For student pilots earning their Instrument Rating (IR) and airline captains flying into congested hubs like JFK or Heathrow, the Jeppesen chart is the universal language of instrument flight. But what makes these charts so special? Why do pilots spend hundreds of dollars on these binders instead of using free government plates?
Today, Jeppesen is a subsidiary of Boeing. While the paper charts that made the company famous are still widely used, the "Jeppesen chart" has evolved into a sophisticated digital ecosystem. However, the core philosophy remains the same:
Pre-planned IFR arrival routes that transition aircraft from the enroute structure to the terminal area near the destination airport. jeppesen chart
A standard approach plate is divided into several logical sections:
One of the most noticeable differences is the placement of critical data. While FAA charts place the airport diagram in the lower left, the airport diagram on a Jeppesen chart is typically positioned at the top of the briefing strip, putting essential airport information like runway distances and lighting directly in the pilot's scan. For student pilots earning their Instrument Rating (IR)
Before you intercept the glideslope, run this flow (left to right across the top strip):
Jeppesen provides specialized layouts tailored to distinct phases of flight: Today, Jeppesen is a subsidiary of Boeing
In the 1930s, an airmail pilot named Elrey Borge Jeppesen began writing down critical navigation details in a small black notebook. He recorded terrain elevations, runway lengths, and phone numbers of local residents who could provide weather updates. Realizing how valuable this information was for saving lives, he founded the company to publish these notes as cohesive charts.
While the paper "Jeppesen Airway Manual" (which could fill a bookshelf of 40+ binders) is still in use, the future is digital.
A bird’s-eye visual overview of the approach procedure. It maps out transition routes, holding patterns, minimum safe altitudes (MSA), and significant terrain obstacles. Jeppesen explicitly positions latitude and longitude lines off to the side of the diagram to maximize clarity and avoid visual clutter.