19.05.10, British Air Traffic Control Uses XML Editing System for Preparing Aeronautical Publications (AIP)

The British National Air Traffic Service (NATS) and Ovidius GmbH in Berlin jointly implement an editing system that largely permits automated production of aeronautic documents prescribed by law. The most important criteria when it comes to implementing the solution include ensuring data integrity and the possibility of easily tracing changes made to the documents. The prepared documents, the so-called Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), must correspond to the binding standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and be updated at least every 28 days.

An AIP contains myriad aeronautical data from the publishing institution (mostly countries). Apart from general information, details on aviation routes and airports are combined into the document. These data represent comprehensive information with regard to a particular air space and are thus essential for safe flight operations. For this reason the underlying data must be absolutely reliable and also agree in the different parts of the publication (e.g. maps and tables). As of the year 2012 requirements will become even more stringent. Then, apart from the integrity of the data, the data flow itself must also be verifiable in accordance with a European directive.

Most Important Functions at a Glance

The basis of the editing solution that has now been implemented is a database developed by NATS built on the Aeronautical Information Exchange Model (AIXM). AIXM was developed under the guidance of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Organization for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) in order to provide and exchange aeronautical data in digital form worldwide. In the AIXM database from NATS the data are first examined for plausibility and then employed by the so-called AIP manager for production of the AIP. The AIP manager is an Ovidius development and represents the user interface and control centre for everyone involved in production of the AIP (authors, cartographers, managers). If data are modified, then the AIP manager examines which text sections and maps are affected by such modifications. And the sections that are to be revised and reviewed are subjected to a strict workflow operation.

The AIP manager is also connected to a chart editor with which maps may be automatically generated from the verified data. There are nineteen different, pre-defined map types for which both agreement with the text as well as good legibility and clarity are guaranteed when it comes to their production. Modifications are easily traced and the publications can be rendered in various formats (e.g. print, PDF, online). There is also an integrated option for preparing the AIP in multilingual design. The synoptic structure of the pages ensures that paragraphs and tables run synchronously in the languages used. A further feature of the system is the high degree of automation: Thus it is not necessary to manually activate the regularly required updates.