Distance from a sectional chart measurement

Remote Pilot (Part 107) practice question 14 of 22 on Operations / Airport Operations. ACS element UA.V.B.K6a · difficulty: applied. Want to answer it in a timed quiz? Use the Remote Pilot (Part 107) practice mode.

Question bank updated 2026-09-22

QUESTIONOn a sectional chart, a planned launch site measures 3 inches from an airport. Using the chart scale given in the study guide, approximately how far apart are they?

AAbout 24 nautical miles
BAbout 3 statute miles
CAbout 24 statute miles

Show the answer and explanation

Correct answer: C. About 24 statute miles

A — incorrect 1 inch equals 6.86 nautical miles, so 3 inches is about 20.6 nautical miles, not 24.
B — incorrect This treats 1 inch as 1 statute mile; the sectional scale gives about 8 statute miles per inch.
C — correct At the sectional scale, 1 inch is approximately 8 statute miles, so 3 inches is about 24 statute miles (or about 20.6 nautical miles).

BACKGROUND

The study guide gives the sectional chart scale as 1:500,000, which it translates as 1 inch equals 6.86 nautical miles (NM) or approximately 8 statute miles (SM). To convert a distance measured on the chart, multiply the number of inches by the distance per inch. Three inches on the chart therefore represents about 3 × 8 = 24 statute miles, or about 3 × 6.86 = 20.6 nautical miles. Keeping track of whether the answer is in nautical or statute miles matters, since the two figures differ by roughly 15 percent.

STUDY TIP

Multiply inches by 8 for statute miles or by 6.86 for nautical miles, and check which unit the question asks for before answering.

KEY POINTS

Sectional scale: 1 inch = 6.86 NM = about 8 SM.
3 inches is about 24 SM or about 20.6 NM.
Always confirm the unit (NM or SM) the question wants.

SOURCES

remote_pilot_study_guide.txt ch11 "Sectional Charts"

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