Legends

Residents of warm climates with beautiful scenery may be lucky enough to have an outdoor amphitheater or two at which to enjoy summer concerts and plays. These make excellent landmarks and are often shown on sectional and terminal area charts. They are identified by solid black lines forming a truncated cone shape. The narrowest part of the cone is solid black, and a black line crosses the center part of the cone.

In most parts of the country, such as in the Blue Ridge mountains where this example is located, these theaters are used primarily in the spring and summer. Although they may be quite large and make good visual land-marks, as a courtesy to patrons it's best to stay well above and to the side of these outdoor theaters whenever they are likely to be in use.

Unfortunately, in many areas, these theaters are becoming a thing of the past, and they are disappearing faster than the chart makers can update the maps. As a result, you may find yourself looking for a landmark that is no longer there. So, as always, it's a good idea to have a second landmark to use as a crosscheck for determining your position.