Aviation manual

The Aviation Handbook ( English Aeronautical Information Publication , usually just AIP in aviation language ) is a standardized reference work with aviation- related information and regulations. As a rule, an aviation manual applies to a single state . In principle, however, it is possible for several countries to issue a joint AIP.

Release

Aviation manuals are usually published in the official language of the respective country and in English. They are usually designed as a loose-leaf collection , so that only those pages that have been changed need to be replaced during regular revisions. Each individual page then contains the date it was published or the changes came into effect.

In Germany, the Aviation Handbook is published by the Office of Messages for Aviators of the German Air Traffic Control (DFS), in Austria by Austro Control (in the area of Aeronautical Information Management / Static Data Management ) and in Switzerland by Skyguide .

Revisions, corrections and additions

Permanent changes to the aviation manual such as error corrections or the addition of a new runway to the section of an airport are published in the regularly appearing amendments ( AMDT ).

Changes that are not permanent but are valid for a longer period of time are published in the supplements ( SUP ). An example of this is the temporary establishment of an ATZ around the Tannheim airfield during the Tannkosh Fly-In 2011. If the change is short-lived or there is not enough time to publish a supplement, the pilots will be informed via NOTAM .

content

General rules and procedures are described in detail in the Aviation Manual. It contains, among other things, route plans, airport maps, arrival and departure maps as well as information on radio navigation systems and airport obstacle maps .

The content of the AIP and its structure have been standardized internationally by the ICAO ( Annex 15 ). It is divided into the three parts General , En-Route and Aerodromes , which in turn have several subsections.

General (GEN)

The General part , abbreviated as GEN, contains general information on regulations and infrastructure in aviation. It is divided into four main sections:

• GEN 1: National regulations and requirements, including information on:
  • responsible authorities
  • Entry and exit of aircraft, crew, passengers and cargo
  • required equipment and instrumentation of aircraft
  • Deviations from ICAO standards and procedures
• GEN 2: Tables and codes, including for:
  • local units of measurement (including conversion tables )
  • local measuring systems ( calendar , geodetic date )
  • Abbreviations used in AIS publications
  • Radio navigation aids
  • local times for sunrise and sunset
• GEN 3: Overview of responsibilities for:
  • Flight Advisory Service (AIS)
  • Aeronautical charts
  • Air Traffic Services
  • Communication services
  • Flight meteorology (e.g. METAR and VOLMET )
  • Search and Rescue
• GEN 4: Information on fees for the use of aerodromes and services

En-Route (ENR)

The En-Route part , abbreviated as ENR , contains information that is important during the flight. It is divided into six main sections:

• ENR 1: General rules and procedures including:
  • Visual flight rules (VFR)
  • Instrument Flight Rules (IFR)
  • Airspace classes
  • Holding , departure and approach procedures
  • Submission of flight plans
• ENR 2: ATS -air spaces:
  • Flight information areas (FIR, UIR)
  • Local traffic areas (TCA)
  • Control zones around military air bases if they are not in the part of AD are described
• ENR 3: Airways
• ENR 4: Radio navigation systems and stations
• ENR 5: Navigation warnings, contains detailed information on:
  • Air exclusion , restricted flight and danger areas
  • military training areas
  • Aviation obstacles
  • Areas with intensive use by air sports enthusiasts
  • Areas with an increased risk of bird strikes (migration routes, nesting areas, bird sanctuaries )
  • Areas with other hazards (active volcanoes , nuclear power plants )
• ENR 6: Route maps ( En-Route Charts )

Aerodromes (AD)

The Aerodromes part , abbreviated as AD , contains information on airfields (ICAO: aerodrome ) and heliports (ICAO: heliport ). It is divided into three main sections:

• AD 1 contains general information including:
  • an index of the airfields with reference to the corresponding pages in section AD 2 or AD 3
  • a description of the national classification system for aerodromes
• AD 2 and AD 3 contain detailed information on individual airfields or heliports, sorted according to the respective ICAO code . This includes information on:
  • Geography ( airport reference point , height above sea level at airport reference temperature , location dismissal, etc.)
  • Aerodrome operator
  • Operating times of the airfield as a whole and individual areas such as handling, aerial supervision, customs
  • Service facilities for flight operations, e.g. B. Availability of petrol stations, de-icing facilities , repair shops or hangar spaces for third-party aircraft
  • Service facilities for passengers, e.g. B. Availability of hotels, restaurants, medical facilities or banks in the vicinity of the airport
  • Aprons and taxiways (dimensions, surface covering, load-bearing capacity)
  • relevant aviation obstacles
  • Availability of meteorological information
  • Runways (dimensions, alignment, surface covering, load capacity, coordinates and height of the landing bumps , gradient)
  • Runway and approach lights
  • Airspace structure
  • Navigation and landing aids
  • Avoidance of aircraft noise
  • a number of different maps (can also be published separately)

Aviation manual Germany

In Germany, the civil aviation Manual is the office of the Notices to Airmen the DFS issued . It consists of two volumes:

• part 1
  • GEN General or general information
  • ENR General Rules and Procedures
  • SUP supplements
• Volume 2
  • AD airfields

Aviation manual AIP VFR

The aviation manual AIP VFR is an excerpt from the AIP with some additions. It contains excerpts from the AIP Aviation Manual, additional information for VFR flights ( visual flight ) and, in alphabetical order, visual approach and visual departure charts, airport maps, regulations and additional data for airports, landing sites and military airfields with shared civil use. In addition, the visual approach and airport maps for selected heliports are issued in a separate part.

Since 2011 the AIP VFR has been published not only in paper but also in an electronic version including helicopter landing pads under the title "Visual Flight Guide".

The VFR bulletin was included in the AIP VFR until the end of 2007. The VFR Bulletin has been available on the AIS portal and online as an electronic eVFR Bulletin since 2008 .

Web links

• List of links from Eurocontrol to online editions of national aviation manuals and / or other services (AIS, AIC, NOTAM) throughout Europe.
• European AIS Database from Eurocontrol - Aviation publications including AIP from many European countries (free registration required).
• AIS portal of DFS - online edition of the VFR Bulletin with NOTAM query
• Military Aviation Handbook Germany - Military version of the German AIP with all military airfields and procedures
• Flight manual for the German Reich online version and PDF download of the first aviation manual with airfield maps from 1928.

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} ICAO : Annex 15 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation - Aeronautical Information Services , 13th Edition, July 2010, Chapter 4: Aeronautical Information Publications (AIP) , pp. 4–1 to 4-4
2. ↑ German Air Traffic Control : AIP SUP VFR 11 (AD) 11 AUG 11 - Establishment of a temporary airfield traffic zone (ATZ) around the Tannheim airfield (EDMT) (AUG 26 - AUG 28 2011) , available online (PDF, 1.2MB) ( Memento des Originals from January 11, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. , accessed December 3, 2011  
3. ↑ ^{a b c d} ICAO : Annex 15 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation - Aeronautical Information Services , 13th Edition, July 2010, Appendix 1: Contents of Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) , pp. APP 1-1 to APP 1- 28