Chapter 2. Aeronautical Information Services

Section 1. Aeronautical Information System

2-1-1. GENERAL

The system for disseminating aeronautical information is made up of two subsystems, the Aeronautical 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.

(d) Pacific Charts.

2. U.S. Terminal Procedures:

(a) Departure Procedures (DPs).

(b) Standard Terminal Arrivals (STARs).

3. VFR Charts:

(a) Sectional Aeronautical Charts.

(b) Terminal Area Charts (TAC).

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. Time critical delays, corrections, or changes to previously published data that cannot be republished before occurrence must be issued as a NOTAM, providing they meet the criteria set forth in this order.

a. NAVAIDs. Commissioning, decommissioning, restrictions, frequency changes, changes in monitoring status and monitoring facility used in the National Airspace System (NAS). NAVAID outage NOTAMs must 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. Remote Communication Outlets and Remote Communication Air Ground. 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 abandonment.

g. Airport Rescue Fire Fighting (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. NTAP is published by Mission Support Services, ATC Products and 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 1 are provided by ATC Products and Publications. This part contains selected FDC NOTAMs that are expected to be in effect on the effective date of the publication. This part is divided into three sections:

(a) Section 1, Airway NOTAMs, reflecting airway changes that fall within an ARTCCs airspace.

(b) Section 2, Procedural NOTAMs.

(c) Section 3, General NOTAMs, containing NOTAMs that are general in nature and not tied to a specific airport/facility (for example, flight advisories and restrictions, open duration Special Security Instructions and Special Flight Rules Area.

2. Part 2, provided by NFDC, contains Part 95 Revisions, Revisions to Minimum En Route IFR Altitudes and Changeover Points.

3. Part 3, International NOTAMs, is divided into two sections.

(a) Section 1, International Flight Prohibitions, Potential Hostile Situations, and Foreign Notices.

(b) Section 2, International Oceanic Airspace Notices.

4. Part 4, Graphic Notices, compiled by ATC Products and Publications from data provided by FAA service area offices and other lines of business, contains special notices and graphics pertaining to almost every aspect of aviation; such as, military training areas, large scale sporting events, air show information, Special Traffic Management Programs (STMPs) and airport-specific information. This part is comprised of 6 sections:

(a) Section 1, General.

(b) Section 2, Special Military Operations.

(d) Section 4, Major Sporting and Entertainment Events.

(e) Section 5, Airshows.

(f) Section 6, Special Notices.

NOTE-
Notices in Parts 3 and 4 of the NTAP are submitted to and processed through ATC Products and Publications, not NFDC. Cutoff dates and requirements for notices in Parts 3 and 4 are in the NTAP.

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 must be forwarded in advance of the occurrence to the NFDC. NFDC must publish data received in accordance with existing policies, criteria, and publication cutoff deadlines. The schedule of publication cutoff dates is contained in the 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 AFD publication or aeronautical chart will be published.

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

a. Managers must 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 ATC Products and Publications.

b. Managers must review all current NOTAMs issued by their facility on a quarterly basis for currency.

c. If NOTAMs are published or more than 90 days old, the accountable organization must be contacted for possible cancellation.

2-1-7. ADMINISTRATIVE MESSAGES

All data forwarded to the NFDC via telecommunications for publication must 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 COMISSIONED. ATCT HOURS 0900-1900. SIMEONE MANAGER FSS.

2-1-8. ADDRESSING CORRESPONDENCE

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

Federal Aviation Administration
Mission Support Services
1575 I Street, NW.
Washington, D.C. 20005

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 and NAVAIDs Section
telephone: (202) 385-7474.

b. Procedures and Airspace Section,
telephone: (202) 385-7473.

c. Cartographic Standards Section,
telephone: (202) 385-7456.

d. Aeronautical Information Management:

1. Toll Free: (866) 295-8236

2. Fax: (202) 385-7616.

e. Web Page: https://nfdc.faa.gov.

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 must 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.