Air Navigation Services of the Czech Republic, AIM

Česky Contact

About us

AIM responsibility

AIM Centre is responsible for providing the aeronautical information service and for the collection and dissemination of information for the entire territory of the Czech Republic and for the relevant airspace.

What does AIM mean?

AIM (Aeronautical Information Management) is a worldwide concept based on the needs of users, whose principle is to have the right information in the right place at the right time. The AIM focuses primarily on the processes of data exchange and distribution that should effectively serve the airspace users and ATM systems.

Aeronautical publications

The aeronautical information is provided in the form of the Aeronautical information product consisting of the following elements:

AIM Centre also issues domestic aeronautical publications which are not part of the Aeronautical information product.

NOTAM and relevant monthly checklists are disseminated through the aeronautical fixed service (AFTN). PIB are made available at ARO units of aerodromes listed under para 3.1.5 AIP - GEN 3 or via AFTN (within the Czech Republic). Access via AFTN terminals is possible for individual users after their registration at the International NOTAM Office, where detailed information can be obtained. Procedures for the utilization of PIB services are part of the registration and are free of charge as well as the registration.

Aeronautical charts

AIM Centre produces charts which are part of the AIP and other aeronautical charts (ANC 1:500 000). The charts are produced in accordance with the provisions contained in ICAO Annex 4 - Aeronautical Charts.

The aeronautical charts included in the AIP are kept up to date by amendments to the AIP. Corrections to aeronautical charts not contained in the AIP are promulgated by AIP Amendments and are listed under 3.2.8 AIP - GEN 3. Information concerning the planning for or issuance of new maps and charts is notified by Aeronautical Information Circular. If incorrect information detected on published charts is of operational significance, it is corrected by NOTAM.

Aeronautical chart series available

The following series of aeronautical charts are produced:

The complete list of the charts is available under 3.2.5 AIP - GEN 3.

Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

The AIP is the basic aviation document intended primarily to meet international requirements for the exchange of permanent aeronautical information and long duration temporary changes essential for air traffic.

AIP of the Czech Republic is published in two volumes and with bilingual text in Czech and English for use in international and domestic operations, whether the flight is a commercial or private. AIP contains information related to IFR and military aerodromes. Information related to VFR aerodromes are included in VFR Manual, not in AIP.

Amendment service to the AIP(AIP AMDT)

Two types of AIP Amendments are produced:

A brief description of the subjects affected by the amendment is given on the AIP Amendment cover sheet. New information included on the reprinted AIP pages is marked by a vertical line. Deleted information is marked by a horizontal line.

All pages of an Amendment are clearly marked to indicate by which Amendment it was published and the publication date/AIRAC effective date. The date consists of the day, month (by name) and year of the publication date (regular AIP AMDT) or of the AIRAC effective date (AIRAC AIP AMDT) of the information. Each AIP amendment cover sheet includes references to the serial number of those elements, if any, of the Aeronautical information product which has been incorporated into the AIP by the amendment and are consequently cancelled.

AMDT and AIRAC AMDT are numbered successively and separately. AIRAC AMDT begins with the number 1 each year.

A checklist of AIP pages containing page number/chart title and the publication or effective date (day, month by name and year) of the information is updated with each regular amendment and is an integral part of the AIP (GEN 0.4).

Supplement to the AIP (AIP SUP)

The temporary changes 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.

AIP Supplements are placed at the beginning of the AIP. AIP Supplements (regular or AIRAC) are numbered consecutively, beginning with the number 1 each year.

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 cancellation of the supplement.

The checklist of AIP Supplements currently in force is issued on cover pages of regular AIP Amendments and in AIP GEN 0.3.

NOTAM and Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB)

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

National NOTAM are originated and issued for FIR PRAHA and are distributed in five series identified by letters A, B, X, Y and S. The S series is designated for SNOWTAMs. Series are divided according to their significance and marked by letters in descending order. Series A and B are issued in English. Series X and Y contain the same text and the same numbers in the Czech language.

Series A (X): The most important series. It contains all information related to the operations on the ATS routes and at the main international aerodromes in the Czech Republic:

Series B (Y): It contains information related to the operations at all remaining aerodromes in the Czech Republic and information not corporated to series A (X).

Series S (SNOWTAM). Information concerning hazardous conditions due to snow, slush, ice or standing water associated with snow, slush and ice in the movement areas during the winter period. Aerodrome administrations are authorized to issue SNOWTAM in accordance with ICAO Annex 15, Chapter 2 and AIP AD 1.2.2, Appendix 4. Details are given in the Snow plan in the Aerodrome (AD) Part.

Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB) contain a choice of valid NOTAMs selected from the database maintained by the International NOTAM Office. Depending on the requirements of users, PIB could be provided in the form of:

Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC)

The Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC) contain information on long-term forecasts of any major change in legislation, regulations, 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. AICs are issued in two series (A and C). AIC Series A contain information affecting international civil aviation and are given international distribution, while AIC Series C contain information affecting national aviation only and are given national distribution. AICs are numbered consecutively within each series, beginning with the number 1 each year. A checklist of AIC currently in force is issued as an AIC at least once a year.

Checklist of NOTAM

A checklist of valid NOTAM is issued monthly via AFTN.

AIRAC system

In order to control and regulate the operationally significant changes requiring amendments to charts, route-manuals etc., such changes whenever possible, is issued on predetermined dates according to the AIRAC SYSTEM. This type of information is published as an AIRAC AIP AMDT or an AIRAC AIP SUP. AIRAC information is issued so that the information is to be received by the user not later than 28 days, and for major changes not later than 56 days, before the effective date. At AIRAC effective date, a trigger NOTAM is issued giving a brief description of the contents, effective date and reference number of the AIRAC AIP AMDT or AIRAC AIP SUP that will become effective on that date. A Trigger NOTAM will remain in force as a reminder in the PIB until the new checklist/summary is issued, but at least 15 days after the effective date.

If no information was submitted for publication at the AIRAC date, a NIL notification will be issued by NOTAM not later than on the AIRAC cycle before the AIRAC effective date concerned.

VFR Manual CR

The purpose of the VFR Manual of the CR is to provide a comprehensive overview of the rules and procedures important for VFR operations in FIR Prague, information related to VFR aerodromes and the selection of information relevant to VFR operations at IFR aerodromes. The VFR Manual is published in two separate language versions – Czech and English.

Data presentation on the internet

The Aeronautical Information Service presents data on the internet pages https://ais.ans.cz.

Contents of Internet pages:

AisView

AisView provides a graphical view of information for pre-flight preparation for general aviation about:

AisView is also used to receive and process data for the issue of navigation warnings, aerodromes NOTAM or requests to reserve parts of the airspace.

Integrated Briefing System

IBS (Integrated Briefing System) is a web application that provides pre-flight preparation to registered and unregistered users. The data are taken from the information systems of the ANS CR Besides the basic functions (query on NOTAM, METEO, ATIS etc.), it contains other useful links to ASTA2, AUP, SUMMARY etc. The purpose of this application is to create one access point for obtaining information necessary for pre-flight preparation. Registered users can submit a new flight plan, view or modify a submitted flight plan, plan a flight or request a comprehensive briefing product for the pre-flight preparation. In addition, the users can graphically view the route or use the Route NM functionality to find the most suitable route according to their requests.

The mobile version of IBS (mIBS) is created for two operating platforms – iOS and Android. mIBS has been placed in App Store and Google Play, where the users can download this application free of charge. The mobile version is fully synchronized with the web version. The users who want to have access to mIBS, have to be registered to the web version. The main menu is designed for the most basic FPL operations (creating FPL, sending DLA messages, CHG), querying on NOTAM and METEO information and creating PIB.

LARS

LARS (Local Activity Reservation System) serves to make a reservation for the local activities at the major international IFR aerodromes in Prague, Brno, Ostrava and Karlovy Vary.