Aeronautical chart aerodrome symbol

A circle with runway strokes across it.

Also known as: Airport chart symbol, Airfield chart mark

Maps & navigationRoad & transportStandard profile

Meanings

The aeronautical chart symbol marking an aerodrome, its interior showing the arrangement of the runways.

Officially standardisedVerified fact
Marks an aerodrome on an aeronautical chart.
Contexts: Maps
Officially standardisedVerified fact
Draws the runways at their true bearings inside the circle, so the symbol gives the runway orientation before any figure is read.
Contexts: Maps

A circle crossed by one or more straight strokes drawn at the angles of the actual runways.

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

ICAO Annex 4, Aeronautical Charts
International Civil Aviation Organization · retrieved 2026-08-23
The international standard governing aeronautical chart symbology, which is why an approach plate is legible to a pilot who has never flown in that country. The full text is NOT REPRODUCED here and has NOT BEEN READ in full; records cite it for the existence, issuing body and defined form of a mark. See docs/paywalled-standards.md.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25

Meanings

The aeronautical chart symbol marking an aerodrome, its interior showing the arrangement of the runways.

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Marks an aerodrome on an aeronautical chart.

Contexts: Maps

Officially standardisedVerified fact

Draws the runways at their true bearings inside the circle, so the symbol gives the runway orientation before any figure is read.

Contexts: Maps

Confidence

IdentityHigh confidence: High confidence because the identity is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Historical originLow confidence: Low confidence because the historical origin is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far, but early or supporting evidence is limited, but the regional or cultural match to this specific claim is not precise.
Current useHigh confidence: High confidence because the current use is defined by a current official standard, but only a single source has been found so far.
Visual matchModerate confidence: Moderate confidence because the visual match is documented in encyclopedic references, but only a single source has been found so far.

Sources

ICAO Annex 4, Aeronautical Charts
International Civil Aviation Organization · retrieved 2026-08-23
The international standard governing aeronautical chart symbology, which is why an approach plate is legible to a pilot who has never flown in that country. The full text is NOT REPRODUCED here and has NOT BEEN READ in full; records cite it for the existence, issuing body and defined form of a mark. See docs/paywalled-standards.md.

Last reviewed 2026-08-25