Jeppesen approach plates (Terminal Charts) are specifically designed to reduce pilot workload during the most critical phases of flight. Briefing Strip:
A bird's-eye view showing NAVAIDs (VOR, NDB), waypoints, and the lateral flight path. It includes a Minimum Safe Altitude (MSA) circle to ensure terrain clearance within a 25NM radius. Profile View:
The story of the Jeppesen chart is the story of one pilot's ingenuity. In the 1930s, a young airmail pilot named Elrey B. Jeppesen was flying treacherous routes without the aid of modern navigation. To mitigate the danger, he began meticulously documenting every detail of his flights—terrain heights, emergency landing fields, and weather patterns—in a simple 10-cent notebook that became known as the "Little Black Book". Recognizing its value, fellow pilots started buying copies, and in 1934, Jeppesen & Co. was born.
+-------------------------------------------------------+ | 1. HEADER BRIEFING STRIP | | (Frequencies, Final Approach Course, Altitudes) | +-------------------------------------------------------+ | 2. PLAN VIEW | | (Bird's-eye view of the approach track & hazards) | +-------------------------------------------------------+ | 3. PROFILE VIEW | | (Side-view step-down fixes and glide path) | +-------------------------------------------------------+ | 4. MINIMUMS SECTION | | (Decision Heights and required visibilities) | +-------------------------------------------------------+ Section 1: The Header and Briefing Strip jeppesen chart
: At the top of approach charts, Jeppesen includes a concise section containing all critical information—frequencies, final approach course, and minimums—allowing pilots to brief the arrival quickly.
Located at the top of the chart, this section contains the logistical data a pilot needs to set up the cockpit before the approach.
On the profile view, you will see a line with small slash marks (feathers) pointing down. That represents the glideslope antenna. If you see a next to it? That means the glideslope is unusable below a certain altitude due to interference. Profile View: The story of the Jeppesen chart
Shows the real-time position of the aircraft directly on the taxi and enroute charts.
While government agencies—such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States—publish their own aeronautical charts, Jeppesen reformats this raw data. They apply a proprietary layout that remains identical whether a pilot is flying into New York, London, or Tokyo. 2. The Legacy of Elrey Borge Jeppesen
Located at the bottom right, this is the most critical data for the decision to land. To mitigate the danger, he began meticulously documenting
A tiny diagram of the runways and taxiways. Why? So when you break out of the clouds at 200 feet, you know exactly where you are relative to the terminal.
. They are known for their standardized format, which remains consistent regardless of the country, making them the "gold standard" for international turbine and airline operations. Jeppesen Aviation Pilot Shop Key Features of Jeppesen Approach Charts
Varies significantly by country. An FAA chart looks entirely different from a French SIA chart or a British NATS chart. Layout and Visual Hierarchy