1.

Responsible Service

1.1.

The Aeronautical Information Service which forms part of Airports Authority of India ensures the flow of information necessary for the safety, regularity and efficiency of international and national air navigation within the areas of its responsibility as indicated below.

1.2.

It consists of AIS Headquarters, International NOTAM Offices (NOF) and AIS units established at certain aerodromes as listed below.

1.3.

AIS Headquarters

Aeronautical Information Service

Airports Authority of India

Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan

Safdarjung Airport

New Delhi -110 003

Tel- 91-11-2461 5508

Fax- 91-11-2461 5508 and 91-11-2461 1078

AFS- VIDDYXAX

Email- gmais@aai.aero

1.4.

International NOTAM Office (NOF)

1.4.1

Four International NOTAM offices are established at Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The addresses are as follows -

1.4.1.1.

International NOTAM Office

Airports Authority of India

Chennai Airport, Chennai -600 027

Tel- 91-44-22560120

Fax- 91-44-22561535

AFS- VOMMYNYX

Email- Intl_notamvomm@aai.aero

1.4.1.2.

International NOTAM Office

Airports Authority of India

I.G.I. Airport

New Delhi -110 037

Tel- 91-11-2565 3452

Fax- 91-11-2565 3074

AFS- VIDPYNYX

Email- Intl_notamvidp@aai.aero

1.4.1.3.

International NOTAM Office

Airports Authority of India

N.S.C.B.I Airport, Kolkata -700 052

Tel- 91-33-2511 1913

Fax- 91-33-25118985

AFS- VECCYNYX

Email- Intl_notamvecc@aai.aero

1.4.1.4.

International NOTAM Office

Airports Authority of India

C.S.I Airport

Mumbai - 400 099

Tel- 91-22-26819422

Fax- 91-22-2682 8000

AFS- VABBYNYX

Email- Intl_notamvabb@aai.aero

1.5.

The service is provided in accordance with the provisions contained in ICAO Annex 15 - Aeronautical Information Service

2.

Area of responsibility

2.1.

The Aeronautical Information Service is responsible for the collection and dissemination of information for the entire territory of the India and for airspace over the high-seas under the jurisdiction of the India for air traffic control purposes.

3.

Aeronautical publications

3.1.

The Aeronautical Information is provided in the form of the integrated Aeronautical Information Package consisting of the following elements

i) Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

ii) Amendment service to the AIP (AIP AMDT)

iii) Supplement to the AIP (AIP SUP)

iv) NOTAM and Pre-Flight information bulletins (PIB)

v) Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC)

vi) Check-lists and summaries

3.1.1.

Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

3.1.1.1.

The AIP is the basic aviation document intended primarily to satisfy international requirements for the exchange of permanent aeronautical information and long duration temporary changes essential for air navigation. The AIP is published in English for use in International and Domestic operations.

3.1.2.

Amendment service to the AIP (AIP AMDT).

To be published

3.1.3.

Supplement to the AIP (AIP SUP)

3.1.3.1.

Temporary change of long duration (three Months and longer) and information of short duration which consists of extensive text and/or graphics, supplementing the permanent information contained in the AIP, are published as AIP Supplements (AIP SUP). Operationally significant temporary changes to the AIP are published in accordance with the AIRAC system and its established effective dates and are identified clearly by the acronym AIRAC AIP SUP.

3.1.3.2.

AIP Supplements are separated by information subject (General-GEN, En-route-ENR, and Aerodromes-AD) and are placed accordingly at the beginning of each AIP part. Supplements are published on Yellow paper to be conspicuous and to stand out from rest of the AIP. Each AIP Supplement (regular or AIRAC) is allocated a serial number which is consecutive and based on the calendar Year, i.e. AIP Supplement 01/2012; AIRAC AIP Supplement 03/2012.

3.1.3.3.

An AIP Supplement is kept in the AIP as long as all or some of its contents remain valid. The period of validity of the information contained in the AIP Supplement will normally be given in the supplement itself. Alternatively, NOTAM may be used to indicate changes to the period of validity or the cancellation of the supplement.

3.1.3.4.

The checklist of the AIP Supplements currently in force is issued in the month of January of each year.

3.1.4.

NOTAM and Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB)

3.1.4.1.

NOTAM and the related monthly checklists are issued via the Aeronautical fixed service (AFS), while PIB are made available at ATS Reporting office. All other documents of the Aeronautical Information Package are distributed by mail.

3.1.4.2.

NOTAM contain information concerning the establishment, condition or changes in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential for personnel concerned with flight operations. The text of each NOTAM contains the information in the order shown in the ICAO NOTAM format and is composed of significant/uniform abbreviated phraseology assigned to the ICAO NOTAM Code complemented by ICAO abbreviations, indicators, identifiers, designators, call-signs, frequencies, figures, letters and plain language.

3.1.4.3.

NOTAM - NOTAMs are originated by the International NOTAM Office Chennai, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai and are distributed in five series identified by the letters A, B, C, D and G as follows:

i) Series A - Contain information in respect of changes/unserviceability etc of aeronautical facilities, likely to last for more than 2 hours, in respect of locations of direct importance to International aircraft operations, requiring general international distribution.

ii) Series B - Contain information in respect of changes/unserviceability etc, of aeronautical facilities, likely to last for more than 30 minutes but less than two hours in respect of locations of direct importance to international aircraft operations, requiring limited distribution to adjacent stations only.

iii) Series C - Contain information in respect of changes/unserviceability, etc, of aeronautical facilities in respect, of locations utilized by domestic flights only and for which no separate A' series international distribution is given.

iv) Series D - Contain information in respect of changes/unserviceability etc, of aeronautical facilities in respect of locations of military controlled airfields utilized by domestic flights the information of which is issued by AHQ through a VVO broadcast.

v) Series G - Contain information of general and lasting character affecting aircraft operations in general. The series is operated only by the International NOTAM Office, Delhi and issued under the authority of the Aeronautical Information Service (CHQ) and given wide India.

3.1.4.4.

The NOTAM of each series are allocated a serial number by the respective NOTAM offices, commencing with No.0001 preceded by the designated letter of series A, B, C, D & G as the case may be at 0000UTC on 1st January every year.

3.1.5.

Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC) - The Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC) contains information on the long term forecast of any major change in legislations, procedures or facilities; information of a purely explanatory or advisory nature liable to affect flight safety; and information or notification of an explanatory or advisory nature concerning technical, legislative or purely administrative matters. AIC is issued by Director General of Civil Aviation, India.

3.1.5.1.

Each AIC is numbered consecutively on a calendar year basis. The year, indicated by two digits, is a part of the serial number of the AIC e.g. AIC 02/2012. A checklist of AIC currently in force is issued as an AIC once a year.

3.1.5.2.

Checklist and Summary of NOTAM - A checklist of all NOTAM current on the 1st of each month is originated by the respective NOTAM office and transmitted over the AFTN to all the addresses on the distribution list of their NOTAM. In addition a monthly checklist and summary of NOTAM in force at the end of the month is compiled and posted to those addresses. The complete summary is prepared once a year on the 1st January, but the summary for the subsequent months shall contain the text of only those NOTAM, which have been promulgated during the month of issue, and remain current on the date of compilation.

3.1.6.

Pre-Flight Information Bulletin (PIB)

3.1.6.1.

Contains recapitulation of current NOTAM and other information of urgent character for the operator/flight crews. Further information on PIB is indicated at Para 4 below.

3.1.7

AIRAC system

3.1.7.1.

In order to give adequate advance warning of changes of operational significance upon a series of common effective dates have been agreed internationally. Under the system of Aeronautical Regulation and Control (AIRAC).

3.1.7.2.

The table below indicates Schedule of AIRAC effective dates of a minimum gap of 28 days for the coming years.

4.

Pre-flight Information Service at Aerodromes

4.1.

Pre-flight Information is available at the following aerodromes :

i) Chennai

ii) Delhi

iii) Kolkata

iv) Mumbai

4.2.

Daily Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB)

4.2.1

Route Bulletins and Summaries are available for distribution at AIS Units of the above mentioned aerodromes.

4.3

Automatic Self Briefing System (ASBS)

4.3.1

Automatic Self Briefing System (ASBS) provides an automatic method of receiving, storing and retrieving the data, essentially required for pilot’s pre-flight briefing. It has the capability to include information pertaining to the stations and routes concerned with the following data.

i) General information

ii) Visual aids

iii) AGA information

iv) Communication facilities

v) Navigational facilities

vi) NOTAMS

5.

AIS Management Functions

5.1.

Pre flight briefing - Provides pre-flight information bulletin to pilots and ATS reporting office.

5.2.

AFTN Processing - Automatic AFTN message reception, analysis, error checking, handling and storage. The system automatically determines whether an incoming message belongs to the NOTAM or Met database.

5.3.

NOTAM Processing - Automatic receipt, decoding, validation, distribution, storage and retrieval of NOTAM Messages and data obtained from AFTN.

5.4.

Static AIS data access - Provide geographical data and aerodrome facility information, including FIR's Restricted airspaces, ATS routes, navigational aids and communication facilities.

5.5.

Wind aloft processing - Maintenance of a wind and temperature aloft modal using position, flight level Time of observation, temperature, wind speed and direction obtained from upper wind and temperature forecast.

6.

Future Up-gradation

6.1.

MET Processing - The system will be upgraded for automatic receipt, decoding, validation, distribution, Storage and retrieval of Met messages obtained from AFTN and Grid data from Met Computers .

6.2.

Remote Briefing Terminals (RBT) - Self briefing to pilots, Dispatcher through RBT of ASBS from where printed pre-flight information bulletin can be obtained.

6.3.

Airway Users Functions - ASBS facility is available for use by international and domestic operators.