Garmin announced on May 27, 2026, that SmartCharts — its dynamic, data-driven aviation charting system — is now available on Garmin Pilot Web, the company’s browser-based flight planning platform. The update lets pilots view simplified instrument approach procedures, departure procedures, and standard terminal arrivals directly from a desktop or laptop browser, with real-time weather and NOTAM impacts integrated into the chart display.
SmartCharts are available on both Garmin Pilot Web and the Garmin Pilot mobile app with a Premium subscription in the U.S. and the Bahamas.
What Are Garmin SmartCharts?
SmartCharts are Garmin’s reimagined approach to electronic terminal procedure charts. Launched on the Garmin Pilot mobile app in 2025, they replace the traditional scanned FAA chart format with a fully digital, decluttered display built from digitized global data sources.
The core idea is simple: instead of showing every piece of information on an approach plate — much of which may not be relevant to your specific flight — SmartCharts filter the data and present only what matters based on your aircraft type, equipment, and planned approach.
Here’s what that means in practice:
Decluttered approach plates. Traditional instrument approach charts show every possible minimum, every equipment note, and every exception on a single plate. SmartCharts strip that down. Based on the aircraft and avionics profile you’ve entered, the chart shows only the minimums and notes that apply to your situation.
Dynamic weather integration. SmartCharts pull in current weather data and show how it affects the procedure you’re planning. If ceiling or visibility conditions change the applicable minimums, SmartCharts recalculate and display the updated numbers — before you leave the ground.
NOTAM overlay. Active NOTAMs that affect the procedure — runway closures, navaid outages, lighting changes — are displayed directly on the chart. On airport diagrams (currently available on iOS; coming to Garmin Pilot Web later), NOTAMs are shown graphically with color-coded closures for runways, taxiways, and ramp areas.
Automatic minimum calculations. When a pilot enters aircraft parameters — approach category, equipment, and type — SmartCharts automatically calculate the applicable approach minimums. This eliminates the manual cross-referencing that traditionally takes place during an instrument approach briefing.
Carl Wolf, Garmin Vice President of Aviation Sales, Marketing, Programs & Support, described the impact at launch: “SmartCharts have completely changed how pilots plan and brief instrument flights, and this capability now comes to Garmin Pilot Web. The decluttered terminal procedures allow pilots to focus on the most relevant and key information for their flight, ultimately helping to promote safety and situational awareness well in advance of stepping into the cockpit.”
What Does Garmin Pilot Web Add?
The Garmin Pilot Web platform launched as a browser-based companion to the mobile app, giving pilots the ability to plan flights, file flight plans, check weather, and review routes from a full-size screen.
Before this update, SmartCharts were only available on the Garmin Pilot mobile app. Adding them to the web platform means pilots can now use SmartCharts during preflight planning at home or in the office, on a larger monitor where complex approach plates are easier to read and brief.
This matters for instrument pilots who do their flight planning at a desk before heading to the airport. Briefing an ILS approach on a 27-inch monitor is a fundamentally different experience than doing it on a phone screen. The web version makes SmartCharts practical for thorough preflight work.
SmartCharts on Garmin Pilot Web cover the same procedure types as the mobile app: instrument approach procedures (IAPs), departure procedures (DPs), and standard terminal arrival routes (STARs). Airport diagrams with graphical NOTAM overlays are currently available on the iOS mobile app and will be added to Garmin Pilot Web in a future update.
How Does This Compare to ForeFlight?
Garmin Pilot and ForeFlight (a Boeing company) are the two dominant electronic flight bag platforms for general aviation. ForeFlight has offered its own version of intelligent approach plates — called Jeppesen chart overlays — for several years, with features like weather-aware minimums and NOTAM annotations.
SmartCharts take a different approach. Rather than overlaying data on top of a traditional Jeppesen or FAA chart, SmartCharts rebuild the chart from scratch using digitized data. The result is a cleaner, more streamlined visual presentation, but it also means pilots are looking at a fundamentally different chart format than what they may have trained with.
Some instrument pilots have embraced the new format immediately. AvBrief editor Larry Anglisano, an avionics specialist with over 25 years of experience, reviewed SmartCharts after nearly a year of use and concluded: “I think Garmin got it right.” Others prefer the familiarity of traditional chart layouts.
The competition between these two platforms continues to push both companies to innovate, which benefits pilots regardless of which app they use.
What Subscription Do You Need?
SmartCharts require a Garmin Pilot Premium subscription. As of May 2026, the Premium tier includes SmartCharts, geo-referenced charts, synthetic vision, traffic, weather overlays, and a range of other planning and in-flight features.
Coverage is currently limited to the U.S. and the Bahamas. Garmin has not announced international expansion plans for SmartCharts.
Garmin Pilot Web is included with a Garmin Pilot subscription at no additional cost — it’s the browser-based extension of the same account.
Why This Matters for Instrument Pilots and Students
For current instrument-rated pilots, SmartCharts reduce workload during the most critical phase of flight planning. Manually cross-referencing approach minimums against aircraft equipment, current NOTAMs, and weather conditions is time-consuming and error-prone. SmartCharts automate much of that process.
For instrument students, the value may be even greater. Learning to brief an approach plate is one of the most challenging skills in instrument training. The traditional FAA approach plate packs an enormous amount of information into a small space, and students routinely struggle to identify which minimums apply to their aircraft and situation. SmartCharts simplify that presentation — showing students only the data that’s relevant — which can accelerate the learning process.
CFIs may want to introduce SmartCharts alongside traditional charts, so students understand the underlying data before relying on the simplified display. But as a briefing and planning tool, SmartCharts are a significant step forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Garmin SmartCharts? SmartCharts are Garmin’s digital aviation charting system, available in the Garmin Pilot app and now on Garmin Pilot Web. They display decluttered instrument approach procedures, departure procedures, and STARs tailored to a pilot’s specific aircraft type and equipment, with integrated weather and NOTAM effects.
Do SmartCharts require a subscription? Yes. SmartCharts are available with a Garmin Pilot Premium subscription in the U.S. and the Bahamas. Garmin Pilot Web is included at no additional cost with the subscription.
Are SmartCharts available on Garmin Pilot Web? Yes, as of May 27, 2026. Garmin announced that SmartCharts are now available on Garmin Pilot Web, its browser-based flight planning platform. This extends SmartCharts beyond the mobile app to desktop and laptop browsers.
Do SmartCharts show NOTAM and weather impacts on approach procedures? Yes. SmartCharts integrate current weather data and active NOTAMs directly into the chart display. They automatically recalculate approach minimums based on conditions and show graphical NOTAM overlays for runway, taxiway, and ramp closures on airport diagrams (currently on iOS; coming to web).
How do SmartCharts compare to ForeFlight charts? SmartCharts rebuild procedure charts from digitized data rather than overlaying information on traditional Jeppesen or FAA plates. This produces a cleaner, more decluttered display but uses a different visual format than standard charts. ForeFlight uses Jeppesen chart overlays with weather and NOTAM annotations on top of the traditional layout.
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