Station plots showing the METARs valid for the selected time from the timeslider are displayed with PIREPs overlaid, a lowest angle reflectivity radar, SIGMETs and NWS Warnings.

Station Plots

Station model plots are used to depict current surface weather conditions.

• Temp: temperature plotted in the upper left in Fahrenheit (Celsius)
• Wx: present weather plotted left of the center circle with the symbol indicating weather occurring (see symbols table)
• Vis: horizontal visibility plotted to the left of the present weather in miles (km)
• Dew: dew point temperature plotted in the lower left in Fahrenheit (Celsius)
• Wind/gust: plotted as a barb from the center circle in the direction the wind is from. Full lines off the main barb indicated 10 kts, half lines 5 kts, and triangular flags 50 kts. A circle indicated calm or variable winds.
• Alt: altimeter setting plotted in the upper right as the last three digits in inches Hg (hPa)
• Cig: cloud ceiling plotted to the right in hundreds of feet
• Id: four letter station identifier plotted in the lower right
• Flt cat/cover: cloud cover symbol (see symbols) plotted in the center. Color indicates flight condition.

Satellite

A global satellite mosaic constructed from the five geostationary satellites plus appropriate polar orbiter imagery is available. The resulting image is created every 30 minutes from available imagery. There are three types of images available:

Radar

The GFA uses the Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) radar mosaic produced by the NWS. The radar image combines over 140 NEXRAD radars into a single mosaic. Each of these radars implements the WSR-88D technology. The "Doppler" capability of these radars uses shifts in the phase of the reflected energy to determine the velocity of the particles towards or away from the radar. The effective detection range is between 80 and 140 nautical miles, depending on the intensity of the precipitation. Additional post-processing is performed to remove some ground clutter and anomalous propagation (AP). The limitations of the radar such as blockage by mountains, lack of radar to radar overlap and over-processing of clutter and AP can cause the image to not show precipitation where there might be some. The display incorporates the latest radar image plus the previous 4 into a loop of radar data showing progression of precipitation echoes. By moving the time slider into the past, the radar loop will always show the latest 5 images ending in the time shown in the slider box. The valid time of the radar image is displayed in the top left corner of the map.

Layer Selector

Global Lightning

Gridded data from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) can be viewed within the GFA domain, as plotted below, by checking the Lightning box in the layer dropdown found in the top right corner of the display. The GLM provides enhanced visualization of convection beyond the extent of ground-based observations for GOES East and West up to 55 deg N as shown below. The map below displays GLM Coverage relative to the GFA domain. The GFA domain is outlined in red, with the satellite coverage from GOES West and GOES East in blue and yellow, respectively. The plotted GLM data is displayed in the shaded region.

Gridded Flight Category Analysis

The gridded analysis product provides near surface ceiling and visibility information every 15 minutes. It's important to note that the analysis is an interpolation between observation points, and therefore may not represent actual conditions occurring. The gridded guidance is using observations and interpolating between those points using background statistics The ceiling and visibility are used together to classify the flight category as VFR, MVFR, IFR, and LIFR (see table below). This set of rules is commonly used throughout the aviation industry. Ceiling grids are color-coded to show ceilings up to 3000 ft AGL, and visibility displays color-coded grids for visibility up to 5 miles. Values above 3000 ft AGL for ceilings, or 5 miles visibility are transparent.

METAR

Weather stations from around the world report weather conditions typically once an hour using the WMO approved METAR format. These data are centrally collected by each country and distributed internationally by WMO and other services. AWC gathers data through a variety of feeds provided by NWS. The METAR observations are plotted using the standard station model where temperature, dewpoint, winds, altimeter setting, weather, ceiling and visibility are displayed around the station location. The data plotted comes from the latest available observation, including SPECIs. The stations displayed follow a progressive priority scheme that will show more stations depending on zoom level. Flight category and cloud coverage is indicated by the colored dots of the observation stations. Learn how to configure the data displayed by each METAR in the map options on the Tutorial tab to view only ceilings, visibility, or winds.

More information about METARs

Flight Cat

The flight category checkbox displays only the flight conditions at a particular airport as a colored dot. The dots are purple, red, blue, or green and represent LIRF, IFR, MVFR, and VFR, respectively. A yellow circle around the green VFR dot indicates there are cloud bases below 3,000 ft to indicate potential problems with low level flights. The flight category display uses the same priority filter system as the METAR plots but the density is much higher.

PIREPs

An aircraft report is a report of actual weather conditions encountered by an aircraft while in flight. A PIREP is reported by a pilot to indicate encounters of hazardous weather such as icing or turbulence and transmitted in real-time via radio to a ground station. Encoded and decoded PIREP text information is available by clicking on the individual report. The type, altitude, range, and report age of PIREPs that are displayed can be configured through the map options dialog.

More information about PIREPs

Fronts

Surface analysis fronts, mean sea level pressure (MSLP) contours, and pressure centers from the Weather Prediction Center are available over North America including the contiguous US and Alaska. The data are produced every three hours and are generally available two hours after the valid time.
Forecasted fronts can be found under Prog Charts in the Products dropdown.

Warnings

All SIGMETs and National Weather Service (NWS) warnings that impact aviation are plotted. By clicking on the polygon or station plot, the user can view text information which displays the hazard name, the NWS Office that issued the warning, and the time the warning ends, or the full decoded METAR.

G-AIRMET

Various G-AIRMETs can be toggled on and off. For more information on G-AIRMETs, use the SIGMET/AIRMET/CWA/NWS Warnings tab below.

More information about G-AIRMETs

Model derived surface flight category forecast grids are displayed. Flight category is color-coded for MVFR, IFR and LIFR. Areas with VFR conditions (ceiling greater than 3000 ft AGL and greater than 5 miles of visibility) are transparent. MVFR conditions occur with a ceiling 1000 ft to 3000 ft AGL and/or visibility 3 miles to 5 miles. IFR conditions include ceiling height less than 1,000 feet AGL and/or visibility less than 3 miles. Low IFR (LIFR) is a sub-category of IFR where ceiling heights are below 500 ft AGL, and/or visibility is less than 1 mile.

Ceiling and visibility grids are available by selecting the dropdown button within the layer selector. Ceiling grids are color-coded to show ceilings up to 3000 ft AGL, and Visibility displays color-coded grids for visibility up to 5 SM. Values above 3000 ft AGL or 5 SM visibility are transparent. Additionally, Density Altitude at the surface is available in the same dropdown. The density altitude deviation depicts the aviation effect of high surface temperatures that lower the air density and require longer runway lengths before an aircraft may lift off the runway. The values range from zero to 4000 feet indicating the perceived additional altitude of the runway rather than the actual elevation.

The Weather Symbol overlays NDFD precipitation symbols on the graphic.

G-AIRMET and SIGMET polygons that affect ceiling and/or visibility (volcanic ash, blowing dust/sand (IFR), convective, tropical cyclone, and international thunderstorm SIGMETs and G-AIRMET Sierra) are overlaid on the graphic. NWS Hazards for Winter Storm, Blizzard, Blowing Dust, and Marine Dense Fog are overlaid on the graphic. Dense Fog and Freezing Fog will be added in the future.

Model derived cloud fraction (few, scattered, broken, overcast) is displayed for clouds below FL180 each hour. Model bases and tops are available by selecting the dropdown button within the layer selector. All color-coded grids and text information relays cloud heights in feet above Mean Sea Level (MSL).

The Weather Symbol overlays grid circles which indicate the coverage at that particular location. The density of the grid circles increase as the user zooms in on the map. Text data displays layers and tops at each grid point. Cirrus or CI above indicate cirrus type clouds present above FL180.
NOTE: The color-coded grid and the grid circles are model-derived data. Users should check TAFs for forecast conditions.

Volcanic ash, convective, tropical cyclone, and international thunderstorm SIGMETs and G-AIRMETS for mountain obscuration are overlaid on the gridded display.

A color-coded grid, derived from the National Digital Forecast Database (NDFD), of weather type, severity, and likelihood is displayed to indicate forecast precipitation. The grids display 'chance' when the probability of precipitation is up to 50%, and 'likely' when the probability of precipitation is greater than 50%. Thunderstorm and winter weather grids are available by selecting the dropdown button within the layer selector.

The corresponding precipitation Weather Symbol is overlaid on the grid.

Convective, tropical cyclone, international thunderstorm, and volcanic ash SIGMET polygons are automatically displayed. NWS hazards associated with precipitation including, tornado, severe thunderstorm, winter storm, winter weather, ice storm, freezing rain and lake effect snow are displayed. Only Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado NWS warnings are included on the thunderstorm tab. A Severe Thunderstorm is defined as a thunderstorm that produces a tornado, winds of at least 58 mph (50 knots or ~93 km/h), and/or hail at least 1" in diameter.

A grid of thunderstorm coverage categories is displayed with the thunderstorm type/intensity symbol overlaid. A Severe Thunderstorm is defined as a thunderstorm that produces a tornado, winds of at least 58 mph (50 knots or ~93 km/h), and/or hail at least 1" in diameter.

The corresponding precipitation Weather Symbol is overlaid on the grid.

Convective, tropical cyclone, and international thunderstorm SIGMET polygons are displayed. Only Severe Thunderstorm and Tornado NWS warnings are included.

Add the TFM Convective Forecast (TCF) and the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) Convective outlook using the layers dropdown.
NOTE: TCF will only display at the hours where forecasts are made and will not be displayed at hour 0.

View three-dimensional temperature data for levels in 3000 ft. increments from the surface to FL300, and in 6000 ft. increments from FL300 to FL480. The user may also select to view data at the surface (SFC) values. Model temperature data is displayed in a color-coded graphic. Wind barbs can be overlaid on the temperature graphic.

The Weather Sybmols show wind speed and direction depicted by gridded wind barbs, which increase in density as the user zooms in.

Low Altitude: Temperature data is available for levels in 500 ft. increments from SFC to 2000 ft. AGL and 1000 ft. increments from 2000 ft. AGL to 5000 ft. AGL.

Extended Range: Temperature data is available graphically out to four days in the future. Wind barbs can be overlaid on the map.

The user can select to view wind data for levels in 3000 ft. increments from the surface to FL300, and in 6000 ft. increments from FL300 to FL480. The user may also select to view data at the surface (SFC) or the maximum values (MAX) for all levels. Model wind speed is displayed in a color-coded graphic.

The Weather Symbols show wind speed and direction depicted by gridded wind barbs, which increase in density as the user zooms in. When "MAX" is selected, the graphic displayed is the maximum value for wind speed and the associated direction wind barb regardless of flight level.

Convective, tropical cyclone, and international thunderstorm SIGMET and G-AIRMET Tango polygons for low level wind shear and strong surface winds are overlaid on the graphic. NWS wind advisories and warnings, which include Gale, Wind, High Wind, Lake Wind, Winter Storm, Blizzard, Ice Storm, Storm, and Blowing Dust are displayed at the surface. Small Craft warnings for wind will be added in the future.

Low Altitude: Wind data is available for levels in 500 ft. increments from SFC to 2000 ft. AGL and 1000 ft. increments from 2000 ft. AGL to 5000 ft. AGL.

Extended Range: Wind data is available graphically and with wind barbs out to four days in the future.

The graphical turbulence grid is expressed in terms of Eddy Dissipation Rate (EDR) to the 1/3 power, i.e. EDR = (m²/s³)^1/3. The user can select flight levels in 3000 ft. increments between FL030 and FL300, and in 6000 ft. increments between FL300 and FL480. The user also has the option to choose "<180" or ">180". When less than or greater than FL180 is selected, the maximum EDR value is displayed for all altitudes below or at and above FL180, respectively.

Low Level Wind Shear (LLWS) is available by selecting the dropdown button within the layer selector. The LLWS tab displays the magnitude of non-convective wind shear below 2000 ft. AGL. The wind shear values are a difference in wind speed (m/s) divided by depth (m), resulting in units of s^-1 (1/s). Warmer colors, with values above 0.12 s^-1, indicate areas with stronger wind shear.

G-AIRMET Tango is displayed for turbulence only. It does not include G-AIRMET Tango for surface winds or low level wind shear. Turbulence, convective, tropical cyclone and international thunderstorm SIGMETs are also overlaid. When the "LO" or "HI" level is selected, only the LO or HI SIGMETs are displayed corresponding to the selected level. The LLWS includes G-AIRMET polygons for low level wind shear.

Low Altitude: Turbulence data is available for levels in 500 ft. increments from SFC to 2000 ft. AGL and 1000 ft. increments from 2000 ft. AGL to 5000 ft. AGL. LLWS values can be displayed by selecting the dropdown button within the layer selector.

The icing graphic provides color-coded icing severity depictions at various altitudes. The icing severity product combines a multitude of weather observations (temperature, humidity, satellite, observed surface weather and pilot reports, radar data, etc.) to diagnose areas of expected trace, light, moderate, and heavy icing. The user can use the vertical slide bar to choose to display the product at 3000 ft. intervals up to FL270. The user may also choose "Max" to display the maximum icing severity for a location regardless of altitude. The severity estimations are roughly based on the accretion rate of ice on an airplane, and the levels are determined by the time it would take for an airfoil to accrete 1/4 in on ice: trace, 1 h; light, 15 min-1 h; moderate, 5-15 min; and heavy < 5 min. The rates are, in turn, estimated from the amount of supercooled liquid water expected with a nominal drop diameter of 15 microns, and are further tuned by nearby pilot reports of encountered severity. These are relative values and the use of which should take into account the airframe and the level of icing protection provided by the aircraft. The ultimate safety factor is the vigilance demonstrated by the pilot in potential icing situations.

View Icing Probability, Supercooled Large drops (SLD), and Freezing Level heights by selecting the dropdown button within the layer selector. Overall icing probability and severity originate from the Forecast Icing Product (FIP) developed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). These products start with data from the RAP which is run hourly.

Note: FIP is intended for flight planning purposes and should always be used in combination with icing information from all available sources including G-AIRMETs, SIGMETs, and PIREPs. Please also note that FIP severity estimates are not synonymous with the icing PIREP severities of trace, light, moderate, and severe. Icing PIREP severities are subjective estimates by the pilot of the rate of accumulation combined with the use of aircraft deicing systems whereas FIP severity estimates are an attempt to provide guidance based from the characterization of the meteorological environment. FIP aid flight planning and situational awareness through graphical depiction of current and forecast icing conditions across an area or along a route of flight.

SLD are predominantly found at temperatures ranging from 0°C to -20°C, but can be found at temperatures as cold as -40°C. SLD are shown using a red hash over areas with an expected SLD threat. The freezing level is displayed relative to mean sea level (MSL).

The Weather Symbol denoting the winter precipitation type and intensity is overlaid on the graphic.

Two-dimensional G-AIRMET Zulu and Icing, convective, tropical cyclone and international thunderstorm SIGMET polygons are overlaid on the graphic valid at the selected level. All G-AIRMET Zulu, and SIGMET polygons appear when "MAX" is selected. NWS winter storm, blizzard, freezing rain, lake effect snow, winter weather and freezing fog polygons.

Low Altitude: Icing data is available for levels in 500 ft. increments from the surface to 2000 ft. AGL and 1000 ft. increments from 2000 ft. AGL to 5000 ft. AGL.

Note: A noticeable seam — a potential disagreement between multiple icing severity solutions — often occurs between the CONUS domain and in the open waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, as well as the Gulf. This seam is the result of two different icing severity solutions, with two different horizontal resolutions, being pieced together in order to cover the entire GFA domain. Additionally, this discrepancy is possible at all vertical levels, including in the GFA-LA. For more information on the GFA domain, please see the top section of the main help page: GFA Help.

For additional icing information, consult this document: How to Properly Use an Icing Forecast

The following table shows which weather elements are displayed on each forecast product tab.

SIGMET

Significant Meteorological Information is a weather advisory that contains meteorological information concerning the safety of all aircraft. There are two types of SIGMETs: convective and non-convective.

US SIGMETs — A US SIGMET advises of weather, other than convective activity, that is potentially hazardous to all aircraft. SIGMETs are issued (for the lower 48 states and adjacent coastal waters) for the following weather-impacted reasons:

• Severe Icing
• Severe of Extreme Turbulence
• Dust Storms and/or Sand Storms lowering visibility to less than 3 miles
• Volcanic Ash

If the total area affected during the forecast period is very large, only a small portion of this total area may be affected at any one time. SIGMETs are issued for 6 hour periods for conditions associated with hurricanes and 4 hours for all other events. If conditions persist beyond the forecast period, the SIGMET is updated and reissued. Convective SIGMETs are issued hourly for thunderstorm-related aviation hazards.

US Convective SIGMETs - Convective SIGMETs are issued in the conterminous U.S. if these conditions are occurring or expected to occur:

• Line of thunderstorms at least 60 miles long with thunderstorms affecting 40% of its length
• Area of thunderstorms covering at least 40% of the area concerned and exhibiting a very strong radar reflectivity or a significant satellite or lightning signature
• Embedded or severe thunderstorms expected to occur for more than 30 minutes

Special issuance criteria occur with tornado, hail greater than 3/4 inch in diameter, and wind gusts greater than or equal to 50 knots.

Any convective SIGMET implies severe or greater turbulence, severe icing, and low level wind shear. A convective SIGMET may be issued for any convective situation which the forecaster feels is hazardous to all categories of aircraft. Bulletins are issued hourly at Hour+55. The text of the bulletin consists of either an observation and a forecast or just a forecast. The forecast is valid for up to 2 hours.

International SIGMETs - US SIGMETs cover the contiguous United States and follow US coding standards. Any SIGMET issued outside of the CONUS follows the international coding standard. The aviation hazards are similar to the US SIGMETs except convective SIGMETs are treated the same as other hazards. Here is the list of hazards:

• Thunderstorms
• Tropical Cyclones
• Turbulence
• Icing
• Volcanic Ash
• Dust and Sand Storms
• Radiological cloud

International SIGMETs are defined within a specific FIR. Most FIRs are aligned with a country's airspace or a subset of that airspace. Ocean regions also have FIRs where SIGMETs are covered by adjacent countries. The US does issue international SIGMETs for Alaska and for oceanic areas off the east coast of the US, the Gulf and a large part of the central northern Pacific.

CWA

Center Weather Advisories (CWA) are an aviation weather warning for conditions meeting or approaching national in-flight advisory (G-AIRMET, SIGMET or SIGMET for convection) criteria. The CWA is primarily used by air crews to anticipate and avoid adverse weather conditions in the en route and terminal environments. It is not a flight planning product because of its short lead time and duration. Additionally, the CWA should be meteorologically consistent with other products and reflect conditions at the time of issuance and/or in the near future.

CWAs are valid for up to 2 hours and may include forecasts of conditions expected to begin within 2 hours of issuance. If conditions are expected to persist after the advisory's valid period, a statement to that effect should be included in the last line of the text. Follow-up CWAs should be issued as appropriate. Notice of significant changes in the phenomenon described in a CWA should be provided by a new CWA issuance for that phenomenon. If the forecaster deems it necessary, CWAs may be issued hourly for convective activity. CWAs should be issued for any of the following events when they are expected to occur within two hours and have not been previously forecast by AWC or AAWU products, or to supplement the AWC and AAWU products.

• Conditions meeting convective SIGMET criteria
• Icing - moderate or greater
• Turbulence - moderate or greater
• Heavy or freezing precipitation
• Conditions at or approaching Low IFR
• Surface winds/gusts >30 knots
• Low Level Wind Shear (surface - 2,000 feet)
• Volcanic ash, dust storms, or sandstorms

G-AIRMET

A G-AIRMET is a graphical advisory of weather that may be hazardous to aircraft, but are less severe than SIGMETs. They are only valid at specific time "snapshots" and the nearest valid time snapshot is displayed on the interactive map (Note: This could be a forecasted time). Forecasters create graphical objects depicting the areas and attributes of G-AIRMET hazards, which are distributed in BUFR file format. G-AIRMETs are issued at discrete times 3 hours apart for a period of up to 12 hours into the future (00, 03, 06, 09, and 12 hours). They are issued at 03:00, 09:00, 15:00 and 21:00 UTC (with updates issued as necessary). G-AIRMET are issued by the AWC for the lower 48 states and adjacent coastal waters.

The aviation hazards depicted in the G-AIRMET are:

• Turbulence - Areas of moderate turbulence, other than convectively induced, including the vertical extent.
• Low Level Wind Shear (LLWS) - Wind shear below 2000 feet AGL, other than convectively induced, resulting in an air speed loss or gain of 20 knots or more. LLWS potential information is included after G-AIRMETs for moderate turbulence and/or sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots or statements indicating no significant turbulence is expected.
• Strong Surface Winds - Areas of sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots. The direction and speed of the wind are not depicted; only the area where sustained surface winds greater than 30 knots will occur.
• Icing - Areas of moderate airframe icing, other than convectively induced, including the areal extent.
• Freezing Level - The lowest freezing level above the ground or at the SFC as appropriate. Freezing level information is included after G-AIRMETs for moderate icing or statements indicating that no significant icing is expected. Freezing levels are delineated using high altitude VOR locations describing the location of the lowest freezing level above the ground or SFC as appropriate. Freezing levels above the ground are delineated at 4000 feet intervals above mean sea level. Multiple freezing levels above the ground are delineated by high altitude and low altitude VOR locations. The range of freezing levels across the forecast area is also included.
• IFR - Areas of cloud ceilings with bases less than 1000 feet above ground level and/or areas of surface visibilities below 3 statute miles, including the weather causing the visibility restriction. The cause of the visibility restriction includes only widespread sand/dust storm, PCPN, FU HZ,BR,FG, and/or BLSN.
• Mountain Obscuration - Areas of widespread mountain obscuration where VMC cannot be maintained, including the weather causing the obscuration. The weather causing the obscuration includes only CLDS, PCPN, FU, HZ, BR, and/or FG.

NWS Warnings

Text information for relevant NWS textual weather observations and forecasts is available by clicking on the observation or warning. These data are either points of observed or forecast weather, often at airports, or regions of hazardous weather represented by two-dimensional polygons. Text boxes must be reselected after moving the time slider in order to update the information.

Frontal Analysis

Surface Prog Charts are forecasts for surface conditions. These are generated by WPC and rendered for the web site. WPC provides an analysis updated every three hours plus 12 and 24 hour forecasts updated four times a day and a 36 and 48 hour forecast updated twice a day. In addition, medium range forecasts every day from three to seven days are also provided. These are valid for the contiguous United States.

Precipitation

Areas of precipitation expected at the valid time of the forecast are shaded in colors depending on the type and likelihood of precipitation. The areas are derived from the NDFD grid for weather.

TAF is the international standard code format for terminal forecasts issued for airports. Station plots showing the TAF valid for the selected time from the time slider are displayed. The forecast TAFs are plotted using the standard station model where winds, weather, ceiling and visibility are displayed around the station location. The stations displayed follow a progressive priority scheme that will show more stations depending on zoom level. Flight category and cloud coverage is indicated by the colored dots of the forecast stations.

All AWC SIGMET and NWS Warning polygons are displayed.

More information about TAFs

Weather Forecast Offices across the country issue Area Forecast Discussions (AFD) for their respective forecast region in order to provide the meteorological/scientific reasoning behind a forecast. Although the AFD is comprised of many components, only the aviation section is displayed by region. View the full AFD by using the link in the pop-up window. OCONUS Area Forecasts (FAs)for Alaska, Hawaii, and the Caribbean are also availabale.

Forecasts of significant thunderstorm activity in arrival and departure sectors for the top airports.

Time Slider

Available weather product tabs are configured based on the time selection. The forecast data provide analysis weather information for the current time, and rounded to the nearest top of the hour, forecasted 18 hours in the future. The observation data provide an option to display weather data for the current time and the previous 18 hours (rounded to the nearest hour). Users may advance through time using the arrow buttons or by clicking directly on the desired hour on desktops and larger screens.

Low Altitude: Forecast data is available for the current time and starting at the top of the nearest hour to 6 hours into the future. Observational data is available for the current time and the previous 2 hours in 15 minute increments.

Base maps

Terrain — The Esri terrain view which gives the most basic of views from the Esri server. This will show relief for hills and mountains at higher zoom levels.

Road — The Esri road view which gives the more detailed view of roads from the Esri server. This will show detailed city streets at higher zoom levels.

Satellite - The Esri satellite view which gives a photographic view from the Esri server. This will not show roads so using the highway and road overlay in the map options would be useful with this basemap.

Dark Grey — Dark mode default map, highlighting land in a grey and waters in black. Countries are labeled and states are outlined in white. This will not show roads so using the highway and road overlay in the map options would be useful with this basemap.

Light Grey — Light mode default map, highlighting land in white and waters in light grey. Countries are labeled and states are outlined in black. This will not show roads so using the highway and road overlay in the map options would be useful with this basemap.

VFR Chart (US) — The FAA Visual Flight Rules chart displays georeferenced features, such as airports, mountains and passes, and flight routes. This layer is only available over CONUS and Alaska.

IFR High Level (US) — The Instrument Flight Rules high altitude chart provides jet route structure, Q-routes, navaids, and selected airports and reporting points designed for navigation at or above 18,000 ft MSL. This layer is only available over CONUS and Alaska.

IFR Low Level (US) — The Instrument Flight Rules low altitude chart is designed for flights below 18,000 ft MSL.

Dark — The NASA Blue Marble image. This shows no detail which might be desirable for some more complicated displays. This will not show roads so using the highway and road overlay would be useful with this basemap.

Light — A simple light background based on the NASA Blue Marble image. This shows no detail which might be desirable for some more complicated displays. This will not show roads so using the highway and road overlay would be useful with this basemap.

Simple Dark — A blank black background.

Simple Light — A blank white background which again might be desirable for some complicated displays and output to a printer.

Map Features

Navigational information — Icons for airports, fixes, navaids, and airways are available at lower zoom levels. Jet routes and boundaries are available at all zoom levels.

Miscellaneous — Major highways and US interstates, roads, and rivers are available as overlays. Even though the Esri basemap has highways, terrain and road views, it can be difficult to see them with high opacity data overlaid. City polygons and county outlines are available. Icons for features, such as mountains, are available at all zoom levels, and obstacles, such as towers, are available at lower zoom levels.