Chapter 2. AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION SERVICES

Section 1. AIRMEN'S INFORMATION SYSTEM

2-1-1. GENERAL

The system for disseminating aeronautical information is made up of two subsystems, the Airmen's Information System (AIS) and the NOTAM System. The AIS consists of charts and publications. The NOTAM system is a telecommunication system and will be discussed in later paragraphs.

2-1-2. DISSEMINATION OF AIRMEN INFORMATION

Airmen information is disseminated by the following methods:

a. Aeronautical charts depicting permanent baseline data:

1. IFR Charts:

(a) Enroute High Altitude Conterminous U.S.

(b) Enroute Low Altitude Conterminous U.S.

(c) Alaska Charts.

(d) Pacific Charts.

2. U.S. Terminal Procedures:

(a) Departure Procedures (DPs).

(b) Standard Terminal Arrivals (STARs).

(c) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs).

3. VFR Charts:

(a) Sectional Aeronautical Charts.

(b) Terminal Area Charts (TAC).

(c) World Aeronautical Charts (WAC).

b. Flight information publications outlining baseline data:

1. Notices to Airmen (NTAP).

2. Airport/Facility Directory (AFD).

3. Pacific Chart Supplement.

4. Alaska Supplement.

5. Alaska Terminal.

6. Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM).

2-1-3. PUBLICATION CRITERIA

The following conditions or categories of information should be forwarded to the National Flight Data Center (NFDC) for inclusion in the flight information publications and charts.

a. NAVAIDs. Commissioning, decommissioning, restrictions, frequency changes, changes in monitoring status and monitoring facility used in the National Airspace System (NAS). NAVAID outage NOTAMs shall remain active until the NAVAID is returned to service or decommissioned.

b. Commissioning, decommissioning, changes in hours of operation of FAA air traffic control facilities.

c. Surface areas/airspace. Changes in hours of operations.

d. RCOs and RCAGs. Commissioning, decommissioning, changes in voice control or monitoring facility.

e. Weather reporting stations. Commissioning, decommissioning, failure, nonavailability or unreliable operations.

f. Public airports. Commissioning, decommissioning, openings, closings, and abandonments.

g. ARFF capability. Restrictions to air carrier operations.

h. Changes to runway identifiers, dimensions, threshold placements, and surface compositions.

i. NAS lighting systems. Commissioning, decommissioning, outages, change in classification or operation.

2-1-4. NOTICES TO AIRMEN PUBLICATION

a. The Notices to Airmen Publication (NTAP) is published by System Operations Services, System Operations and Safety, Publications, every 28 days.

b. Data of a permanent nature can be published in the Notices to Airmen Publication as an interim step between publication cycles of the AFD and aeronautical charts.

c. The Notices to Airmen Publication is divided into four parts:

1. Notices in part one are provided by the NFDC. This part contains selected NOTAMs that are expected to be in effect on the effective date of the publication. This part is divided into three sections:

(a) Airway NOTAMs reflecting airway changes that fall within an ARTCCs airspace.

(b) Airports/Facilities, and Procedural NOTAMs. The criteria for this section is listed in paragraph 2-1-3, Publication Criteria.

(c) FDC General NOTAMs containing NOTAMs that are general in nature and not tied to a specific airport/facility (i.e., flight advisories and restrictions).

2. Part two, also provided by NFDC, contains revisions to Minimum En Route IFR Altitudes and Changeover Points.

3. Part three, International, contains Flight Prohibitions, Potential Hostile Situations, Foreign Notices, and Oceanic Airspace Notices.

4. Part four, compiled by Publications from data provided by FAA service area offices, contains special notices and graphics pertaining to almost every aspect of aviation; such as, military training areas, large scale sporting events, air show information, and airport-specific information. Special Traffic Management Programs (STMPs) are published in part 4.

NOTE-
1. Notices in parts three and four of the NTAP are submitted to and processed through System Operations and Safety, Publications, not NFDC. Cutoff dates and requirements for notices in parts three and four are in the NTAP.

2. FDC NOTAMs for temporary flight restrictions are not published in the Notices to Airmen Publication.

2-1-5. FORWARDING DATA

a. When notice is received of a temporary condition which is expected to be corrected before information can be published, issue a NOTAM if it meets criteria.

b. NOTAM or aeronautical information concerning an extended (more than 30 days) shutdown or closure affecting components of the NAS shall be forwarded in advance of the occurrence to the NFDC. NFDC shall publish data received in accordance with existing policies, criteria, and publication cutoff deadlines. The schedule of publication cutoff dates is contained in the NTAP and AFD.

c. When time does not permit notification to NFDC by mail, forward the data via administrative message, FAX, or contact the appropriate NFDC section by telephone during administrative hours.

d. Information received by NFDC for publication that meets publication criteria and will be current on the effective date of the next available NTAP or AFD publication will be published.

2-1-6. CHART/PUBLICATION ERRORS OR OMISSIONS

Air traffic managers shall review each edition of the Notices to Airmen Publication, the Airport/Facility Directory, and other publications and charts to ensure that all required data is included and correct. Inform NFDC promptly of errors or omissions in any publication or chart. Notification of errors in the NTAP parts three and four should be sent to Publications.

NOTE-
Air traffic managers will review all current NOTAMs issued by their facility on a quarterly basis for currency. If published or more than 30 days old, originators of these NOTAMs shall be contacted for possible cancellation of these NOTAMs.

2-1-7. ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGES

All data forwarded to the NFDC via telecommunications for publication shall be forwarded to the Washington Headquarters Telecommunications Center (RWA), attention Aeronautical Information Management.

EXAMPLE-
GG KRWAYAYX
121543 KDCAYFYX
DCA001
ATTN Aeronautical Information Management
THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION IS SUBMITTED FOR PUBLICATION IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF THE NOTICES TO AIRMEN AND OR OTHER PUBLICATIONS AS REQUIRED. DCA VASI RWY 17 CMSND. ATCT HOURS 0900-1900. SIMEONE MANAGER AFSS.

2-1-8. ADDRESSING CORRESPONDENCE

All correspondence to be mailed to the NFDC for publication shall be addressed to:

Federal Aviation Administration
Aeronautical Information Management
National Flight Data Center
800 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20591

2-1-9. NFDC ORGANIZATION

The NFDC is divided into the following sections listed below. Questions and data should be referred directly to the appropriate section.

a. Airports, Facilities and Communications Section, telephone: 202-267-9308.

b. Airspace and Flight Procedures Section, telephone: 202-267-9308.

c. Plans and Programs Section, telephone: 202-267-9308.

d. FAX numbers: Aeronautical Information Management: 202-493-4266; AJR-321: 202-267-5322. Toll Free: 1-866-295-8236.

e. Web Page: http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ato/service_units/ systemops/aaim.

2-1-10. THE NATIONAL FLIGHT DATA DIGEST (NFDD)

The NFDD is used to transmit data from NFDC to chart and publication producers. It may be used to update records. However, it shall not be used as a basis to cancel NOTAMs.

2-1-11. COMPUTER PRINTOUTS

Computer printouts listing all navigational aids and public use civil landing areas by flight plan area may be obtained from Aeronautical Information Management.