GEN 3 SERVICES

GEN 3.1 AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT


3.1.1 Responsible services

3.1.1.1. The Aeronautical Information Management (AIM), that forms part of the Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS), ensures the flow of information necessary for the safety, regularity and efficiency of international and national air navigation within the area of its responsibility as indicated under paragraph 3.1.2 below. It consists of AIM, International NOTAM Office (NOF) and AIS units established at certain aerodromes as listed under paragraph 3.1.5  below.
 

3.1.1.2 Aeronautical Information Management

Saudi Air Navigation Services (SANS)
Aeronautical Information Management (AIM)
P.O.Box: 929
Jeddah 21421
Saudi Arabia
TEL:    +966 12 6848046 & +966 12 6848959
FAX:    +966 12 6405622
AFTN: OEJDYAYX
e-mail: aim@sans.com.sa

3.1.1.3 International NOTAM Office (NOF)

International NOTAM Office
P.O.Box 929
Jeddah 21421
Saudi Arabia
TEL:    +966 12 6848668
            +966 12 6290561
FAX:    +966 12 6405622
AFTN:  OEJDYNYX
            OEJDRETN ( RQN )
e-mail: nof@sans.com.sa

The service is provided in accordance with the provisions contained in ICAO Annex 15 - Aeronautical Information Services.

3.1.1.4 Aeronautical Chart

P.O. Box 929
Jeddah 21421
Saudi Arabia
TEL:    +966 12 6848046 & +966 12 6848959

e-mail: aim@sans.com.sa

3.1.2 Area of responsibility

The Aeronautical Information management is responsible for the collection and dissemination of information for the entire territory of Saudi Arabia and for the airspace over the high seas encompassed by the Jeddah Flight Information Region.

3.1.3 Aeronautical publications

3.1.3.1. SANS/AIM Department produces and distributes all elements of the Aeronautical Information Products which consists of:
  1. Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP), including Amendments and Supplements;
  2. Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC);
  3. Aeronautical charts;
  4. NOTAM.
  5. Checklists of valid AIP supplements, currently valid AIC, valid NOTAM and valid data sets;
  6. Digital data sets
  7. Pre-flight information bulletins (PIB)
  8. Pre-flight information service
  9. Post-flight information service

NOTAM and the related monthly checklists are issued via the Aeronautical Fixed Service (AFS), while PIB are made available through NOTAM office.

3.1.3.2 Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

The AIP is the basic aviation document intended primarily to satisfy international requirements for the exchange of permanent aeronautical information and long duration temporary changes essential for air navigation.

The AIP is published on SANS website and available in English for use in international and domestic operations, whether the flight is a commercial or a private one.

3.1.3.3 Amendment service to the AIP (AIP AMDT)

Two types of AIP AMDT are produced:
  • regular AIP Amendment (AIP AMDT), issued in accordance with the established regular interval (ref. GEN 0.1), incorporates permanent changes into the AIP on the indicated publication date; and
  • AIRAC AIP Amendment (AIRAC AIP AMDT), issued in accordance with the AIRAC system and acronym AIRAC, incorporates operationally significant permanent changes into the AIP on the indicated AIRAC effective date.

A brief description of the subjects affected by the amendment is given on the AIP Amendment cover page. New information included on the reprinted AIP pages is annotated or identified by a vertical line in the left margin (or immediately to the left) of the change/addition.
 
Each AIP page and each AIP replacement page introduced by an amendment, including the amendment cover page, are dated. The date consists of the day, month (by name) and year of the publication date (regular AIP AMDT) or of the AIRAC effective date (AIRAC AIP AMDT) of the information. Each AIP amendment cover page includes references to the serial number of those elements, if any, of the aeronautical information products which have been incorporated in the AIP by the amendment and are consequently cancelled.
 
Each AIP AMDT and each AIRAC AIP AMDT are allocated separate serial numbers which are consecutive and based on the calendar year. The year, indicated by two digits, is a part of the serial number of the amendment, e.g. AIP AMDT 07/17; AIRAC AIP AMDT 09/16.

3.1.3.4 Supplement to the AIP (AIP SUP)

Temporary changes of long duration (three months and longer) and Aeronautical information of short duration which consists of extensive text and/or graphics, supplementing the permanent information contained in the AIP, are published as AIP Supplements (AIP SUP). Operationally significant temporary changes to the AIP are published in accordance with the AIRAC system and its established effective dates and are identified clearly by the acronym AIRAC AIP SUP.
 
AIP Supplements are separated by information subject (General - GEN, Enroute - ENR and Aerodromes - AD). Each AIP Supplement (regular or AIRAC) is allocated a serial number which is consecutive and based on the calendar year, i.e. AIP SUP 07/17; AIRAC AIP SUP 09/16.
 
An AIP Supplement is kept in the AIP as long as all or some of its contents remain valid. The period of validity of the information contained in the AIP Supplement will normally be given in the supplement itself. Alternatively, NOTAM may be used to indicate changes to the period of validity or cancellation of the supplement.
The checklist of AIP Supplements currently in force is issued in the monthly printed plain-language list of valid NOTAM .

3.1.3.5 NOTAM and Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB)

NOTAM contain information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential for personnel concerned with flight operations. The text of each NOTAM contains the information in the order shown in the ICAO NOTAM Format and is composed of the significations / uniform abbreviated phraseology assigned to the ICAO NOTAM Code complemented by ICAO abbreviations, indicators, identifiers, designators, call sign, frequencies, figures and plain language. NOTAM are originated and issued for Jeddah FIR and are distributed in Three series identified by the letters A,W and V. They are exchanged between Jeddah NOF and other international NOTAM offices, as follows:
 
Series A NOTAM - International distribution and national distribution.
 
Series W NOTAM - Warning distribution only.
 
Series V NOTAM - Ashtam only .
 
Each NOTAM is given a serial number, preceded by the appropriate letter indicating the series.
 
Series A and W
CYZZNMEO HKJKYNYX LYZZNRXX OIZZNAXX
DAZZNJXX HLLLYNYX LZZZNAXX OJAIZPZX
DNKNYNYX HSSSZPZX OAKBYNYX OJZZNJXX
DTZZNAOE HSZZNANX OBZZNAXX OKNOYNYX
EBZZNAXX HTDAYNYX OEABZRZX OLZZNBXX
EDZZNGOE KCNFYNYX OEDFSAAD OMZZNBXX
EDZZNLXX KCOSXHJP OEDFZPZX OOZZNANX
EGZZNOEJ KDZZNAXX OEDRZGZX OPZZNAXX
EHZZNTXX LCNCYNYX OEJDYNYX ORBSYNYX
EIZZNBXX LDZAYNYX OEJDYOYX OSZZNBAX
ESZZNAOE LEZZNADE OEJNADNC OYAAYNYX
EUECYIYN LFZZNDXX OEJNARAB OYSNYNYX
FAJSYNYX LGZZNAXX OEJNJACC RCZZNMXX
FSSSYNYX LHBPYNYX OEJNJETX RJZZNKXX
GMZZNIMA LIZZNAOE OEJNSVAO RKZZNKXX
GOOOYNYX LKZZNAOE OEJNYNYX RPLLYNYX
HAZZNAXX LMZZNMXX OEJNYOYX RPZZNANX
HCMMYNYX LOZZNALO OEMAYNYX UUUUYNYX
HEZZNEXX LSZZNAOE OERKYNYX VABBYNYX
HHASYNYX LTZZNAOE   VAZZNAOE
VCZZNOAX VIZZNAXX VTZZNAAX WMZZNAXX
VGZZNAXX VMMCYNYX WIMMYOYX WSZZNBXX
VHZZNMXX VOMMYNYX WIZZNARA ZBZZNAXX
OTZZNAZX      
 
Series V
EGZZVANW CWAOYMYU NZKLYMYX YPDMYMYX
EGRRYMYX OEJDYMYX RJTDYMYX  
KWBCYMYX LFPWYMYX SABMYMYX  
 
Note: In addition to list A.
 

Annual starting number for Series  A ... 0001
                                                       W .. 0001
                                                        V .. 0001
 
Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB), which contain a recapitulation of current NOTAM and other information of urgent character for the operator / flight crews, are available at the aerodrome AIS units. The extent of the information contained in the PIB is indicated under 3.1.5 of this subsection.
 

3.1.3.6 Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC)

The Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC) contain information on the long-term forecast of any major change in legislation, regulations, procedures or facilities; information of a purely explanatory or advisory nature liable to affect flight safety; and information or notification of an explanatory or advisory nature concerning technical, legislative or purely administrative matters.
AICs are divided by subject and are issued in two series (A and B). AIC Series A contains information affecting international civil aviation and is given international distribution, while AIC Series B contains information affecting national aviation only and is given national distribution.
 
Each AIC is numbered consecutively within each series on a calendar year basis. The year, indicated by two digits, is a part of the serial number of the AIC, e.g. AIC A 02/17; AIC B 01/16. A checklist of AIC currently in force is issued as an AIC at the begining of each calendar year.
 

3.1.3.7 Checklist and summary of NOTAM

A checklist of valid NOTAM is issued monthly via the AFS The checklist is followed by a printed summary of NOTAM contains a plain language (in English) presentation of the valid NOTAM and information about the number of the latest issued AIP AMDT, AIRAC AIP AMDT, AIP SUP and AIC as well as the numbers of the elements issued under the AIRAC that will become effective or, if none, the NIL AIRAC notification.

3.1.4 AIRAC System

3.1.4.1. In order to control and regulate the operationally significant changes requiring amendments to charts, route-manuals etc., such changes, whenever possible, will be issued on predetermined dates according to the AIRAC SYSTEM. This type of information will be published as an AIRAC AIP AMDT or an AIRAC AIP SUP. If an AIRAC AMDT or SUP cannot be produced due to lack of time, NOTAM clearly marked AIRAC will be issued. Such NOTAM will immediately be followed by an AMDT or SUP.
 
3.1.4.2. The table below indicates AIRAC effective dates for the coming years. AIRAC information will be issued so that the information will be received by the user not later than 28 days, and for major changes not later than 56 days, before the effective date.
At AIRAC effective date, a trigger NOTAM will be issued giving a brief description of the contents, effective date and reference number of the AIRAC AIP AMDT or AIRAC AIP SUP that will become effective on that date. Trigger NOTAM will remain in force as a reminder in the PIB until the new checklist / summary is issued.
If no information was submitted for publication at the AIRAC date, a NIL notification will be issued by NOTAM not later than one AIRAC cycle before the AIRAC effective date concerned
 
Schedule of AIRAC effective dates

 
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
28 JAN 21 27 JAN 22 26 JAN 23 25 JAN 24 23 JAN 25
25 FEB 21 24 FEB 22 23 FEB 23 22 FEB 24 20 FEB 25
25 MAR 21 24 MAR 22 23 MAR 23 21 MAR 24 20 MAR 25
22 APR 21 21 APR 22 20 APR 23 18 APR 24 17 APR 25
20 MAY 21 19 MAY 22 18 MAY 23 16 MAY 24 15 MAY 25
17 JUN 21 16 JUN 22 15 JUN 23 13 JUN 24 12 JUN 25
15 JUL 21 14 JUL 22 13 JUL 23 11 JUL 24 10 JUL 25
12 AUG 21 11 AUG 22 10 AUG 23 08 AUG 24 07 AUG 25
09 SEP 21 08 SEP 22 07 SEP 23 05 SEP 24 04 SEP 25
07 OCT 21 06 OCT 22 05 OCT 23 03 OCT 24 02 OCT 25
04 NOV 21 03 NOV 22 02 NOV 23 31 OCT 24 30 OCT 25
02 DEC 21 01 DEC 22 30 NOV 23 28 NOV 24 27 NOV 25
30 DEC 21 29 DEC 22 28 DEC 23 26 DEC 24 25 DEC 25
 

3.1.5 Pre-flight information service at aerodromes

The Web Based Pilot Briefing System (WBPBS) is an online service, which is available on the Web site https://pbs.sans.com.sa/AviWeb/ and can be accessed worldwide via internet. It is an easy way for Pilots, Aircraft Operators and Organizations to access pre-flight information through the internet.
 
The Web Based Pilot Briefing System (WBPBS) makes it possible to independently prepare a bulletin based on the effective NOTAMs. The following types of PIB can be provided:
  • Aerodrome Briefing;
  • Special Area Briefing;
  • Normal Route Briefing; and
  • Narrow Route Briefing.

The Web Based Pilot Briefing System (WBPBS) allows users to access the application via mobile devices such as tablet PCs and supported on smart phone https://pbs.sans.com.sa/AviMobile.
 
The Web Based Pilot Briefing System (WBPBS) works with any modern web browser with the JavaScript Support.
 
User required to register, which is free of charge. Start to send request to the following E-mail: aim@sans.com.sa using the Registration Form. After receiving the login and password, start using the Web Based Pilot Briefing System (WBPBS) service.
 
In case forgotten the WBPBS account credentials, please send and E-mail to aim@sans.com.sa and we will get back to you within 24 hours.
 
The account will be closed automatically after 180 days (approx. 6 months) if unused.
 
Also per-flight information Bulletins (PIB) are available on the SANS site www.sans.com.sa which includes NOTAMS. Users are required to register to the web site in order to obtain (PIB).

3.1.6 Electronic terrain and obstacle data

 Electronic Terrain and Obstacle Data of Saudi Arabia is available. For further information contact the following address:
 
General Authority of Civil Aviation
Aviation Safety and Environmental Sustainability Sector
P.O. Box 47360
3819 King Khalid International Airport
Riyadh 13443
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
TEL:   +966 11 525 3683
e-mail: oe@gaca.gov.sa

 3.1.6.1 Terrain data

3.1.6.1.1 Terrain data for area 1

Terrain data for area 1 as defined in ICAO Annex 15 is available for the entire Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with 90m post spacing in GeoTIFF format by the following links:
Http:

https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N17.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N18.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N19.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N20.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N21.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N22.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N23.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N24.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N25.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N26.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N27.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N28.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N29.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N30.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N31.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N32.zip
https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area1/N33.zip

3.1.6.1.2 Terrain data for area 2

- OERK
Terrain data for area 2 as defined in ICAO Annex 15 is available with 30m post spacing in GeoTIFF format by the following link:
Http://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area2/OERK/Area2.zip
- OEDF
Terrain data for area 2 as defined in ICAO Annex 15 is available with 30m post spacing in GeoTIFF format by the following link:
Http://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area2/OEDF/Area2.zip
- OEJN
Terrain data for area 2 as defined in ICAO Annex 15 is available with 30m post spacing in GeoTIFF format by the following link:
Http://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area2/OEJN/Area2.zip
- OEMA
Terrain data for area 2 as defined in ICAO Annex 15 is available with 5m (10km radius), 10m (10-20km radius) and 30m 
(20-80km radius) post spacing in GeoTIFF format by the following link:
Http://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area2/OEMA/Area2.zip

3.1.6.1.3 Terrain data for area 3

- OEJN

Terrain data for area 3 as defined in ICAO Annex 15 is available in GeoTIFF format by the following link:
Http://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Terrain/Area3/OEJN/Area3.zip

3.1.6.2  Obstacle data

3.1.6.2.1  Area 1

Obstacle data for area 1 as defined in ICAO Annex 15 is available in a file in XLSX and PDF format by the following link:

Https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Obstacle/Area1/OBST-area1-V4.xlsx

Https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Obstacle/Area1/OBST-area1-V4.pdf
 

3.1.6.2.2  Area 2 and Area 3

Obstacle data for area 2 and area 3 as defined in ICAO Annex 15 is available in a file in XLSX and PDF format by the following link:

- OEDF - Dammam / King Fahd International Airport.
Https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Obstacle/Aerodromes/OEDF/OEDF-Obstacles-V1.xlsx
Https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Obstacle/Aerodromes/OEDF/OEDF-Obstacles-V1.pdf


- OEMA - Madinah / Prince Mohammad Bin Abdulaziz International Airport.

Https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Obstacle/Aerodromes/OEMA/OEMA-Obstacles-V1.xlsx
Https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Obstacle/Aerodromes/OEMA/OEMA-Obstacles-V1.pdf


- OERK - Riyadh / King Khaled International Airport.
Https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Obstacle/Aerodromes/OERK/OERK-Obstacles-V2.xlsx
Https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Obstacle/Aerodromes/OERK/OERK-Obstacles-V2.pdf


- OEAO - Alula International.
Https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Obstacle/Aerodromes/OEAO/OEAO-Obstacles.xlsx
Https://aimss.sans.com.sa/assets/FileManagerFiles/eTOD/Obstacle/Aerodromes/OEAO/OEAO-Obstacles.pdf