep 11, 2013

    I agree with John. Many things are coordinated with sectional and A/FD release dates. While you may get some updated information, it’s best to stick with the sectional that is current for the day you fly.

    0 Votes Thumb up 0 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes



  4. Mark Kolber on Sep 11, 2013

    To give a completely technical regulatory answer to “Can I use sectionals before their issue date?” the answer is yes. Except for Subpart F operations, there is no requirement for a Part 91 operation to have any charts at all. The quasi-requirement for current charts is based on 91.103’s admonition that a pilot must become familiar with “all available information” regarding a flight.

    I wonder how many changes wait for a sectional update. I wouldn’t be surprised to find that a new sectional has much more current information one week before it’s effective date than an old sectional one week before its expiration date.

    +1 Votes Thumb up 1 Votes Thumb down 0 Votes


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.