Sectional chart legend, on a real chart

SYMBOLS ON THIS CHART

1. 1Warning area W-50CA warning area uses the same hatched border but lies offshore, beginning 3 NM from the coast. It contains hazardous activity such as military training. No permission is required, but avoid it when it is active.
2. 2Military operations cautionA caution box warns of a high density of military flights near NAS Oceana and NALF Fentress. Expect fast jets, often at low altitude.
3. 3National Wildlife RefugePilots are asked to stay at least 2,000 ft AGL over wildlife refuges, parks and other noise-sensitive areas. The land manager may also restrict drone takeoffs and landings; check before you fly.
4. 4Obstacle 1049 (1036)The bold number is the top of the obstacle in feet MSL (1,049 ft). The number in parentheses is its height above ground (1,036 ft AGL). Obstacles 1,000 ft AGL or taller use this larger symbol.
5. 5Class E from 700 ft AGLThe faded magenta band (vignette) shows that Class E begins at 700 ft AGL on the inner side. Below 700 ft it is Class G, so a drone flying under 400 ft AGL there needs no ATC authorization.
6. 6Non-towered airportA magenta airport symbol means there is no control tower. Pilots announce their position on the CTAF shown in the data block. A remote pilot can listen on that frequency to know about nearby traffic.
7. 7CTAF and AWOSCurrituck Co Rgnl (ONX): AWOS-3 119.775 is automated weather. 18 is field elevation (ft MSL), *L means lighting with limitations, 55 is the longest runway (5,500 ft) and 122.9 followed by C in a circle is the CTAF.
8. 8Class E surface areaA dashed magenta line marks Class E airspace that begins at the surface, here an extension of the Elizabeth City surface area for instrument approaches. Like Class D, it needs ATC authorization for a drone (14 CFR 107.41).
9. 9NDB boxA magenta box marks a non-directional beacon (NDB): Woodville, 254 kHz, identifier LLW, with its Morse code.
10. 10Part-time Class D/E"See NOTAMs/Directory for Class D/E (sfc) eff hrs" means the surface Class D and Class E areas here are not active all day. Check the Chart Supplement (the Directory) and NOTAMs for the hours before you fly.
11. 11Maximum elevation figureThe large blue figure is the maximum elevation figure for this quadrangle in thousands and hundreds of feet MSL: 12 means 1,200 ft MSL. It covers the highest terrain or obstacle in the quadrangle plus a margin.
12. 12Towered airportA blue airport symbol means the airport has a control tower; magenta means it does not. The small ticks around the circle show that fuel is available. Elizabeth City sits inside Class D airspace, so a drone needs FAA authorization (LAANC or DroneZone) to fly here.
13. 13Class D ceilingThe dashed blue circle is the Class D boundary. The number in the dashed box is the ceiling in hundreds of feet MSL: [25] means Class D runs from the surface up to and including 2,500 ft MSL.
14. 14VFR waypoint VPBRANames that start with VP are VFR waypoints, reporting points used by manned pilots. Expect aircraft passing over them.
15. 15Airport data blockCT - 120.5 is the tower frequency; the star means the tower is part-time and the C in a circle means 120.5 is also the CTAF when the tower is closed. ASOS 124.375 broadcasts weather. 11 is field elevation (ft MSL), *L means lighting with limitations, 72 is the longest runway in hundreds of feet (7,200 ft), 122.95 is UNICOM. RP 1, 10, 19 means right traffic for those runways.
16. 16Private airportAn R in a circle and (Pvt) under the name mark a private airport, not open to the public. It is charted because of its landmark or emergency value. Aircraft may still be taking off and landing there.
17. 17Victor airway V472Light blue bands are Victor airways, the low-altitude routes between VORs. They are Class E airspace from 1,200 ft AGL up to 18,000 ft MSL. Manned aircraft follow them, so expect traffic along the route.
18. 18VOR-DME boxA blue box marks a VOR facility: Elizabeth City VOR-DME, 112.5 MHz, TACAN channel 72, identifier ECG, with its Morse code. RALEIGH under the box names the Flight Service Station for the area.
19. 19Unmarked balloon on cableA tethered balloon on a cable up to 3,008 ft MSL. The cable is very hard to see from the air. Keep well clear and check NOTAMs.
20. 20Restricted area R-5301A blue hatched border marks a restricted area. When it is active you may not fly in it without permission from the controlling agency. Times and altitudes are in the special use airspace table on the chart.