PPL(A) Theory

Aeronautical information: AIP, NOTAM, AIRAC and AIC

Page ID
010-08-01
Syllabus (AMC1 FCL.210; FCL.215)
Introduction, essential definitions; AIP, NOTAM, AIRAC and AIC
Syllabus anchor
ICAO Annex 15
Rule in force
Reg. (EU) 2017/373 (Part-AIS)
Regulatory baseline
SERA EAR August 2025; ATM/ANS EAR March 2025; ICAO Annex 15 (2018) for comparison
Reading time
24 min
Revising? Key concepts ↓ Test yourself ↓

Learning objectives

The idea

Flying depends on facts that change: a runway closes, a radio frequency moves, a danger area switches on. Someone has to collect those facts, check them and get them to you before you take off. That job belongs to the aeronautical information service. It does not use one channel for everything. Lasting facts go into a reference book. Short-lived or urgent facts go out as quick notices. Big planned changes wait for a shared date so that everyone, including the people who make charts and navigation databases, changes together. Advice and explanations travel separately again. Your job is to know which channel holds what.

Why an information service exists

Aeronautical data is the raw material: a formalised piece of fact, such as a runway's coordinates or a frequency. Aeronautical information is what you get when that data is assembled, analysed and formatted into something usable.

The aim is a steady flow of the information needed for safety, regularity, economy and efficiency. Wrong, late or missing information can hurt safety, and more so now that navigation leans on computers and databases.

Each State's provider covers its whole territory, plus high-seas areas where that State provides air traffic services. It must make the information available to flight crews, to flight planning, to units providing flight information service and to pre-flight information services. It must also run a 24-hour service for issuing NOTAM and for pre-flight information on flights starting in its area.

The umbrella term for everything it publishes is "aeronautical information products". They include the AIP with its amendments and supplements, the AIC, charts, NOTAM and digital data sets. Older books still say "Integrated Aeronautical Information Package". That term is no longer used.

Rule AIS.OR.105

The provider must run a 24-hour service for NOTAM origination and issuance, and for pre-flight information, in its area.

The five products and how to choose

Think of it as sorting by two questions: how long does the change last, and how fast do you need to know?

"Short duration" generally means under three months. "Short notice" means too little time to distribute an amendment or supplement. If there is no time to distribute a supplement, a NOTAM may go out instead.

Which product carries this change? Decision flow from a change in aeronautical information to AIC, AIP amendment, AIP supplement or NOTAM, with an AIRAC rule for operationally significant AIP changes. Purely explanatory or advisory information? AIC Advisory information, or a long-term forecast of major changes Never for what qualifies for the AIP or a NOTAM Yes No Is the change permanent or temporary? Permanent Temporary Short notice? (too little time to distribute an AIP amendment) Lasts 3 months or longer, or has extensive text or graphics? Yes No No Yes AIP amendment Permanent change; the update interval is stated in GEN AIP supplement Temporary, 3 months or longer; or extensive text or graphics If operationally significant: AIRAC Too little time to distribute it? NOTAM NOTAM Short duration (under 3 months) or short notice Question Product Extra rule
Figure 1. A decision flow from a change in aeronautical information to the product that carries it. Operationally significant AIP changes also follow the AIRAC rule. Original diagram
Describe this figure

The flow starts with one question: is the information purely explanatory or advisory? If yes, it goes in an AIC, which is never used for anything that qualifies for the AIP or a NOTAM. If no, ask whether the change is permanent or temporary. A permanent change goes in a NOTAM if there is short notice, meaning too little time to distribute an AIP amendment; otherwise it goes in an AIP amendment, and if it is operationally significant it is issued under AIRAC. A temporary change is checked for a duration of three months or longer, or extensive text or graphics. If so it goes in an AIP supplement; if there is too little time to distribute the supplement, a NOTAM is issued instead. Otherwise it is short in duration, under three months, and goes in a NOTAM.

The figure is a decision flow. It first asks whether the information is purely explanatory or advisory. If so, it is an AIC. If not, it asks whether the change is permanent or temporary. A permanent change goes into an AIP amendment, unless it is made at short notice, in which case a NOTAM carries it. A temporary change of three months or longer, or one with extensive text and graphics, goes into an AIP supplement. Other temporary changes go out as a NOTAM. As an extra rule under the amendment box, operationally significant AIP changes are issued under AIRAC.

Exam trap

"An AIC can announce a new restricted area." Wrong. An AIC must not carry information that qualifies for the AIP or a NOTAM. An AIC may explain or interpret AIP or NOTAM data, but it stays a separate product.

The AIP

The AIP is a State publication containing aeronautical information of a lasting character that is essential to air navigation. Every provider must issue one. It must be available as an electronic AIP that can be displayed and printed. Paper is optional. It must state the responsible authority, the general conditions of use, the list of significant differences from ICAO, and the State's choice wherever ICAO offers alternatives. Each AIP is dated and identifies the issuing State and provider.

The AIP has three parts.

Printed pages are numbered by part, section and subsection, so each subject has its own page series. The GEN part also lists the differences from ICAO. It describes the AIS and holds the table of present and near-future AIRAC dates.

Anatomy of the AIP: GEN, ENR and AD The AIP is split into three parts. GEN has sections 0 to 4, ENR has sections 1 to 6 and AD has sections 1 to 3. Example entries are highlighted. GEN General GEN 0 Preface, amendment records, contents GEN 1 National rules; 1.7 ICAO differences GEN 2 Units, abbreviations, symbols GEN 3 Services; 3.1 AIS and AIRAC dates GEN 4 Charges ENR En-route ENR 1 General rules and procedures ENR 2 ATS airspace: FIR, UIR, TMA, CTA ENR 3 ATS routes ENR 4 Radio navigation aids and systems ENR 5 Warnings, restricted areas ENR 6 En-route charts AD Aerodromes AD 1 Aerodromes: general information AD 2 Each aerodrome (2.10 obstacles) AD 3 Heliports Highlighted rows: example entries used in the lesson. GEN 3.1 describes the AIS itself: its products (AIP, amendments, supplements, AIC, NOTAM, PIB) and the AIRAC dates. A volume made for use in flight may follow another order if it has an adequate table of contents.
Figure 2. The AIP has three parts, GEN, ENR and AD, divided into numbered sections. Highlighted rows are example entries. Original diagram
Describe this figure

The AIP is organised in three parts. GEN is general information and has sections 0 to 4, from the preface and amendment records through national rules, tables and codes, and services to charges. ENR covers en-route information in sections 1 to 6, from general rules and ATS airspace through routes and radio navigation aids to navigation warnings and en-route charts. AD covers aerodromes in sections 1 to 3: general aerodrome information, the entry for each individual aerodrome, and heliports. GEN 3.1 describes the AIS itself, its products and the AIRAC dates. A volume designed for use in flight may follow another order if it has an adequate table of contents.

The figure shows three columns, GEN, ENR and AD. Each lists its numbered top-level sections with pilot-relevant examples: abbreviations under GEN, restricted areas under ENR, and individual aerodrome entries under AD.

New or revised AIP information is marked in the margin. The mark is a thick black vertical line, or a thick horizontal arrow when only one line or part of a line has changed. Amendments carry consecutive serial numbers and list the NOTAM they incorporate. Unless another time is stated, AIP effective times are 0000 UTC.

Supplements use distinctive pages and consecutive serial numbers based on the calendar year. A checklist of valid supplements is issued at intervals of not more than one month.

NOTAM: when, and when not

You need a NOTAM when a change matters to flight operations soon. The list of situations is long. For a VFR pilot it includes:

Some things deliberately do not get a NOTAM. Examples are routine apron maintenance that does not affect safe movement, reminders of information already published, and planned, locally coordinated closures of parts of the movement area of less than one hour. Parachuting is also excluded in uncontrolled airspace under VFR, in controlled airspace at promulgated sites, or within danger or prohibited areas. So you should still check the chart and the AIP.

Each NOTAM covers one subject and one condition, is as brief as possible, and must make sense without another document. All NOTAM are issued in English. A national-language version may be added for domestic users.

Rule AIS.TR.330

A NOTAM must not be issued for general reminders of information that is already published.

Reading a NOTAM

A NOTAM has a qualifier line, Item Q, followed by Items A to G in a fixed order. The number has a series letter, a four-digit number, a stroke and a two-digit year. The count is consecutive within the year and each series restarts at 0001 on 1 January.

There are three NOTAM types. NOTAMN is new, NOTAMR replaces an earlier one and NOTAMC cancels one. A NOTAMC has no Item C. A replacing or cancelling NOTAM quotes the series and number of the old one and may replace or cancel only one.

Item Q has eight fields.

  1. The FIR.
  2. The NOTAM Code: five letters starting with Q, where letters two and three give the subject and letters four and five its condition.
  3. TRAFFIC: I for IFR, V for VFR, K for checklist.
  4. PURPOSE: N for immediate attention of flight crew, B for operationally significant and selected for the PIB, O for concerning flight operations, M for miscellaneous.
  5. SCOPE: A for aerodrome, E for en-route, W for navigation warning.
  6. LOWER limit.
  7. UPPER limit.
  8. COORDINATES and RADIUS.

Lower and upper limits in the Q line are always flight levels, with 000 and 999 as defaults when no specific height applies. The coordinates give an approximate centre and a three-digit radius in NM, with 999 for a whole FIR or more.

Items A to G:

Annotated example NOTAM for a fictitious aerodrome An invented NOTAM with its qualifier line and Items A to G, each listed below with a short meaning. A0023/26 NOTAMN Q) XXXX / QWPLW / IV / BO / W / 000 / 030 / 4300N00900E002 A) XXXX B) 2611020800 C) 2611061600 D) DAILY 0800-1600 E) PARACHUTE JUMPING EXERCISE WI 2NM OF AD F) SFC G) FL030 What each field means NOTAM type TypeNOTAMNNew; B = comes into force Item Q: eight fields FIRXXXXFlight information region CODEQWPLWSubject 2-3, condition 4-5 TRAFFICIVI = IFR, V = VFR PURPOSEBOB = PIB, O = flight operations SCOPEWW = navigation warning LOWER000Flight level; 000 = default UPPER030Flight level; 999 = default COORD.4300N00900E002Centre to 1 min; radius in NM Items A to G Item AXXXXLocation indicator Item B2611020800Start, UTC: YYMMDDhhmm Item C2611061600End, UTC (or PERM / EST) Item DDAILY 0800-1600Active times between B and C Item E(text)Plain-language NOTAM text Item FSFCLower limit: one datum, one unit Item GFL030Upper limit: one datum, one unit
Figure 3. An invented NOTAM for a fictitious aerodrome. Select a field to see what it means. Original interactive
Describe this figure

The example is invented and uses a fictitious location indicator. It starts with the type, NOTAMN, meaning a new NOTAM. The qualifier line, Item Q, has eight fields: FIR, NOTAM Code, TRAFFIC, PURPOSE, SCOPE, LOWER, UPPER and a centre with radius in NM. Items A to G follow in fixed order: A the location indicator, B the start and C the end as UTC date-time groups, D an optional schedule, E the text, and F and G the lower and upper limits. Select any field in the figure or in the list to read its meaning.

The figure shows an invented NOTAM for a fictitious aerodrome. You select any part of the Q line or any of Items A to G and a note explains what that part means.

Exam trap

"The Q line tells me the vertical extent in feet." No. Q-line limits are always flight levels with defaults of 000 and 999, so a low-level pilot should read Items F and G as well.

Worked example

Invented NOTAM, fictitious aerodrome. Given: Item B reads 2701151000 and Item C reads 2701151800 EST. Method: read the groups as year, month, day, hour, minute, in UTC. Working: B is 15 January 2027 at 1000 UTC. C is 15 January 2027 at 1800 UTC, with an estimated end. Answer: the NOTAM comes into force at 1000 UTC and is expected to end at 1800 UTC. Because the end is only estimated, the issuer must cancel or replace the NOTAM before that time.

NOTAM life cycle and the three-month rules

A wrong NOTAM is corrected by a replacement with a new number, or by cancelling it and issuing a new one. A NOTAM with an estimated end must be cancelled or replaced before the stated time.

NOTAM are not meant to be a permanent home for information. Within three months of a permanent NOTAM, its content must go into the affected products, such as the AIP. Within three months of a long-duration temporary NOTAM, its content must be published as an AIP supplement. If an EST NOTAM unexpectedly runs past three months, a replacement is issued. If the condition is expected to last more than a further three months, an AIP supplement is issued instead.

NOTAM life cycle A NOTAMN can be replaced by a NOTAMR or cancelled by a NOTAMC. Permanent and long-duration NOTAM content moves into the AIP or an AIP supplement within three months. Correcting or ending a NOTAM NOTAMN (new) Item B: comes into force Replace Cancel NOTAMR (replaces) Replaces one NOTAM, with a new number. Item B: origination time NOTAMC (cancels) Cancels one NOTAM. No Item C. Item B: origination time Both quote the old NOTAM's series and number/year, and keep the same series, location and subject. When the information lasts Permanent NOTAM (Item C: PERM) AIP and other products Content incorporated within 3 months Temporary NOTAM of long duration AIP supplement Content published within 3 months NOTAM with estimated end (Item C: EST) Cancel or replace it before the stated time EST overruns 3 months unexpectedly Replacement NOTAM; if more than 3 more months expected: AIP supplement instead runs on
Figure 5. A NOTAM can be replaced or cancelled. Permanent and long-duration content moves into the AIP or an AIP supplement within three months. Original diagram
Describe this figure

A new NOTAM, NOTAMN, comes into force at the time in Item B. A wrong or changed NOTAM is replaced by a NOTAMR with a new number, or cancelled by a NOTAMC, which has no Item C. Each quotes the old series and number/year and may replace or cancel only one NOTAM. A permanent NOTAM is incorporated into the AIP and other products within three months, and a long-duration temporary NOTAM is published as an AIP supplement within that time. A NOTAM with an estimated end, marked EST in Item C, must be cancelled or replaced before the stated time. If it runs past three months unexpectedly, a replacement NOTAM is issued, or an AIP supplement if more than a further three months is expected.

The figure shows a life cycle. A NOTAMN is issued. It can be replaced by a NOTAMR or cancelled by a NOTAMC. Long-lasting content branches to an AIP amendment (permanent) or an AIP supplement (long-duration temporary). An EST NOTAM must be replaced or cancelled before its end time.

When possible, a NOTAM should be published with enough lead time to act on. The exceptions are unforeseeable events such as unserviceabilities and volcanic activity. At least 24 hours' notice is desirable whenever possible. A NOTAM about an unserviceable navaid or service must give an estimate of the outage or restoration time.

A checklist NOTAM lists the valid NOTAM of a series. SNOWTAM and ASHTAM are special-series NOTAM: the first reports snow, ice, slush, frost or water on the movement area and the second reports volcanic activity or ash cloud. Each State's international NOTAM office exchanges NOTAM with other States.

AIRAC: changing together

Some changes force chart makers and navigation-database suppliers to do real work. AIRAC solves the problem by using common effective dates, so every State changes on the same days. ICAO sets the interval between these dates at 28 days. The EU rules do not set the interval, but they build on the common effective dates.

The rules are simple. AIRAC information must reach recipients at least 28 days before the effective date. It must not be changed again for at least 28 days after that date, unless the circumstance is temporary and would not last that long. Pre-planned, operationally significant changes that need chart work or database updates may take effect only on these dates.

Several rules concern the lead time. Information sent on a physical medium should be dispatched at least 42 days before the effective date, so that it reaches users at least 28 days before. For major planned changes, such as new international IFR aerodromes or a redesign of the route network, information should reach users at least 56 days before the effective date where practicable.

What goes through AIRAC? Examples include limits and procedures of FIRs, control zones and ATS routes, permanent danger, prohibited and restricted areas, navaid frequencies and identifiers, instrument procedures, transition altitudes, runways and taxiways, and aerodrome lighting.

If nothing is submitted for an AIRAC date, a NIL notification is sent not later than one cycle before that date.

When an AIP amendment or supplement is published under AIRAC, a trigger NOTAM is also issued. It briefly states the content, effective date and reference number, and comes into force at the same date and time. For an amendment it stays valid for 14 days. For a supplement valid less than 14 days it covers the whole period, and for a supplement valid 14 days or more it lasts at least 14 days.

AIRAC timeline around an effective date Horizontal time axis in days relative to an AIRAC effective date, from 56 days before to 28 days after. AIRAC effective date Next date -56 d -42 d -28 d 0 +14 d +28 d 56 days: major planned changes Should reach users this early, where practicable 42 days: dispatch on a physical medium So that it arrives at least 28 days before 28 days: latest receipt of AIRAC information Every recipient must have it by this point Trigger NOTAM: in force at the effective date Valid 14 days when it announces an AIP amendment No further change for at least 28 days Unless temporary. ICAO sets dates 28 days apart
Figure 4. Information must reach users at least 28 days before an AIRAC effective date and stay unchanged for at least 28 days after it. ICAO sets effective dates 28 days apart. Original diagram
Describe this figure

The axis counts days from an AIRAC effective date at 0, from 56 days before to 28 days after. Information on major planned changes should reach users 56 days before, where practicable, and information sent on a physical medium is dispatched 42 days before. All AIRAC information must reach recipients at least 28 days before the effective date. A trigger NOTAM comes into force at the effective date and is valid 14 days when it announces an AIP amendment. After the effective date the information must not be changed for at least 28 days, unless a change is temporary and shorter than that. ICAO sets the 28-day interval, so the next AIRAC effective date is 28 days later.

The figure is a horizontal timeline. From left to right it marks 56 days before the effective date (major changes), 42 days before (physical dispatch), 28 days before (receipt by users), the effective date itself, the trigger NOTAM period of 14 days, and 28 days after (no further change), which falls at the next effective date.

Worked examples

Worked example

Given: AIRAC information goes out on a physical medium. Dispatch is 42 days before the effective date. Users must have it 28 days before. Method: subtract. Working: 42 - 28 = 14. Answer: transit may take at most 14 days.

Worked example

Given: a major route redesign should reach users 56 days before the effective date, and the ICAO interval between AIRAC dates is 28 days. Method: divide. Working: 56 / 28 = 2. Answer: that is two whole cycles.

Pre-flight information

Pre-flight information is available as a verbal briefing or as self-briefing. Coverage normally includes the departure FIR, adjacent FIRs and the route flown without intermediate landing. Pre-flight information must include the operationally significant elements of the products.

The pre-flight information bulletin, or PIB, is a plain-language summary of valid NOTAM of operational significance, prepared for flight crews before flight. Automated self-briefing systems must be kept continuously updated, give paper output, and give access to the AIS by telephone or other means. All NOTAM are available for briefing by default, and reducing the content is the user's choice.

Your duty comes from the general rules: before a flight you must become familiar with all available information appropriate to the intended operation. That duty is taught in page 010-05-02.

Good practice

Check the PIB for departure, destination, alternates and route shortly before each flight. Read Items B to G, not just the headline. Check AIP supplements and the current AIRAC dates for charts and GNSS databases.

AIC

An AIC is for long-term forecasts of major changes, for purely explanatory or advisory information affecting flight safety, and for explanatory information on technical, legislative or administrative matters. Typical subjects include safety lessons from investigations, medical advice for pilots, warnings of physical hazards and noise-abatement explanations. AIC are numbered consecutively each calendar year. Each one is reviewed for validity at least once a year. Printed AIC may be colour-coded by subject.

In the real world

Real world

At night in San Francisco on 7 July 2017, the crew of Air Canada flight 759 lined up on a parallel taxiway with airliners on it instead of the runway, and passed very low over them before going around. The NTSB found that the crew had not taken in that the parallel runway was closed. Their review of the NOTAM before flight and in the approach briefing was ineffective, and the airline's presentation of NOTAM information contributed. The NOTAM was part of the briefing material, but it still did not reach the crew. Report NTSB/AIR-18/01, investigation DCA17IA148: https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/pages/DCA17IA148.aspx

This content is educational. It does not replace ATO instruction or your aircraft's POH/AFM.

Exam traps

Explain it back

Explain it back

A friend says: "A NOTAM is how I find out about changes that stay forever, and AIRAC is just another kind of NOTAM." Explain to your friend which product carries permanent changes, what AIRAC actually is, and how the two relate.

Self-check

  1. CS-ABC is based at an aerodrome where the operator plans a temporary arrangement lasting five months, described in a long text with several drawings. Which product should carry it?
    mcq · medium
    Show answer

    A temporary change of three months or longer, or one with extensive text and graphics, goes into an AIP supplement. An amendment is for permanent changes. A NOTAM is for short-duration or short-notice items and not for bulky content. An AIC must not carry information that qualifies for the AIP or a NOTAM.

    Reference: AIS.OR.315(a); AIS.OR.330(a); AIS.TR.320(c)

  2. You want to find where a restricted area is listed in the AIP. Which part do you open first?
    mcq · easy
    Show answer

    Navigation warnings, including prohibited, restricted and danger areas, are in the en-route part, ENR. GEN holds general rules, tables and codes, services and charges. AD holds aerodrome information. Restricted areas are AIP information and do not belong in an AIC.

    Reference: Annex VI Appendix 1 to Reg. (EU) 2017/373, Part 2

  3. A NOTAM shows Item C as 2701151800 EST. What does this tell you?
    mcq · hard
    Show answer

    Item C is a UTC date-time group. EST means the end is estimated, so the NOTAM must be cancelled or replaced before that time. It does not lapse by itself and the time is not local. Permanent information is shown as PERM, and the group is not a duration.

    Reference: Annex VI Appendix 2 to Reg. (EU) 2017/373, para 6

  4. An AIRAC change is sent on a physical medium. It is dispatched 42 days before the effective date and users must have it at least 28 days before. What is the longest transit time that meets the guidance?
    mcq · medium
    Show answer

    42 - 28 = 14 days. 28 days of transit would deliver the information on the effective date itself. 21 days is only half of 42 and has no basis. 70 days adds the two numbers instead of subtracting.

    Reference: AMC1 AIS.OR.505(2); AIS.OR.505(2)

  5. You are planning a low-level VFR flight and read a NOTAM about a hazard. The Q line shows lower and upper limits of 000 and 999. What should you do?
    mcq · hard
    Show answer

    Q-line limits are always flight levels, and 000 and 999 are defaults used when no specific height applies. The operational limits are in Items F and G, which may use references such as GND or ft AMSL. The Q line therefore does not say how high the hazard really extends, and it does not mean the NOTAM can be ignored.

    Reference: Annex VI Appendix 2 to Reg. (EU) 2017/373, paras 3.6, 3.7 and 9

Key concepts

Written with ASD-STE100 writing principles: short sentences, one topic per sentence, active voice, one word for one meaning.

01

AIP

The AIP is the State's publication of aeronautical information that stays valid for a long time. It has three parts: GEN (general), ENR (en route) and AD (aerodromes). An in-flight volume can use another arrangement if it has an adequate table of contents.

Rule: AIS.TR.305(g)

02

NOTAM

A NOTAM is a notice sent by telecommunication about the establishment, condition or change of a facility, service, procedure or hazard. The AIS must issue a NOTAM promptly for temporary information of short duration.

Rule: AIS.OR.330(a)

03

AIP amendment or supplement

An AIP amendment makes a permanent change to the AIP. An AIP supplement makes a temporary change to the AIP on special pages. The AIS uses an AIP supplement for a temporary change of three months or longer.

Rule: AIS.OR.315(a)

04

AIRAC

AIRAC is a system of advance notice of significant changes in operating practices, on common effective dates. Recipients must receive AIRAC information at least 28 days before the effective date. After the effective date, the information must not change for at least 28 days, unless a temporary change ends early.

Rule: AIS.OR.505(1), (2)

05

AIC

An AIC is a notice with information that does not qualify for a NOTAM or the AIP. It relates to flight safety, air navigation, technical, administrative or legislative matters.

Do not: use an AIC for information that qualifies for the AIP or a NOTAM.

Rule: AIS.TR.320(c)

06

Reading a NOTAM

Item Q, the qualifier line, has eight fields, and the first field is the FIR. Items B and C give the validity as 10-figure UTC groups, and the end of a day is 2359, never 2400. Item C shows PERM for permanent information, and EST when the end time is uncertain.

Rule: Annex VI Appendix 2, paragraphs 3 to 6

07

Pre-flight information bulletin (PIB)

The PIB is a plain-language summary of valid NOTAM of operational significance and other urgent information. The pre-flight briefing, a separate step from the PIB summary, includes all NOTAM by default. The PIC must become familiar with all available information before a flight.

Rule: SERA.2010(b); AIS.TR.405(e)

08

Trigger NOTAM

A trigger NOTAM announces an AIP amendment or supplement published under AIRAC. It stays valid for 14 days when it announces an AIP amendment. The content of a permanent NOTAM must enter the AIP or other affected products within three months.

Rule: AIS.OR.510(b); AIS.TR.510(c), (f) to (j)

Flashcards

Print them: A6 landscape cards (PDF, front and back) · 4 cards per A4 landscape sheet (PDF, cut lines) · Key figures deck (PDF, 36 figures)

Print double-sided, flip on the short edge.

  1. 010-08-01-01What is the AIP, and how many parts does it have?

    The State's publication of aeronautical information of a lasting character. It has 3 parts: GEN (general), ENR (en route) and AD (aerodromes). An in-flight volume can use another arrangement with an adequate table of contents.

  2. 010-08-01-02What is a NOTAM?

    A notice distributed by telecommunication about the establishment, condition or change of a facility, service, procedure or hazard, whose timely knowledge is essential to flight operations.

  3. 010-08-01-03When must the AIS issue a NOTAM promptly?

    For temporary information of short duration, and for operationally significant permanent or long-duration temporary changes made at short notice. Not when the content is extensive text or graphics.

  4. 010-08-01-04What does short duration generally mean for a NOTAM?

    Generally less than 3 months. Short notice means too little time for the AIS to distribute an AIP amendment or supplement.

  5. 010-08-01-05What is the difference between an AIP amendment and an AIP supplement?

    An AIP amendment makes a permanent change to the AIP. An AIP supplement makes a temporary change, published on special pages.

  6. 010-08-01-06Which temporary change is published as an AIP supplement?

    A change of 3 months or longer. Short-duration information with extensive text or graphics also goes in a supplement.

  7. 010-08-01-07How often is the checklist of valid AIP supplements issued?

    At intervals of not more than 1 month.

  8. 010-08-01-08What is the checklist NOTAM?

    One checklist NOTAM per series, with the same distribution as that series.

  9. 010-08-01-09How is a NOTAM number written, and when does each series restart?

    A series letter, a four-digit number, a stroke and a two-digit year. Each series restarts at 0001 on 1 January.

  10. 010-08-01-10How many NOTAM can one cancelling or replacing NOTAM cover?

    1 NOTAM. The new NOTAM quotes the series and number/year of the old one and keeps the same series.

  11. 010-08-01-11How many subjects and conditions does each NOTAM deal with?

    1 subject, 1 condition. Each NOTAM is as brief as possible and understandable without another document.

  12. 010-08-01-12How many fields does Item Q have?

    8 fields: FIR, NOTAM Code, TRAFFIC, PURPOSE, SCOPE, LOWER, UPPER and COORDINATES/RADIUS.

  13. 010-08-01-13What does a NOTAM Code group look like?

    5 letters, starting with Q. Letters 2 and 3 give the subject; letters 4 and 5 give its condition.

  14. 010-08-01-14What do the Q-line TRAFFIC letters mean?

    I = IFR. V = VFR. K = checklist. Combinations such as IV are possible.

  15. 010-08-01-15What do the Q-line PURPOSE letters N and B mean?

    N = for immediate attention of the flight crew. B = operationally significant, selected for the PIB.

  16. 010-08-01-16What do the Q-line SCOPE letters A, E and W mean?

    A = aerodrome. E = en-route. W = navigation warning. K = checklist.

  17. 010-08-01-17What are the Q-line LOWER and UPPER defaults?

    LOWER FL 000 and UPPER FL 999 when no specific height applies. The radius is 3 digits in NM, and 999 covers a whole FIR or more.

  18. 010-08-01-18What does Item A give?

    The ICAO location indicator of the aerodrome or FIR concerned. If none exists, nationality letters and XX, with the place name in Item E.

  19. 010-08-01-19How are the start and end of validity written in Items B and C?

    As 10-figure UTC groups, YYMMDDhhmm. The start of a day is 0000. The end of a day is 2359, never 2400.

  20. 010-08-01-20What do PERM and EST mean in Item C?

    PERM means permanent information. EST means the end time is uncertain, so the NOTAM must be cancelled or replaced before the stated time.

  21. 010-08-01-21How much advance notice of a NOTAM is desirable?

    At least 24 hours, whenever possible.

  22. 010-08-01-22Within what time must permanent and long-duration temporary NOTAM content move to the affected products?

    Within 3 months. Permanent content is incorporated into the affected products, such as the AIP. Long-duration temporary content becomes an AIP supplement.

  23. 010-08-01-23What happens when a NOTAM with an estimated end runs past 3 months?

    A replacement NOTAM is issued. If the condition lasts more than a further 3 months, an AIP supplement is issued instead.

  24. 010-08-01-24What does a trigger NOTAM announce?

    An AIP amendment or supplement published under AIRAC. It takes effect at the same date and time as that change.

  25. 010-08-01-25How long is a trigger NOTAM valid?

    14 days for an AIP amendment. For a supplement valid less than 14 days, the whole supplement period. For a supplement valid 14 days or more, at least 14 days.

  26. 010-08-01-26What is AIRAC?

    A system of advance notification, based on common effective dates, of circumstances that need significant changes in operating practices.

  27. 010-08-01-27What are the AIRAC 28-day rules?

    Information must reach recipients at least 28 days before the effective date. Then it must not change for at least 28 days, unless a temporary change ends early.

  28. 010-08-01-28Which changes take effect only on AIRAC effective dates?

    Pre-planned, operationally significant changes that need chart work or navigation database updates.

  29. 010-08-01-29How early should AIRAC information be dispatched on physical media, and when should major changes reach users?

    Dispatch on a physical medium: at least 42 days before the effective date (guidance). Receipt of major planned changes: at least 56 days before the effective date, where practicable (guidance).

  30. 010-08-01-30What must be sent when nothing is submitted for an AIRAC date?

    A NIL notification, by NOTAM or other suitable means, not later than 1 cycle before the effective date.

  31. 010-08-01-31How far apart are AIRAC effective dates, according to ICAO?

    28 days. ICAO Annex 15 sets the common effective dates, so every State changes on the same dates. The EU rules do not set this interval.

  32. 010-08-01-32What is the default effective time of AIP amendments?

    0000 UTC, unless another effective time is stated.

  33. 010-08-01-33What is an AIC, and what must it not carry?

    A notice with information that does not qualify for a NOTAM or the AIP, but relates to flight safety, air navigation, technical, administrative or legislative matters. Do not use an AIC for information that qualifies for the AIP or a NOTAM.

  34. 010-08-01-34How often must each AIC in force be reviewed?

    At least once a year, by the AIS.

  35. 010-08-01-35Does a planned movement-area closure of less than 1 hour need a NOTAM?

    No. A locally coordinated closure of less than 1 hour is not issued as a NOTAM.

  36. 010-08-01-36Which VHF frequency is guarded in interception areas announced by NOTAM?

    121.500 MHz, the VHF emergency frequency.

  37. 010-08-01-37What must an AIS provider run for NOTAM origination?

    A 24-hour service in its area of responsibility, for NOTAM origination and issuance and for pre-flight information.

  38. 010-08-01-38What is the PIB?

    A plain-language summary of valid NOTAM of operational significance and other urgent information, prepared for flight crews before flight.

  39. 010-08-01-39Which NOTAM are available for briefing by default?

    All NOTAM. The user can choose to reduce the content.

  40. 010-08-01-40What must the PIC do before beginning a flight?

    Become familiar with all available information appropriate to the intended operation.

Sources

  1. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2017/373 (ATM/ANS), Annex I definitions and Annex VI (Part-AIS) — via EASA Easy Access Rules for ATM/ANS – Provision of Services, March 2025, with the related AMC/GM.
  2. ICAO Annex 15, Aeronautical Information Services, 16th edition (2018): used for ICAO comparisons and the AIRAC interval.
  3. NTSB report AIR-18/01, Air Canada flight 759 taxiway overflight, San Francisco, 7 July 2017 (adopted 25 September 2018): ntsb.gov.

This page is educational. It does not replace instruction at your ATO or your aircraft's POH/AFM. Rules change: check the regulation in force.

Glossary

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