How to Overlay FAA Aviation Raster Charts in Google Earth

Step-by-Step Guide

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   Step 1: If you haven’t already done so

   http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/vfr/ , Depending on your operating system, you may need to unzip the archive or it may be done for you automatically. ,,,, If the image is aligned with the Google Earth representation, adjust the transparency slider to Opaque and you’re done! If the overlaid image is not properly aligned, you can try the next steps. , This is where you’ll need to enter the Latitude and Longitude coordinates that define the geographic corners of the chart to align the chart with the Google Earth representation. , Scroll down and locate the section entitled “Bounding_coordinates”. , Be sure to copy each coordinate entirely, including any leading minus sign.
   
   Don’t worry that the coordinates in the HTML file are in decimal degrees format and the Google Earth fields are in Hours/Minutes/Seconds.
   
   Google Earth is smart and understands both formats. , If it isn’t, go back and double check that you entered each bounding coordinate correctly.
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   Step 2: download and install the Google Earth version 6: https://www.google.com/earth/index.html;

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   Step 3: Go to the FAA’s website and choose the VFR Raster Sectional Chart or Terminal Area Raster Chart you want to overlay.

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   Step 4: Download the chart’s ZIP archive to a location on your computer.

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   Step 5: Launch Google Earth and select pull-down menu item Add->Overlay.

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   Step 6: In the New Image Overlay dialog that appears

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   Step 7: enter a name for the overlay (“LA Terminal Area Chart” in this case) and click on browse to locate the map file you downloaded that contains the chart in TIF format.

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   Step 8: Using the same New Image Overlay dialog

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   Step 9: click on Altitude and verify that “Clamped to ground” is selected.

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    Step 10: Move the transparency slider to the left toward Clear so that you can check the alignment of the image with the Google Earth aerial image.

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    Step 11: In the same New Image Overlay dialog

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    Step 12: click on Location.

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    Step 13: In the map file location where you downloaded the chart

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    Step 14: locate and open the file with the HTML extension (in this case “Los Angeles TAC.htm”).

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    Step 15: Cut and paste the North

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    Step 16: East and West bounding coordinates into the matching fields in the Location section of the Overlay dialog window.

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    Step 17: The overlaid image should now be coincident with Google Earth’s representation.

Detailed Guide

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