AIM ¶ 9-1-6 — Foreign Area Charts
AIM 9-1-6 explains where pilots can obtain charts and flight publications for foreign areas, including NGA, NAV CANADA, Mexico, and ICAO sources.
In Plain English
AIM 9-1-6 tells you where to get aeronautical charts and publications for flying outside the U.S. This is informational guidance — not a regulation — but it's essential when you're planning international operations.
Key sources include:
- National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) — Produces Flight Information Publications (FLIP) including General Planning, Area Planning, En Route Charts, IFR/VFR Supplements, and Instrument Approach Procedures for regions like the Caribbean, South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and the Pacific. Available at nga.mil.
- Miscellaneous DoD Charts — Includes the Chart Updating Manual (CHUM), Tactical Pilotage Charts (TPC), Operational Navigation Charts (ONC), Global Navigation Charts (GNC), and Jet Navigation Charts.
- Canadian Charts — Order through NAV CANADA Aeronautical Publications in Ottawa.
- Mexican Charts — Available from the Dirección de Navegación Aérea in Mexico City.
- ICAO Publications — A catalog of free International Civil Aviation Organization publications is posted at icao.int.
Knowing which agency publishes which chart lets you plan a legal, safe international flight with current data.
AIM Source Text
FAA AIM ¶ 9-1-69-1-6. 9-1-6. Where and How to Get Charts of Foreign Areas
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) Products. For the latest information regarding publication availability visit the NGA website: https://www.nga.mil/ProductsServices/Pages/default.aspx . Flight Information Publication (FLIP) Planning Documents. General Planning (GP) Area Planning Area Planning Special Use Airspace Planning Charts FLIP En Route Charts and Chart Supplements. Pacific, Australasia, and Antarctica U.S. - IFR and VFR Supplements Flight Information Handbook Caribbean and South America - Low Altitude Caribbean and South America - High Altitude Europe, North Africa, and Middle East - Low Altitude Europe, North Africa, and Middle East High Altitude Africa Eastern Europe and Asia Area Arrival Charts FLIP Instrument Approach Procedures (IAPs). Africa Canada and North Atlantic Caribbean and South America Eastern Europe and Asia Europe, North Africa, and Middle East Pacific, Australasia, and Antarctica VFR Arrival/Departure Routes - Europe and Korea U.S. Miscellaneous DoD Charts and Products. Aeronautical Chart Updating Manual (CHUM) DoD Weather Plotting Charts (WPC) Tactical Pilotage Charts (TPC) Operational Navigation Charts (ONC) Global Navigation and Planning Charts (GNC) Jet Navigation Charts (JNC) and Universal Jet Navigation Charts (JNU) Jet Navigation Charts (JNCA) Aerospace Planning Charts (ASC) Oceanic Planning Charts (OPC) Joint Operations Graphics - Air (JOG-A) Standard Index Charts (SIC) Universal Plotting Sheet (VP-OS) Sight Reduction Tables for Air Navigation (PUB249) Plotting Sheets (VP-30) Dial-Up Electronic CHUM Canadian Charts. Information on available Canadian charts and publications may be obtained by contacting the: NAV CANADA Aeronautical Publications Sales and Distribution Unit P.O. Box 9840, Station T Ottawa, Ontario K1G 6S8 Canada Telephone: 613-744-6393 or 1-866-731-7827 Fax: 613-744-7120 or 1-866-740-9992 Mexican Charts. Information on available Mexican charts and publications may be obtained by contacting: Dirección de Navigacion Aereo Blvd. Puerto Aereo 485 Zona Federal Del Aeropuerto Int'l 15620 Mexico D.F. Mexico International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). A list of free ICAO publications and catalogs is available at the following website: https://www.icao.int/publications/Pages/default.aspx . Previous | Top | Next AIM | ATPUBS | FAA | Send your comments regarding this website.
Oral Exam Questions a DPE Might Ask
Q1Where would you obtain IFR en route charts and approach procedures for a flight to Europe or the Caribbean?
Per AIM 9-1-6, foreign-area FLIP En Route Charts and Instrument Approach Procedures are produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) and are available through the NGA website (nga.mil).
Q2If you're planning a flight into Canada, where do you get the necessary aeronautical charts and publications?
Per AIM 9-1-6, Canadian charts and publications are obtained from NAV CANADA's Aeronautical Publications Sales and Distribution Unit in Ottawa, Ontario.
Q3What is the CHUM and where does it come from?
Per AIM 9-1-6, the Aeronautical Chart Updating Manual (CHUM) is one of the Miscellaneous DoD Charts and Products listed under NGA, used to update chart information; a Dial-Up Electronic CHUM is also available.
Related Paragraphs in AIM Chapter 9