Cartografía y Topografía en la Navegación Aérea

The science of creating maps, representing the Earth's surface.

The science of studying and representing the Earth's surface features on maps.

Maps designed for flight, conforming to aviation standards.

The science studying Earth's shape, size, gravity field, and representation on maps.

The true, irregular shape of Earth based on gravity.

A mathematical model of Earth used for calculations, a simplified shape.

Physical characteristics of the Earth's landforms like mountains and rivers.

Systems used to turn the 3D Earth into a 2D map.

The irregular shape of Earth, based on gravity, roughly matching the average sea level.

A simplified, mathematically calculated shape used to model Earth for calculations.

12,742 kilometers

6,371 kilometers

The central point of symmetry in Earth.

An imaginary line passing through Earth's center.

Points where the axis of Earth's rotation intersects the surface.

Circles on Earth spanning through the center. Dividing the Earth into halves.

Earth spinning on its axis, causing day and night.

Earth is slightly flattened at the poles due to centrifugal force from rotation.

Earth orbiting the Sun.

Earth's orbital path around the Sun.

Farthest point in Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Closest point in Earth's orbit around the Sun.

Changes in weather patterns caused by Earth's tilt and revolution around the Sun.

Days when the Sun's rays are directly overhead at the Equator, equal day/night.

The route between two points that is the shortest and follows a great circle.

A path on a globe that crosses all meridians at a constant angle; important for maintaining a constant course, though longer than great circle in many cases.

Any circle on the surface of a sphere whose center is the same as the center of the sphere.

A unit of length equal to one minute of arc along a great circle on the earth.

The difference between the desired flight path of an aircraft and its actual path due to wind.

Displacement of Earth's rotational axis in space, creating a cone-shaped path, taking roughly 25,700 years to complete.

Slight oscillation of Earth's axis, occurring along the precessional path, completing a cycle in about 18 years.

Earth's magnetic field has North and South Magnetic Poles, not aligned with geographical poles.

Gravitational forces from the Sun and Moon, acting on Earth's equatorial bulge, cause precession.

Nutation, combined with precession, affects the position of Earth's magnetic north.

The point where Earth's magnetic field lines enter the Earth.

The point where Earth's magnetic field lines exit the Earth.

The position of the North Star, as a reference point to the Earth's geographical North varies about 1 degree due to Earth's precesion.

The angle between local magnetic north and geographic north.

Magnetic north is to the right of geographic north.

Magnetic north is to the left of geographic north.

Angular distance of an aircraft from magnetic north.

Angular distance of an aircraft from geographical north.

Geographic heading - declination = Magnetic heading.

Projection of aircraft movement on Earth's surface

Straightest line between two points on the Earth's surface (Great Circle).

The projection of an aircraft's flight path onto the ground, resulting from corrected headings to maintain a desired route.

Angular distance from the Earth's equator, measured in degrees, ranging from 0° to 90° at the poles.

Angular distance measured eastward or westward from a prime meridian (Greenwich), expressed in degrees.

A method for locating points on Earth's surface using latitude and longitude.

Parameters defining the origin, orientation, and scale of a coordinate system relative to an Earth model.

A method for locating points on Earth's surface for mapping purposes.

Adjusting a flight course to account for deviations caused by factors such as wind.

Moving air masses that affect an aircraft's flight path.

Angular distance east or west of the Prime Meridian (Greenwich)

A global geodetic reference system, standardized for coordinate calculations.

Earth's center of mass.

Earth's rotational axis, defined by the IERS (International Earth Rotation Service).

Intersection of the equatorial plane and the Greenwich meridian, defined by IERS.

Official geodetic reference system for Spain.

Semimajor axis (a), semiminor axis (b), gravitational constant (GM), angular velocity (W), dynamic form coefficient (J2).

A mathematical model of the Earth used to define locations on its surface.

A scale where the numerator is smaller than the denominator, representing a large area with smaller details, like cities or land areas (e.g., 1:5.000).

A scale drawing where the denominator is a small number, offering more detail, often used for smaller areas like cities or property boundaries.

A scale drawing where the denominator is a large number, representing a large area with less detail, suitable for continents or countries (e.g., 1:5.000.000).

Scale where the numerator is larger than the denominator, typically used to magnify details, like a blueprint or schematic.

Exact representation, one-to-one ratio (1:1), i.e. the object is rendered as it is in real life.

A visually represented scale on a map showing a proportional relationship between map distances and real-world distances

Mathematical transformations used to display a spherical Earth on a flat map, creating distortions.

Inherent inaccuracies in map representations, reflecting the transformation from a sphere to a flat surface, impacting distances, angles, and areas.

Methods for representing a 3-D Earth on a 2-D surface.

Preserve angles between points on the map and on Earth.

Maintain area proportions between map and Earth.

Preserve distances from a central point or line to other locations on the map.

Direct geometric representation of Earth's surface on a flat surface.

Derived from pure projections but adjusted to achieve specific properties, e.g., minimizing distortion.

Projection where the light source is infinitely far from the Earth.

Projection where the light source is on the surface of the Earth.

Representan el relieve del terreno mediante líneas que unen puntos de igual altitud.

Distancia vertical entre dos curvas de nivel consecutivas en un mapa topográfico.

Depende de la equidistancia y la escala. Mayor escala y menor equidistancia, mayor precisión.

Conjunto de símbolos gráficos utilizados en mapas para representar elementos geográficos.

Símbolos que sugieren o evocan un elemento geográfico.

Símbolos similares a lo que representan, con forma semejante.

Símbolos que representan magnitudes o cantidad.

Guías establecidas por organismos para el diseño de símbolos en mapas.

The standard for Aeronautical Chart symbols, established by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Spanish aeronautical information publication, containing symbols not included in ICAO Annex 4.

A map of land, terrain, and structures for aviation navigation, conforming to ICAO standards.

International Civil Aviation Organization - global aviation regulatory body.

Spanish air traffic management service, responsible for aeronautical charts.

Responsible for producing aeronautical charts, for national and international use.

Each country is responsible for creating its own aeronautical charts, tailored to their specific air traffic needs.

Part of ICAO standards that discuss Aeronautical Information Services, including the production of aeronautical charts.

International standard for aeronautical chart symbols, set by ICAO.

Aeronautical charts required for safe flight operations.

Charts only created if they enhance safety and efficiency.

Charts required only under specific circumstances or conditions.

Different types of aeronautical charts, like obstacle charts, or navigation charts.

Details on the availability and publication formats (languages, scales) of aeronautical charts.

Languages in which aeronautical charts are published.

Detailed requirements for chart design, symbols, usage, and content.

Carta aeronáutica que describe la ruta de aproximación instrumental estandarizada para un aeropuerto.

Detailed information for aircraft movement on ground such as taxiways, parking areas, and between them.

Mapa del aeropuerto y sus alrededores para aproximaciones visuales, en áreas con navegación limitada.

A detailed plan for aircraft parking, accommodating complex terminal facilities not fully shown on the airport map.

Mapa que muestra las altitudes mínimas de vuelo para la vigilancia del controlador de tráfico aéreo.

Provides safety data for take-offs, in-flight engine failures, and landings, considering potential obstacles along flight paths.

Mapa que delimita el área de cobertura del radar de un control.

Details about runways, including their designation, direction, and whether they are two-way.

Carta para la navegación visual dentro de un área de control de tráfico aéreo (TMA).

Ensuring a safe takeoff process, accounting for potential engine failures and obstacles along the planned route.

Aircraft must be able to continue a flight until alternative landing areas become available. Critical obstacle considerations are reviewed.

Carta que ilustra la ruta de transición de la fase de crucero a la aproximación final.

Ensuring the aircraft can safely land at planned or backup airports, and stopping within available landing distances. Obstacles along descent are a critical issue.

Carta específica para descensos continuos durante las etapas finales de aproximación instrumental.

Cada fase del vuelo requiere una carta diferente que proporcione la información correcta para una navegación eficaz.

Detailed Plans for all phases of flight, including takeoff, in-flight, and landing are created to address potential concerns such as engine failures and obstacles along flight plans; ensuring that the aircraft can continue a flight and/or stop inside the given spaces.

Provides detailed terrain information for precision approach areas, aiding aircraft operators in determining decision heights using radio altimeters.

Offers flight crew guidance for navigation along Air Traffic Services (ATS) routes, adhering to procedures.

Provides information for instrument flight rule (IFR) transitions between route and approach phases, or take-off/abort-landing and route phases, or complex ATS airspace areas.

Provides routes for IFR aircraft from takeoff to en route stages.

Provides routes for IFR aircraft from en route to approach stages.

Provides routes for IFR aircraft during continuous descent approaches.

Published for practically all Spanish airports and heliports given their importance for operations.

Exclusive digital format provided in Spain for En Route Charts, accessed at a specific link.

Instrumental RNAV1 procedures used to transition from a Standard Terminal Arrival Route (STAR) to a final approach procedure like ILS, at high-density airports.

Altitudes set by the Air Traffic Control (ATC) system for aircraft to maintain while monitored.

Chart providing information for instrument approaches, including missed approaches and holding procedures.

Chart guiding flight from en-route to approach using visual references, like terrain and landmarks.

Instrumental procedures for shifting from cruise flight to an approach/landing, streamlining arrival traffic patterns.

The stage of flight where an aircraft is in cruise flight between different airports during a journey.

The stage in flight where the pilot prepares for landing, with specific procedures for the final descent.

Standard Terminal Arrival Routes followed by aircraft for arriving, specifying altitude and speed, except minimum safe altitudes.

Aeronautical chart used for low-speed, short to medium-range, and low-to-medium-altitude visual flight navigation.

A chart for visual flight rule (VFR) aircraft within a terminal control area, highlighting safe flight altitudes amid high traffic.

Identifies airport surface lighting and significant geographical locations marked by cities, towns or other identifiers.

Highlights areas to avoid for private aircraft, marked as flight hazards.

Shows areas with high concentrations of migratory or wintering water birds and other species.

Establish visual approach or limited navigation when radio communication, 1:500,000 or large-scale aerodrome charts are unavailable.

Used for preliminary pre-flight planning and as a basic navigation aid, complementing specialized charts lacking visual information.

Although provided by Spain, 1:500,000 charts aren't part of the official Spanish AIP.