Pay attention to the details of your map. It’s important to understand that sectional charts are always at a scale of 1:500,000. They are very similar to automobile road maps and are named for a major city within its area of coverage. If you’re reading the map for information about fuel, notice that the chart legend lists the various aeronautical symbols. You will be able to identify aeronautical and topographical features, plus obstructions, by using the legend. Notice that landmarks that can be recognized from the air, such as ball parks or major factories, will have a short description adjacent to their placement on the map. All of this information is vital to understanding how to reach the fuel depot.
Use this map knowledge to ascertain the location of fuel. Large structures like refineries will be represented with a black square and a brief description, such as “Refinery.” An oil or gas tank will be represented by a black circle and “oil” written beside it. Like most topographic maps, the terrain around these landmarks will be depicted in a fashion that emphasizes the elevation and configuration of the Earth’s surface. Take note of the contour lines, shaded reliefs, and colored elevation tints; this is vital for you to understand the terrain that you are in so that you can successfully navigate it. All of the symbols, colors, and topographic features are explained in the legend.
Find the fuel depot on your map, now that you know the symbols associated with the terrain. Look for the symbol for airport, since fuel will almost certainly be there. Familiarize yourself with the symbols for airports from the legend; they will denote the length of the landing strip and the hours of operation. Small tick marks around the basic airstrip symbol indicate that the airport will be open for fuel and services at normal business hours, which typically range from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. The letter “F” with a circle around indicates that there is fuel there.
