Flight Information comes in two variations: Flight Information Service at Aerodromes and Flight Information Service at Area Control Centres. The pages focuses on Flight Information Service at Aerodromes.
Flight Information Service is provided at an aerodrome to give information for the safe and efficient conduct of flights in the Aerodrome Traffic Zone. From the information received, pilots decide the appropriate course of action to be taken to ensure the safety of flight.
- Issuing information to aircraft flying in the ATZ to assist pilots in preventing collisions.
- Issuing instructions and information to aircraft moving on the manoeuvring area to assist pilots in preventing collisions between aircraft and vehicles and obstructions on the manoeuvring area, or between aircraft moving on the apron.
- Issuing instructions to vehicles and persons on the manoeuvring area.
- Informing aircraft of essential aerodrome information and other relevant information.
- Provision of an alerting service.
Flight Information services at aerodromes are responsible for the aerodrome traffic zone at the airfield and may provide a basic service up to 10 nautical miles away.
To control an AFIS position you must be familiar with all procedures, be able to provide traffic information and know all separation minima for arriving, departing and en-route traffic. You should also be familiar with CAP797 and the relevant sections of CAP413, as well as the ground control SOP.
An FIS is a non-radar service provided either separately or in conjunction with other services.
- Provision of the service includes information about weather, changes of serviceability of facilities, conditions at aerodromes and any other information pertinent to safety.
- The controller may attempt to identify the flight for monitoring and co-ordination purposes only. Such identification does not imply that a radar service is being provided. Pilots must be left in no doubt that they are not receiving a radar service.
- Controllers are not responsible for separating or sequencing aircraft.
- AFISOs are not able to issue landing or take off clearances to aircraft. Only provide information pertinent to the safety of aircraft using the runway. Therefore when no threats are known to exist, the phrase “land/take-off at your discretion” is to be used.
- AFISOs cannot control aircraft in the air, only provide information pertinent to the safety of the flight.
- AFISOs must not sequence aircraft within the circuit but can pass information regarding the number of known aircraft ahead of them.