Latitude and longitude on a sectional
Updated 2026-10-16. Independent guide, not affiliated with the FAA.
Sectionals print a line every 30 minutes of latitude and longitude, with small ticks every minute and longer ticks every 10 minutes.
- Find the labeled lines nearest your target.
- Latitude: count ticks north (up) from the line below.
- West longitude: numbers increase to the left (west). Count ticks left from the line to the east.
- One minute of latitude is one nautical mile.
The most common error is counting longitude the wrong way. If 77 deg W is on the right and 77 deg 30' W on the left, a point a third of the way left is about 77 deg 10' W.
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