1. Aeronautical Information Services Brief to AIXM User Group
27 February 2007 1

2. Background Aeronautical Information Service (AIS) Data
data related to the infrastructure of the ANS – airports, runways, routes, navigational aids, frequencies etc
associated status or condition
NAV CANADA mandate defined by ICAO, Agreement to Transfer, and Civil Air Navigation Services Act (CANSCA)
Current AIS Process
Focused on publications and charts
AIS data management distributed between NAV CANADA and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
manually intensive, error-prone, inefficient, expensive
AIS mandate driven by ICAO, Agreement to transfer and the CANSCA is not being met by manual, document focussed processes
The split of responsibility for managing AIS data between NC and NRCan does not equate to a split in accountability. NC is fully responsible to the aviation industry and the regulator for the quality of the products but did not control the whole process.

3. Red denotes manual data entry operation, for a single data element
Current Process
Red denotes manual data entry operation, for a single data element
Poor communication between NAV CANADA and NRCan
Status quo as it pertains to current procedures is not an option
Move to a simplified single line production type system
New system and procedures focus on a single point of entry for data
Prefer the originator enter the data
Manual labour intensive system
Move to digital production and products, underpinned by regulation

4. Capabilities of an AIS system:
Strategic Plan
Capabilities of an AIS system:
Provide a single authoritative source for data related to the infrastructure of the Canadian ANS
Accept and validate aeronautical information from Accountable Sources both external to, and within, NAV CANADA
To begin the process we developed a draft strategic plan. The intent of the draft plan is to position NC AIS to become ICAO compliant and meet aviation needs for a period of at least 10 years. The basic capabilities of any new AIS system were seen to be:
Provide single authoritative source for data related to the infrastructure of the Canadian ANS
Accept and validate aeronautical information from Accountable Sources both external to, and within, NAV CANADA

5. Strategic Plan
Enhance data integrity by maintaining a quality management system with a clear audit trail from source to distribution
Support the AIS publication cycle and internal NAV CANADA systems’ requirements for AIS data
Support current and future customer requirements for AIS data, publications and charts
Enhance data integrity by maintaining a quality management system with a clear audit trail from source to distribution
Support the AIS publication cycle and internal NAV CANADA systems’ requirements for AIS data
Support current and future customer requirements for AIS data, publications and charts

6. Procurement Process Industry RFI and discussions
ADMS Operational Requirements developed
Request for Proposal issued to 15 companies
Proposals were received Feb 2006
Proposed solution presented to CAPEX Committee and Board of Directors: approval granted
Contract awarded to Frequentis Canada 7 July 2006
We met with representatives from industry to determine what technology was currently available or on the near horizon. Operational requirements were developed in consultation with internal and external customers. As well, current AIS staff were briefed on the strategic plan and consulted for what they thought the new system should be capable of. Throughout the process the focus what do we need not what do we currently do. We also maintained that we were buying a system to manage aeronautical data. This was a holistic exercise not simply a NAIDS replacement project, or a production platform to replace the NRCan portion of our process.
RFP was issued, a number of proposals were received, evaluated and ranked.
The leading contenders were briefed the CAPEX and finally to the BOD where approval was granted to proceed.
On 7 Jul NAV CANADA entered into a contract with Frequentis Canada to purchase a Frequentis AIS system based on the Eurocontrol European Aeronautical Database.

7. Project Scope The ADMS provides the capabilities to: Acquire Data
Accept and validate aeronautical, Geographic Information System (GIS) and enterprise information from Accountable Sources both external to, and within, NAV CANADA;
Synchronize / coordinate interdependent data submissions from multiple Accountable Sources;
Validate Data
Support NAV CANADA AIS processes e.g. to validate, manage and baseline the AIS data;

8. Project Scope (contd) Support Data Quality and Integrity Exchange Data
Provide a clear audit trail for information from source to distribution;
Maintain a quality management system for aeronautical data/information;
Exchange Data
Produce AIC (Aeronautical Information Circular) and AIRAC (Aeronautical Information Regulation & Control) and tools for AIS to manage them;
Enable access to AIS data in Aeronautical Information Exchange Model (AIXM) format over the NAV CANADA Intranet (NCI);
Enable controlled access to AIS data in AIXM format over the internet;
Produce an ICAO compliant digital AIP

9. ADMS High Level Connectivity

10. Data Quality
Initial data base set-up using multiple sources increases the confidence level of the data
Waypoint co-ordinates will be tagged and monitored (CRC wrap) while stored and moved around in the system
System will always apply the business rules and consistency checks
One time manual data entry
Web based forms for data originators
Fax and bar code scans for data originators that do not have web capabilities
In future, direct input into the system from survey equipment
Products assembled using direct links to the valid aeronautical data or CAD files
ICAO data integrity levels for aero data can not be achieved without technology
Data migration is being completed using the NAV CANADA and Natural Resource Canada aero database
Current products are being used for comparison to the database
Human process may or may not apply SOP consistently. The ADMS system will apply the business rules every time
Easier to track and correct errors
Product templates linked to the ADMS will ensure proper cross referencing of a data element
First step in data entry is to ensure only one manual data entry step
Web based forms will be developed and available to all aero data originators
A forms based system will be developed for data originators without computer access. The form will be sent to NC. Bar code technology will be used to eliminate the need for NAV CANAAD AIS to enter data into system
NC investigating technology that will input data into system directly from survey based equipment

11. Accountable Source Data Handling (small user)
Forms based concept
FAX of .PDF
To FAX Server
OCR to Bar Code
Bar Code to .XML
.XML to Data Collection private slot for verification

12. ADMS Components AIP, Charting and Document Management
All ICAO required charts and documents are supported as well as NC legacy publications
Templates are used for each document /chart type.
Template fields are data linked to the database
Assembly team will use these tools to produce print ready documents.
The most important feature of the document and charting tools is that fields in the templates are data linked to the appropriate fields in the SDO. Data that is modified for a particular AIRAC cycle is updated through data link. Modification of the data is not possible at this point in the process.

13. VFR Chart Development
Digital terrain map complete and validated for all of Canada
Up to date satellite images converted of water and permanent ice features
In the process of overlaying updated digital data for; roads, rail, hydro line, city, obstacle and label layers
This is a contracted project. An Ottawa based GIS company is completing this task. Terralogik
The project should be complete for January 2007
Montreal Area digital terrain and water features

14. IFR Chart Template
Navaids, airways, and labels on the map are linked to the aeronautical database
AIS staff do not draw in the basic map, only move shapes, change fonts and set map borders
Colors are computer generated and will be changed at the time of printing
The charting contractor will be producing this chart for the first year
NAV CANADA is responsible for the Quality review of the charts
First NAV CANADA charts will be the March cycle

15. CAP Instrument Procedure Template
CAP Template will be generated from the aeronautical database
Automation of the process will increase over time
Initially the diagrams will be linked
Over a 9 month period the coded links to the aeronautical database will be established
Yellow boxes represent coded links to the data base
First NAV CANADA charts will be the MAY cycle
Large level of effort is required to clean up the CAD diagrams and insert the proper waypoint terminators and 424 Path codes

16. CAP Template Cont’d
Airport Diagrams will be generated using the same process except;
Diagrams will be linked to a CAD file
The MAY cycle will only have the diagrams linked to a CAD file. The Aero data will be drawn on the CAD diagram.
The July cycle see the start of links to the Aero database combined with diagrams from CAD files
The 15 CAD contractors are taking the straw man diagrams from the system and airport diagrams fm NRCan and enhancing them for print ready status

17. Technical Challenges
Accountable Source Web interface
Internal ATS system interfaces.
Instrument Procedure Design Automated Tool interface

18. Conclusion
NAV CANADA AIS modernization and shift to focus on Aeronautical Information Management is supported by AIXM.
AIXM is the core of our fully functioning, proven aeronautical data management system which supports the capabilities identified in our strategic plan.