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FAA Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA) and Minimum IFR Altitude (MIA) Charts as KML Files

This repository contains a copy of the Minimum Vectoring Altitude (MVA) and Minimum IFR Altitude (MIA) charts from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The originals are provided by the FAA in PDF and XML format, but they are unsuited for automatic import in EFBs like ForeFlight. This repository includes automatically generated copies in KML format (that can be imported in programs like Google Earth), as well as content packs (that can be imported in ForeFlight).

As an example, this is how the MVAs are drawn over San Diego, CA, once the Southern California TRACON MVA maps are imported:

Content

  • The original XML files from the FAA are in the mva-faa-xml and mia-faa-xml directories respectively, as downloaded from the official website.

  • The converted KML files are in the mva-kml and mia-kml directories; each chart is available independently, and is named after the original XML file.

  • ForeFlight content packs are in the contentpack directory. There is a single directory for all maps. Each content pack includes all charts from the same ATC TRACON facility of a given type (MVA or MIA), and its name includes the map type and the three-characters identifier of each facility. You can lookup the TRACON identifiers at this link.

Each TRACON facility usually publishes two MVA maps, named FUS3 and FUS5. To the best of my knowledge, they are generated to give 3 and 5 miles, respectively, horizontal clearance from terrain and obstacles. The FUS5 maps are usually larger and cover much more airspace.

You can see how the Los Angeles, CA area (managed by the Southern California TRACON, or SCT) is covered by the current SCT_MVA_FUS3 map:

As opposed to the current SCT_MVA_FUS5 map:

Instructions

For instructions on how to download and import the Content Packs into ForeFlight (recommended), please browse the contentpacks directory of this repository and download/share them into the app. Detailed instructions about how to import Content Packs into ForeFlight are available at their support page (search for "Importing Content Packs").

For instructions on how to download and import KML files into ForeFlight, please see this page in the Support Center. Note: some users have reported issues with downloading KML files from Github from their iPads. If you have issues with the download (e.g., the files are downloaded as plain text), please download them on your computer and import them with iTunes, or use a Content Pack instead (recommended).

For instructions on how to download and import KML files into another program (like Google Earth), please refer to the documentation provided with that program.

History

This work was inspired by some episodes of the Opposing Bases podcast, where the hosts discussed various uses of the MVA charts by the Air Traffic Controllers. Specifically, episode 161 included feedback from one of the listeners about how to convert the XML originals into KML in a semi-automated way. This project was then featured on episode 168.

Legal Disclaimer

All MVA and MIA chart files are property of the FAA. The attached license notice applies to the conversion scripts only.

All files are provided for educational purposes only. They are not to be used as a navigation tool. No claim is made regarding the accuracy of these charts and their contents.

Please direct any comments and discrepancies in the displayed data to the FAA Air Traffic facility in question.

More information at: https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/flight_info/aeronav/digital_products/mva_mia/