scope:

FOREWORD

Annex 15 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation specifies that each Contracting State shall provide an "aeronautical information service". An aeronautical information service (AIS) is required to collect and distribute information needed to ensure the safety, regularity and efficiency of air navigation. Such information, which includes the availability of air navigation facilities and services and the procedures associated with them, must be provided to flight operations personnel, as well as the air traffic services unit responsible for flight informatian service and the services responsible for pre-flight information.

The effective functioning of an AIS is dependent upon the cooperative effort of all aeronautical services, such as communications, aerodromes and air traffic services, since the raw information must be originated by such services. It is, therefore, incumbent upon the national aviation authority to ensure that all the required information is supplied to the AIS as promptly as

The purpose of this manual is to explain the basic functions of an AIS and to describe the basic organization it requires. It is also intended that the manual:

a) assist Contracting States in the uniform application of the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs) contained in Annex 15;

b) promote maximum efficiency in the organization and operation of an AIS; and

c) assist Contracting States in the training of AIS personnel.

This manual is published in furtherance of Recommendation 4/1 of the Meeting of the Aeronautical Information Services and Aeronautical Charts Division of ICAO (held at Montreal in April 1959). It should be read in conjunction with the latest editions of the following related ICAO documents:

Annex 4 - Aeronautical Charts

Annex 15 - Aeronautical Information Services

Doc 8697 - Aeronautical Chart Manual

Doc 9674 - World Geodetic System - 1984 ( WGS-84) Manual

Throughout this manual, references to the appropriate Annex 15 SARPs are shown within square brackets.