3.1 General
3.1.1 Aeronautical information is provided in the form of aeronautical information products and associated services.
3.1.2 Aeronautical information provided in a standardized presentation include the aeronautical information publication (AIP), AIP amendments, AIP supplements, AIC, NOTAM and aeronautical charts.
3.1.3 The AIP, AIP amendments and AIP supplements are provided as an electronic document (eAIP) and on paper.
3.1.4 The eAIP allow for both displaying on computer screen and printing on paper.
3.2 Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)
3.2.1 General
3.2.1.1 The AIP is intended primarily to satisfy international requirements for the exchange of aeronautical information of a lasting character essential to air navigation. It constitutes the basic information source for permanent information and long duration temporary changes.
3.2.1.2 The
AIP is published in English language for use in international and domestic operations, whether the flight is a commercial or a private one.
3.2.1.3 The AIP is self-contained and includes a table of contents.
3.2.1.4 The AIP is organized in three parts (GEN, ENR and AD), sections and subsections.
3.2.1.5 The
AIP is dated. The date, consisting of the day, month (by name) and year, is the publication date or the effective date (AIRAC) of the information.
3.2.1.6 Charts, maps or diagrams are used to complement or as a substitute for the tabulations or text of AIP.
3.2.1.7 The AIP is amended or reissued at such regular intervals as may be necessary to keep it up to date.
3.2.1.8 Any amendment to the printed volume of the AIP is made using replacement sheets.
3.2.2 AIP amendments
3.2.2.1 Permanent changes to the AIP are published as AIP amendments.
3.2.2.2 The ICAO AIRAC system is used to provide advance notice of the introduction of permanent operationally significant changes on an AIRAC effective date.
3.2.2.3 The electronic version will be updated to a specified AIRAC date and the DVD-ROM will also present a preview of AIRAC changes.
3.2.2.4 AIRAC AIP amendment pages are identified by the footnote AIRAC AMDT and do not replace the existing AIP pages until the AIRAC effective date on which the changes take place.
3.2.2.5 Non-AIRAC amendments to the AIP comprise permanent information that is not required to be announced by Trigger NOTAM.
3.2.2.6 Non-AIRAC AIP amendment pages are identified by the footnote AMDT and do not replace the existing AIP pages before the stated date of the page.
3.2.2.7 Each AIP amendment is allocated a serial number, which is consecutive and based on the calendar year.
3.2.2.8 A brief indication of the subjects affected by the amendment is given on the AIP amendment cover sheet.
3.2.2.9 The AIP amendment cover sheet will indicate any NOTAM or permanent AIP supplements which have been incorporated into the amendment.
3.2.2.10 Each AIP amendment page is dated to reflect the AIRAC effective date or publication date.
3.2.2.11 On each replacement page, changes are annotated in the outer margin of the page by a vertical line adjacent to the change.
3.2.2.12 A complete checklist of AIP pages is reissued with each amendment as AIP section GEN 0.4.
3.2.3 AIP supplements
3.2.3.1 Temporary changes of long duration (three months or longer) and information of short duration which contains extensive text and/or graphics are published as AIP supplements.
3.2.3.2 Temporary information of operational significance is published as AIRAC AIP supplement.
3.2.3.3 AIP supplement pages are kept in the AIP as long as all or some of their contents remain valid. The period of validity of the information contained in the AIP supplement will normally be given in the supplement itself.
3.2.3.4 The AIP supplement issued in printed form is provided by means of distinctive pages.
3.2.3.5 Each AIP supplement is allocated a serial number which is consecutive and based on the calendar year.
3.2.3.6 Each AIP supplement page is dated to reflect the AIRAC effective date or publication date.
3.2.3.7 Whenever an AIP supplement is issued as a replacement of a NOTAM, a reference to the series and number of the NOTAM is included.
3.2.3.8 A checklist of valid AIP supplements is normally included within each issue of supplements.
3.2.3.9 A new AIP supplement is published as a replacement when an error occurs in an AIP supplement or when the period of validity of an AIP supplement is changed.
Note: The requirements for NOTAM apply when time constraints do not allow sufficient time for the distribution of an AIP Supplement.
3.3 Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC)
3.3.1 An AIC is used to provide:
- a long-term forecast of any major change in legislation, regulations, procedures or facilities; or
- information of a purely explanatory or advisory nature liable to affect flight safety; or
- information or notification of an explanatory or advisory nature concerning technical, legislative or purely administrative matters.
3.3.2 An AIC is not used for information that qualifies for inclusion in AIP and NOTAM.
3.3.3 The validity of AIC currently in force is reviewed at least once a year.
3.3.4 AIC series A are selected for international distribution.
3.3.5 AIC selected for international distribution have the same distribution as for the AIP.
3.3.6 Each AIC is allocated a serial number which is consecutive and based on the calendar year.
3.3.7 A checklist of AIC currently in force is issued at least once a year, with distribution as for the AIC.
3.3.8 A checklist of AIC provided internationally is included in the NOTAM checklist.
3.3.9 AIC are colour coded according to their subject matter as follows:
- white — administrative;
- yellow — air traffic control (ATC);
- pink — safety;
- mauve — danger area map; and
- green — maps/charts.
3.4 NOTAM
3.4.1 General
3.4.1.1 A NOTAM is promptly issued whenever the information to be distributed is of a temporary nature and of short duration or when operationally significant permanent changes or temporary changes of long duration are made at short notice, except for extensive text and/or graphics.
3.4.1.2 Information on the establishment, condition, or change of any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel involved with flight operations, is issued as a NOTAM.
3.4.1.3 NOTAM contains the applicable information in the order shown in the NOTAM Format set out in Appendix 3 to ICAO Doc 10066.
3.4.1.4 NOTAM text is composed of the significations or uniform abbreviated phraseology assigned to the ICAO NOTAM Code, complemented by ICAO abbreviations, indicators, identifiers, designators, call signs, frequencies, figures and plain language.
3.4.1.5 When an error has occurred in a NOTAM, a NOTAM with a new number is issued to replace the erroneous NOTAM or the erroneous NOTAM is cancelled and a new NOTAM is issued.
3.4.1.6 When a NOTAM is issued to cancel or replace a previous NOTAM:
- the series and number/year of the previous NOTAM are indicated;
- the Location Indicators and subject of both NOTAM are the same.
3.4.1.7 Only one NOTAM is cancelled or replaced by a new NOTAM.
3.4.1.8 Each issued NOTAM deals with only one subject and one condition of the subject.
3.4.1.9 Each NOTAM is transmitted as a single telecommunication message.
3.4.1.10 A NOTAM is issued in English language.
3.4.1.11 An issued NOTAM containing permanent or temporary information of long duration includes appropriate references to the AIP or AIP supplement.
3.4.1.12 Location indicators included in the text of a NOTAM are those contained in Location Indicators (Doc 7910).
3.4.2 Advance notice
3.4.2.1 NOTAM is issued with sufficient lead time for the affected parties to take any required action, except in the case of unserviceability, release of radioactive material, toxic chemicals and other events that cannot be foreseen.
3.4.2.2 NOTAM notifying unserviceability of aids to air navigation, facilities or communication services provides an estimate of the unserviceability period or of the time at which restoration of service is expected.
3.4.2.3 At least seven days’ advance notice are given of the activation of established danger, restricted or prohibited areas and of activities requiring temporary airspace restrictions other than for emergency operations.
3.4.2.4 Notice of any subsequent cancellation of the activities or any reduction of the hours of activity or the dimensions of the airspace are given as soon as possible.
3.4.2.5 Whenever possible, an at least 24 hours’ advance notice is desirable, to permit timely completion of the notification process and to facilitate airspace utilisation planning.
3.4.2.6 Within three months from the issuing of a permanent NOTAM, the information contained in the NOTAM is included in the aeronautical information products affected.
3.4.2.7 Within three months from the issuing of a temporary NOTAM of long duration, the information contained in the NOTAM is included in an AIP supplement.
3.4.2.8 When a NOTAM with an estimated end of validity unexpectedly exceeds the three-month period, a replacement NOTAM is issued unless the condition is expected to last for a further period of more than three months; in that case, an AIP supplement is issued.
3.4.3 Trigger NOTAM
3.4.3.1 A trigger NOTAM is provided when an AIP amendment or an AIP supplement is published in accordance with AIRAC procedures.
3.4.3.2 The trigger NOTAM describes the content, the effective date and time, as well as the reference number of the amendment, or supplement.
3.4.3.3 The trigger NOTAM comes into force on the same effective date and time as the AIP amendment or supplement.
3.4.3.4 In case of an AIP amendment, the trigger NOTAM remains valid for a period of 14 days.
3.4.3.5 In case of an AIP supplement that is valid for less than 14 days, the trigger NOTAM remains valid for the complete validity period of the AIP supplement.
3.4.3.6 In case of an AIP supplement that is valid for 14 days or more, the trigger NOTAM remains valid for at least 14 days.
3.4.4 NOTAM number and series allocation
3.4.4.1 NOTAM for Tirana FIR and aerodromes allowing international air traffic are issued in international NOTAM series identified by the letter A and a four-digit number followed by a stroke and a two-digit number for the year. The four-digit number is consecutive and based on the calendar year.
3.4.4.2 Letters S and T are not used to identify a NOTAM series.
3.4.5 List of valid NOTAM
3.4.5.1 A list of valid NOTAM is provided at intervals of not more than one month.
3.4.5.2 A checklist of valid NOTAM is issued on the first day of each month.
Note: Omitting a NOTAM from the checklist does not cancel a NOTAM.
3.4.5.3 A checklist NOTAM also refers to the latest AIP amendments, AIP supplements, data sets and, at least, to distributed AIC.
Note: The checklist NOTAM may include the checklist of AIP supplements.
3.4.5.4 The checklist NOTAM has the same distribution as the actual message series to which it refers and is clearly identified as a checklist.
3.5 Distribution of aeronautical information products
3.5.1 General
3.5.1.1 Aeronautical information products are distributed to authorized users who request them.
3.5.2 Distribution of eAIP
3.5.2.1 The eAIP is made available by the most expeditious means either through the postal services or via the AIS website at: www.ais.albcontrol.al
3.5.2.2 The eAIP is also available via the European AIS Database (EAD) website at: www.ead.eurocontrol.int
3.5.3 NOTAM distribution
3.5.3.1 NOTAM are distributed on the basis of a request.
3.5.3.2 NOTAM are prepared in conformity with ICAO communication procedures laid down in ICAO Annex 10, Volume II.
3.5.3.3 The aeronautical fixed service (AFS) is employed for NOTAM distribution.
3.5.3.4 NOTAM series A are selected for international distribution.
3.5.3.5 In addition to the distribution to individual States, all NOTAM originated worldwide are also addressed to the European AIS Database (EAD) using the AFTN address EUECYIYN as destination address.
3.5.3.6 The EAD system ensures distribution of NOTAM to all relevant NOTAM Offices (NOF) within its area of responsibility (EAD Clients).
3.5.3.7 The international exchange of NOTAM used for distribution of information on volcanic activity include volcanic ash advisory centres and the world area forecast centres, and take account of the requirements of long-range operations.