Making NOTAMS etc Compatible with GPS Devices

[John Brady]

FASVIG has a project running to review Aeronautical Information (NOTAMS, charts etc) to look for ways these could be improved for the user. The recent interest in infringement reduction has given this new impetus and we would be grateful if you would tell us what does not work well for you so that we can compile a proposal to present the CAA’s Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) working group in the middle of September.

We live in complex airspace and VFR flying is much more complicated than IFR flying but we are less well served with navigation data that is often not designed or configured for single pilot VFR use. The providers or GPS mapping devices do an outstanding job in presenting the data but they can only present what is in the AIP and NOTAMS.

We think that NOTAMS and other data should be delivered to aid the airspace user and be compatible with GPS mapping devices to show only that which the pilot needs to pay attention to. Depicting areas which are not actually active invites us to ignore them and we then have to judge what to ignore and what to respect. And eventually we will ignore something that is relevant and important. So what should we expect? Here are some example ideas:

NOTAMS should be relevant to time – a NOTAM should not cover a long period when there are only short periods of activity within it. Otherwise it will be displayed on your GPS map device for the whole period.

NOTAMS should be relevant to route. A 10nm red circle around Turweston that only relates to aerodrome administrative matters should not appear. Notice of a TMZ should only cover the area of the TMZ and not most of Lincolnshire. In the old days we would look at the list of NOTAMS and ignore such things but today’s graphical devices display the area and although you can check the detail when planning, in flight a red circle that comes with a warning should be avoided. NOTAMS about a hazardous situation in Kenya in your local flight brief?

DZs, glider sites and similar which are either active only by NOTAM or have not been used for years appear on your chart or device all the time and are avoided or ignored as you choose. The mapping data should reflect reality and with GPS device mapping we should see real activity data. Maybe such “by NOTAM” areas should only appear by NOTAM.

Frequency cards are no longer issued but have to be downloaded and printed. The back-to-back printing does not always align on home printers. There is no useful notification of when a card is updated and needs to be reprinted. Do many pilots not bother anyway? Is lack of suitable card sheet a problem. Could 2 A5 cards be printed on a single A4 sheet rather than one A5 card in the middle of an A4 sheet?

LARS is really important for infringement avoidance but the only depiction of LARS areas is in the AIP which is no use in the cockpit. Should there be a card (like frequency cards) depicting LARS areas with frequencies and maybe listening squawks as well?

Please tell us what does not work for you or what does not work for the wider aviation community because it confuses or distracts your safe navigation.

Please post your thoughts on this forum but also please email us so we can compile all the input and come back to you if we need more information feedback(at)fasvig.org
Thanks
The FASVIG Team

[mikeblyth]

I use the frequency card print both sides trim and laminate. Leave in the aeroplane. Very
useful.