1. The first steps in digital AIM
Electronic AIP (eAIP)
The first steps in digital AIM
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

2. Content Why What How Current status
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

3. Why The paperless trend in aviation “Electronic Flight Bag (EFB)”
no time spent inserting paper amendments
estimated 4 hours saved per week for a pilot
avoid carrying heavy paper on board
“Electronic Flight Bag (EFB)”
class 1 = carry-on laptop, not for critical phases of flight (training, flight planning, reference)
class 2 = laptop mounted in the cockpit, may be used in all phases of flight
class 3 = permanently mounted display, installed avionics
business jet operators leading the way
Boeing 777, class 3 EFB, with own ship position
Airbus – Airline In-flight Information System
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

4. Example - AIRBUS 380
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5. Why Paper based AIS information publication process Electronic
documents ?
AIS Office
AIP document users
Briefing Offices
VFR/IFR pilots …
Read
Extract small amounts of data
AIP
Solution for
automation: AIXM
Data users
Commercial data providers
Large airline
CFMU
...
- Extract large amounts of data
FMS Data
Charts
ARINC 424
Flight manuals
Operational databases
This picture represents a simplified AIS process overview, as it focuses on the production, distribution and usage of the Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP).
The production of the AIP involves an important amount of manual data processing, the resulting product being a paper document. This document, or amendments to it, are then physically distributed by mail. The AIP reaches essentially two categories of users:
1) The first one could be referred to as “AIP document users” and it encompasses Briefing Offices, VFR/IFR pilots, Air Traffic Controllers, etc.. Their main usage of the AIP is reading and searching/extracting small amounts of information, typically concerning a limited geographical area.
2) The second category could be described as “data users” and it encompasses large airlines, commercial data providers, CFMU, etc. Typically, such users have an “environment database”. They use the AIP to extract large amounts of data and they also merge the data from tenths of AIPs, published by different States.
The needs of the two categories of users are quite different. For example, charts are extremely important for the first category, while the second category uses them only because they do not have other sources for several types of data, such as obstructions, approach procedures, etc.. In fact, when used as vehicle for data exchange, the paper-based AIP document increasingly fails to meet the needs of the second category (“data users”).
Manual data processing
Legend
Physical distribution
Automated data processing
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

6. eAIP needed harmonisation & standardisation
Why
State A
eAIP needed harmonisation & standardisation
eAIP - State A
eAIP - State D
eAIP - State B
State B
AIP - State E
When it comes to making an electronic AIP, the first thing to be said is that there was no standard. Thus, each State have been tempted to do it in their own way. The result was quite a variety of layouts and underlying formats, that made the end user to quickly regret the uniformity of the paper based format.
There was a need for harmonisation and standardisation and that’s the role EUROCONTROL could play for the European Area.
State D
State E
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

7. Why Electronic Aeronautical Information Publications
In the search for quality, efficiency and economy, by , Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) of the European States have started publishing electronic version of their AIP
Due to lack of a standard -> divergent implementations (heterogeneous technical solutions, navigation structures and presentation formats)
eAIP Specification
In response to a clear need for harmonisation and coordination
Electronic AIP (eAIP) Specification developed by EUROCONTROL
initially done as part of the AIS AHEAD Programme (improve the management, techniques and performance of AIS in Europe)
Since > maintained and further enhanced by the Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) Domain of EATM
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

8. What AIXM approach –> data modelling
Data Exchange -> XML Schema
eAIP approach –> document modelling
Document Type Definition (DTD)
The purpose of a DTD is to define the legal building blocks of an XML document (document structure)
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

9. What XML structured data (DTD)
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<e:ENR-4.3 id="ENR-4.3" Toc="Yes" Number="ENR 4.3">
<e:Title>Name-code designations for significant points</e:Title>
<e:Designated-point-table Updated="No">
<e:Designated-point id="SP-LINUX" Updated="Inserted"
Updated-ref="AMDT " Listed="Yes">
<e:Designated-point-ident>LINUX</e:Designated-point-ident>
<e:Latitude>423500N</e:Latitude>
<e:Longitude> W</e:Longitude>
</e:Designated-point>
<e:Designated-point id="SP-ABOLA" Listed="Yes" Updated="No">
<e:Designated-point-ident>ABOLA</e:Designated-point-ident>
<e:Latitude>
<e:Deleted id="UPDT " Updated-ref="AMDT " Updated="Deleted">000000N</e:Deleted>
<e:Inserted id="UPDT " Updated-ref="AMDT " Updated="Inserted">544306N</e:Inserted>
</e:Latitude>
<e:Longitude> W</e:Longitude>
...
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

10. What result XML to HTML stylesheet
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11. What result Visualise changes in text
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12. What result Visualise changes in text
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13. What result Visualise changes in graphics Make changes visible
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14. What result XML to PDF stylesheet
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15. What EUROCONTROL eAIP Not a software tool
Specification: the eAIP defines an electronic format and the general usage process
Publication: the eAIP is designed to be published, be it on screen or on paper and used by people;
Exchange: to a certain extent, the eAIP can be used for computer-to-computer data exchange
Not a software tool
however, proof of concept “MakeAIP” software package is provided
industry to provide advanced editing & supporting software
Fully compatible with the ICAO SARPS
complete solution, encompassing all elements of the IAIP (Integrated Aeronautical Information Package)
Exchange: however, the eAIP Specification does not offer the same capabilities for structured aeronautical data exchange as the Aeronautical Information Exchange Model (AIXM)
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

16. What Advantages for users of an eAIP:
possibility to visualise changes (both in text and graphics)
better followed ICAO AIP structure - enforced by the DTD
no maintenance effort
no postal delays (if distributed through the Internet)
available at hand for the whole company (no need to go to the library)
easy archiving (legal, statistical, etc.)
proven authenticity of the document (if digitally signed by AIS)
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

17. What Advantages for producers of an eAIP:
better AIP (consistency, integrity , usability), derived products
60-70% of users do no longer ask for paper amendments
technological leap forward (XML is likely to become the "AIS language")
reduced risk and cost as compared to isolated development
reduced costs for internal “free” copies
easier to create integrated/regional AIPs
easy archiving (legal, etc.)
possibility to digitally sign the document
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

18. How to create one Production tools Examples
See “Related Links” on eAIP Web site
eAIP production tools offered by industry
Examples
Slovenia
using custom software based on XMLMindXMLEditor
Portugal
using custom software based on FrameMaker
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19. How to create one
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20. How to create one
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21. How to create one eAIP Slovenia link
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22. How to create one
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23. How to create one
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24. How to create one
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25. How to create one
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26. Current status eAIP Specification version 1.1.0
Implementations to date
Slovenia, Belgium and Luxembourg, Armenia, Moldova, The Netherlands, Slovak Republic, Portugal, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Taipei FIR, Hungary
In development
Czech Republic, Sweden, Turkey, Egypt, Japan, etc.
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

27. Current status eAIP storage and visualisation in EAD
EAD offers AIP for consultation in PAMS
Originally, PDF only
eAIP is better adapted to screen presentations than PDF
Since November 2004, EAD (release 2) offers support for eAIP in PAMS
Migrating States are expected to load and maintain their eAIP in PAMS, in addition to the default PDF version (not mandatory)
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008

28. eAIP in EAD
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29. Future Enhancements
DTD support for bilingual editing in a single XML source
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30. Future Enhancements annotate eAIP with PERM NOTAM or client notes
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31. eAIP AIXM Conclusion Paperless AIS information publication process
AIS Office
eAIP Production Tool (Editing Software connected to database)
AIS data management function
AIP document users
Briefing Offices
VFR/IFR pilots …
Read
- Custom view
Extract small amounts of data
eAIP
Local / regional (EAD) database (AIXM compatible)
AIXM
Charts
ARINC 424
Flight manuals
FMS Data
Operational databases
The Paperless AIS Project recognises the divergent needs of the two categories of clients described before. The objective of the project is to better satisfy the needs of the AIP document users. The second category (data users) is targeted by another project, the Aeronautical Information Exchange Model (AIXM).
In the automated AIS process overview depicted here, most of the data arrives in an AIS office in electronic format and it is loaded in a database. This database is either a regional one, such as the EAD, or a local one.
The “electronic AIP” is produced assembling data from this database with other information, such as text and charts produced with a cartographic tool. The resulting electronic document is made available on-line or on a CD-ROM. Using a typical World Wide Web browser, the users will have the possibility to read/search the eAIP, to customise their views, to extract small amounts of information, but also to print it in a format similar to the format of the current paper-based AIP.
What will happen to the paper AIP?
paper will still be used for many years
... but we now have an additional option
Data users
Commercial data providers
Large airlines
CFMU …
- Exchange large amounts of data
Manual data processing
Legend
Physical distribution
Automated data processing
Singapore Workshop – Technical Focus - 16 June 2008