The Folder of Publication Legends Every Pilot Needs

As pilots, we rely on a wide range of publications—sectional charts, enroute charts, approach plates, user guides, weather information, and more. But decoding the symbols, abbreviations, and references in these documents can sometimes slow us down. That’s why I’ve created a dedicated folder of publication legends in that I keep in my ForeFlight documents to make flying smoother and more efficient. I mentioned it in my previous blog post about managing documents in ForeFlight, and thought it would be a valuable resource to share, so here it is!

What’s in my folder?

I’ve organized my folder into categories that cover the essentials for flight planning and in-flight reference:

Chart legends and symbols: VFR and IFR chart legends, approach plate legends, and ForeFlight-specific symbols.
Performance and planning aids: cold temperature correction tables, gradient-to-FPM charts, hold visualization guides, and minima categories.
Weather resources: METAR cheat sheets, NEXRAD radar legends, turbulence/icing symbols, and station model diagrams.
Regulatory and emergency references: intercept procedures, FAR 91.213 for inoperative equipment, and the FAR/AIM table of contents for quick navigation.
Airport-specific documents: runway condition/braking action guides and airport/runway reference materials.

Why this folder is useful

Having these documents stored and organized in ForeFlight means I can quickly access anything I need, whether I’m flight planning, dealing with unexpected changes in the air, or brushing up on less commonly used symbols. It’s a simple system that eliminates confusion and saves time when it matters most.

Set up your own folder

To build your own folder, start by downloading the folder here.

Organize them in a cloud storage service like Dropbox, or just add them to your ForeFlight Documents directly. It’s a small effort upfront that pays off every time you fly.

Having this folder in ForeFlight has been invaluable to me, and I hope it can be just as useful for you. If you don’t already have one, take a few minutes to set it up—you’ll thank yourself later!