Understanding a Visual Approach Chart or VAC

Understanding a Visual Approach Chart VAC
A Practical Guide for Pilots

Publicado por Ignacio Espila el 17 June, 2025

Última actualización: 28 November, 2025

Every pilot remembers the feeling of approaching a familiar aerodrome: a blend of focus and comfort. But what happens when the destination is new?

To navigate safely within the controlled airspace of an aerodrome, Visual Flight Rules (VFR) pilots rely on a vital document: the Visual Approach Chart (VAC). This isn’t just a simple route; it’s the common language that allows general aviation to coexist safely with all other air traffic.

This guide is designed to teach you how to ‘speak’ that language, interpreting every section of a VAC like a true professional.

What Exactly Is a Visual Approach Chart?

More than just a map, a VAC is akin to a choreographed script for the arrival and departure phases of flight.

It is an official document containing the set of procedures, routes, and regulations that light aircraft must follow to operate in the vicinity of an airport.

Its purpose is twofold: on one hand, it provides the pilot with clear guidance, and on the other, it enables the Air Traffic Control service to manage aircraft flows in a predictable and safe manner.

Breaking Down a Visual Approach Chart

Although every airport is unique, in Spain, VACs maintain a consistent design to facilitate quick comprehension. They consist of two fundamental elements that work in concert.

1. The Graphic Layout: Visual Information

This is the cartographic depiction of the area and the heart of the VAC. It contains standardised symbology providing information on:

Aerodrome infrastructure: Details the orientation of runways, taxiways, and aprons, including visual aids like aerodrome lighting.
Terrain and obstacle warnings: Highlights any significant terrain elevations, such as hills or mountains, and man-made obstacles (masts, tall buildings) that could pose a risk.
Airspace demarcation: Defines the vertical and lateral limits of controlled areas (CTR, TMA). A solid understanding of airspace classifications is crucial for interpreting this section.
Visual Reporting Points (VRPs): These are key geographical landmarks that serve as ‘checkpoints’ on designated VFR routes.
Holding patterns: Depicts the specific circuits where an aircraft must orbit if instructed to hold by air traffic control.
Navigation systems: Shows the location and frequency of ground-based radio aids, if any (e.g., VOR, NDB).
Communication channels: Lists all the essential radio frequencies for contacting various units (Tower, Approach, ATIS).

2. The Instruction Manual: Written Information

Appended to the map, a collection of text establishes the operational procedures:

Operating conditions: Administrative information such as aerodrome operating hours and specific local rules.
Arrival and departure routes: Describes the precise tracks and altitudes to be flown to join or leave the traffic circuit.
Radio failure protocol: Details the sequence of actions the pilot must take if the aircraft radio stops working. A vital safety procedure.
Additional notes: Clarifies any other peculiarities or requirements not covered in the previous sections.

text-in-a-visual-approach-chart-of-gijon-airport

Visual Reporting Points (VRPs): Landmarks for Navigation

Visual Reporting Points (VRPs) are the cornerstone of VFR navigation in controlled areas. They are unmistakable geographical locations as seen from the air (a bridge, a reservoir, a motorway junction) that have been selected for their clarity and strategic placement.

Their function is to allow pilots to report their position with absolute accuracy, enabling the air traffic controller to maintain a precise mental picture of the traffic situation.

To ensure error-free communication, their names are based on the international phonetic alphabet. Thus, it’s common to find names like November (N) for a northern point or Echo (E) for an eastern one.

A standard report would sound like this: “Málaga Tower, from Golf-Bravo-Charlie-Delta-Xray, overhead Whiskey point at two thousand feet, for a direct join.”

The Official Source for VACs: The Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

To ensure maximum safety, it is imperative to always use the most current version of any chart.

In Spain, the sole official and legal resource for downloading updated VACs is the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), managed by our air navigation service provider, ENAIRE.

Consider the AIP as the single source of truth for all national aeronautical information.

Visual (VAC) vs. Instrument (Jeppesen) Approaches

It is crucial not to confuse a VAC with an instrument approach chart, also known as Jeppesen charts. Their philosophies are entirely different:

Instrument Approach (IFR): This is a rigid, mathematical procedure. The pilot must follow a lateral and vertical path with pinpoint accuracy, relying solely on the aircraft’s instruments. There is very little room for deviation.
Visual Approach (VFR): This is a procedure that offers “freedom within a framework.” Whilst the routes and points are mandatory, the controller can issue real-time instructions that modify them based on traffic. Here, the “see and avoid” principle is a shared responsibility of the pilot.

Habits of a Professional Pilot: An Instructor’s Top Tips

The Briefing Ritual

Never underestimate the power of a good briefing. Before every operation, whether flying solo or with a crew, dedicate a few minutes to verbally reviewing the chart’s key points: altitudes, frequencies, and contingency plans. This habit builds strong mental muscle memory.

Look After Your Tools

Paper charts are prone to wear and tear. A widespread technique amongst pilots is to protect them with a clear plastic sleeve. This allows you to make notes with non-permanent markers and wipe them clean afterwards, extending the chart’s life indefinitely.

Virtual Reconnaissance

Technology is a powerful ally. Before flying to an unfamiliar aerodrome, spend some time exploring it on Google Earth. This practice allows you to visualise the Visual Reporting Points, identify clear landmarks on the ground, and get a three-dimensional sense of the terrain.

You’ll arrive with a “visual memory” that provides a tremendous advantage and a boost of confidence during the actual approach.

Your Professional Future Takes Off Here

Interpreting a Visual Approach Chart is one of the first skills that demonstrates a pilot’s competence and safety mindset. It’s an informational puzzle where every piece has a purpose, and knowing how to read it fluently will open the doors to any airport.

If this level of detail and professionalism is what excites you about aviation, you are in the right place. At One Air, we transform enthusiasts into elite pilots, ready to meet the challenges of commercial aviation.

Discover how our Commercial Pilot and Airline Transport Pilot Licence Course can be the start of your career. The first step into the cockpit begins today.