The FAA announced on May 5 that it is marking more space launch activity areas on the digital VFR raster charts it makes available to pilots.

“Adding space launch activity areas to the navigation charts used by pilots who fly visually responds to the recent and expected continued growth of commercial space operations,” the agency said.

In 2020, the FAA licensed a record 41 commercial space launches and re-entries. It anticipates 50 or more commercial launch events this year.

All 12 FAA-licensed spaceports as well as other federal and private launch and re-entry sites are depicted by a rocket symbol on the charts. The areas are located in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia.

The agency advises that pilots also need to be aware of NASA, military and other government launches that the FAA does not license.