GEN 3 SERVICES

GEN 3.1 AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION SERVICES (AIS)


1 RESPONSIBLE SERVICE

The Aeronautical Information Services, which is part of Fintraffic ANS, is responsible for Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) within the area given in para 2. below.
Fintraffic ANS's ISO 9001 quality certificate includes the operations of AIS.
 

1.1 AIS headquarters

Contact information:
Fintraffic ANS
Aeronautical Information Services
PL 157
FI-01531 VANTAA
   
TEL: +358 20 428 4000 (operator)
E-mail: ais@fintraffic.fi

1.2 International NOTAM office (NOF)

Contact information:
Fintraffic ANS
International NOTAM office
PL 157
FI-01531 VANTAA
    
AFS: EFHKYNYX
TEL: +358 20 428 4813
E-mail: nof@ops-ansfinland.fi
    
Foreign NOTAM and SNOWTAM addressing:
    
NOTAM
AFS: EFZZND plus the first two letters of the location indicator of the NOF of origin
   
SNOWTAM
AFS: EFZZSD plus the first two letters of the location indicator of the originator

2 AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

AIS is responsible for the collection and dissemination of aeronautical information for the entire Finnish territory and the airspace over it including the airspace over the international waters within the limits of the Finnish flight information region.

3 AERONAUTICAL PUBLICATIONS

3.1 Aeronautical Information Products

The information is provided and published by adoption of the aeronautical information products determined in ICAO Annex 15. The aeronautical information products consists of the following elements:
  • Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP) including AIP Amendments (AMDT or AIRAC AMDT)
  • AIP Supplements (AIP SUP)
  • Electronic obstacle data
  • Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC)
  • NOTAM
  • Checklists


The other products provided by AIS are:
  • SNOWTAM
  • Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB)
  • Aeronautical Charts not included in the AIP
  • Newsletters

3.2 AIP SUOMI / FINLAND (AIP)

AIP is the basic aeronautical information document for Finland and it contains information of lasting character essential to air navigation.
The AIP is published in the Finnish and English languages and it is updated by AIP Amendments consisting of revised pages and charts. Minor changes may be incorporated by hand amendments. Each AIP Amendment is provided with a cover sheet containing a list of old pages and charts to be removed from the AIP as well as a list of the new pages and charts to be inserted.
AIP is available at www.ais.fi.

3.3 AIP Amendments

AIP Amendments contain permanent changes to the AIP. Changes on text pages are indicated by change bar I . On charts changes are indicated at margin (e.g. CHG: AD ELEV).
Two different types of Amendments are issued as follows:
  1. AIRAC Amendments (AIP AIRAC AMDT)


AIRAC Amendments, identified by the acronym AIRAC on the cover sheet, contain operationally significant changes which become effective on a specified date given on the cover sheet and require advance distribution in accordance with the AIRAC system (para 4).
An AIRAC Amendment consists of pages and charts which have been revised in regard of the changes becoming effective on the AIRAC effective date. A list of AIRAC type changes included in the Amendment is given on the cover sheet.
Note 1: An AIRAC Amendment should not be inserted into the AIP until the effective date.
Note 2: In most cases AIRAC Amendments contain also other than AIRAC type of changes, e.g. information previously published by NOTAM, etc.
  1. Regular AIP Amendments (AIP AMDT)


Regular Amendments contain pages and charts which have been updated with information already published by other means e.g. by NOTAM, other changes where advance notice is not required or editorial changes.
All AIP Amendments are issued in the same series with consecutive serial numbers starting with number 1 for each calendar year.
Only the most important changes are indicated on the cover sheet. AIP Amendment contains also a checklist of valid pages and charts, valid hand amendments and a list of NOTAM, Supplements and AIC which have been incorporated in the AIP by the Amendment concerned.
AIP Amendments are published at www.ais.fi where all valid AIP Amendments are available.

3.4 AIP Supplements (AIP SUP)

AIP SUP contain information temporarily changing the contents of the AIP including changes lasting longer than 3 months or operationally significant changes of shorter duration including graphics or extensive texts.
AIP SUP are published at www.ais.fi where all valid AIP SUP are available.
Depending on the contents, the AIP SUP are given an advance distribution either under the AIRAC system (see GEN 3.1 - 8) or by shorter advance distribution. Supplements containing information to be published under the AIRAC system are identified by the acronym AIRAC.
The period of validity is normally given in the AIP SUP itself. Possible changes concerning the period of validity or contents may be issued by NOTAM.

3.5 NOTAM and Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB)

3.5.1 NOTAM

3.5.1.1. A NOTAM will normally be originated and distributed via the AFS whenever the information to be disseminated is of temporary nature and of short duration or when operationally significant permanent changes, or temporary changes of long duration, are made at short notice.
3.5.1.2. The activation of TSA areas are not published by NOTAM.
3.5.1.3. NOTAM are published by the International NOTAM Office (NOF). NOTAM are transmitted by the Eurocontrol European AIS Database (EAD) in accordance with a predetermined distribution system. Requests concerning the distribution of NOTAM shall be addressed to EFHKYNYX.
3.5.1.4. NOTAM are distributed in six English language in five series as follows:
Series A (EN)
  • information concerning Helsinki-Vantaa, Tampere-Pirkkala and Turku aerodromes
  • information concerning closure of ATS routes
  • unserviceability of en-route navigation facilities affecting routes normally used by international traffic to/from the above mentioned aerodromes
  • information concerning permanent danger and restricted areas and other activities of a dangerous nature
  • international distribution
Series B (EN)
  • information concerning Enontekiö, Ivalo, Joensuu, Jyväskylä, Kemi-Tornio, Kajaani, Kittilä, Kokkola-Pietarsaari, Kuusamo, Kuopio, Lappeenranta, Mariehamn, Oulu, Pori, Rovaniemi, Savonlinna, Seinäjoki and Vaasa aerodromes
  • unserviceability of en-route navigation facilities for the above mentioned aerodromes
  • international distribution
Series C (EN)
  • information concerning Halli, Mikkeli and Utti aerodromes
  • international distribution
Series D (EN)
  • information concerning uncontrolled aerodromes and heliports
  • international distribution
Series E (EN)
  • information about service unavailability of the EGNOS system having impact on APV 1 performance level. Information is provided for aerodromes having APV SBAS procedures or other procedures requiring APV 1 performance
  • information about predicted unavailability of the GPS RAIM function
  • international distribution
  • information is provided only in English and included in bulletins provided in English
Series K (FI)
  • includes NOTAM in series A, B, C and D
  • national distribution only
3.5.1.5. Each NOTAM is assigned a serial number preceded by the appropriate letter indicating the series. The serial numbers start with number 1 at 0000 UTC on 1 January every year.

3.5.2 SNOWTAM (EN)

SNOWTAM contain information concerning the presence or removal of hazardous conditions due to snow, slush or ice on aerodrome pavements or standing water associated with these conditions.
The distribution of SNOWTAM is carried out in accordance with a distribution list issued separately for each winter season (REF Seasonal snow plan).
Requests concerning the distribution of SNOWTAM shall be addressed to the international NOTAM Office (EFHKYNYX).

3.5.3 Pre-flight Information Bulletin (PIB)

Fintraffic ANS has migrated to the European AIS Database (EAD) for the production of Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB). EAD is owned by Eurocontrol on behalf of its member states.
Bulletins created from the EAD system are based on the NOTAM selection criteria by ICAO Aeronautical Information Services Manual (Doc 8126).
 
The coverage area of EAD PIB-service is sufficient to cover the needs of international air traffic departing from Finland.
Bulletins consist of NOTAM, SNOWTAM and ASHTAM. The information included in the bulletins depends on the bulletin type and given parameters (e.g. period of validity, FL etc.).
All bulletins are available in English. On request, bulletins for the Finnish flight information region are available also in Finnish.
3.5.3.1. Types of bulletins available
  1. Aerodrome bulletin
    Aerodrome bulletin consists of information related to the aerodromes concerned.
Aerodrome bulletin consists of information related to the aerodromes concerned.
  1. Area and Special Area bulletin
    Area (or FIR) bulletin consists of information related to FIR and aerodromes. The area can be defined differently.
Area (or FIR) bulletin consists of information related to FIR and aerodromes. The area can be defined differently.
  1. Route bulletin
    Route bulletin consists of information related to the aerodromes of departure, destination and over-flown FIRs and alternate aerodromes.
Route bulletin consists of information related to the aerodromes of departure, destination and over-flown FIRs and alternate aerodromes.
  1. Narrow Route bulletin


Narrow Route bulletin consists of information related to a narrow path (default width 20 NM or other on request) defined by route description and also aerodromes of departure, destination and alternate aerodromes.
The bulletin requests shall be made as early as possible, at the latest when the flight plan is submitted.
3.5.3.2. How to obtain information
The hard copies of PIB can be obtained H24 from the Fintraffic ANS’s Flight Planning Centre.
The bulletins are also transmitted by e-mail.
A limited selection of Area (FIR) bulletins is available also at www.ais.fi.

3.6 Aeronautical Information Circulars - AIC A

The circulars contain information of general technical interest and information relating to administrative matters which is inappropriate to AIP or NOTAM.
Circulars are issued in series AIC A in both Finnish and English starting with number 1 for each calendar year.
 
Circulars are published at www.ais.fi where also all valid circulars are available.

3.7 Checklist of NOTAM

3.7.1. A checklist of NOTAM currently in force is issued each month over the AFS.
3.7.2. The monthly printed plain-language summary of NOTAM in force is not published.

3.8 AIS Internet services

All AIS products and services are available at www.ais.fi.
Internet service is maintained by Fintraffic ANS and it is designed for operational use. However, in order to avoid any mistakes caused by possible technical problems or update errors, the user must always check the times of update, issue and validity of the information concerned.
The Internet service consists of the following AIS products:

3.8.1 AIS publications

AIP and AIP Amendments - AIP (AIRAC) AMDT
AIP Supplements - AIP SUP
Aeronautical Information Circulars, series A - AIC
Aeronautical charts contained in the AIP

3.8.2 Other AIS products

3.8.2.1. Newsletters
AIS is publishing an electronic newsletter whenever AIS publications or other products or services are updated. The newsletter contains:
  • Notifications about updates of AIS publications (AIP, AIRAC AMDT, SUP, AIC A, CSV files)
  • VFR traffic (ANC 1:500 000)    
  • Other notifications of AIS/ARO/MET services


Subscription to the Newsletter at www.ais.fi.
 

4 AIRAC SYSTEM

In order to control and regulate the flow of operationally significant changes implying amendments to aeronautical charts, route manuals and data used by Flight Management Systems etc., such changes, specified in ICAO Annex 15 are, whenever possible, issued and distributed in accordance with the AIRAC System (Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control).
The AIRAC System is based on predetermined dates at intervals of 28 days. AIRAC type changes to the AIP are to be originated and distributed so that the information will reach the users not later than 28 days before the effective date (publication 42 days before the effective date). In cases of major changes the publication will take place so that the information will reach the users not later than 42 days before the effective date (publication 56 days before the effective date.
Permanent AIRAC type changes will be issued by AIP AIRAC Amendments. Temporary changes to be issued under the AIRAC System will be published by AIRAC Supplements.
Whenever the no information for AIS AIRAC service AIP does amendment not has publish reached an the AIRAC AIS amendment to be the published AIP for an a AIRAC given effective date and/or AIRAC cycle, a NIL Notification will be issued monthly by plain-language summary of NOTAM checklist at least 42 28 days before the effective date concerned. A Trigger-NOTAM for each AIRAC type subject with reference to the AMDT concerned will be issued for bulletin production. Trigger-NOTAM are also issued of all AIP supplements.

AIRAC-voimaantulopäivät / AIRAC effective dates

2024 2025 2026 2027
25 JAN 08 AUG 23 JAN 07 AUG 22 JAN 06 AUG 21 JAN 05 AUG
22 FEB 05 SEP 20 FEB 04 SEP 19 FEB 03 SEP 18 FEB 02 SEP
21 MAR 03 OCT 20 MAR 02 OCT 19 MAR 01 OCT 18 MAR 30 SEP
18 APR 31 OCT 17 APR 30 OCT 16 APR 29 OCT 15 APR 28 OCT
16 MAY 28 NOV 15 MAY 27 NOV 14 MAY 26 NOV 13 MAY 25 NOV
13 JUN (26 DEC) 12 JUN (25 DEC) 11 JUN (24 DEC) 10 JUN (23 DEC)
11 JUL   10 JUL   09 JUL   08 JUL  
Note: An AIRAC amendment is usually not issued for the effective date that falls on the turn of the year.
 

5 PRE-FLIGHT INFORMATION SERVICE

5.1 Flight Planning Centre

Pre-flight information service is provided H24:
Flight Planning Centre (FPC):
AFS: EFHKZPZX
TEL: +358 20 428 4800
E-mail: fpc@ops-ansfinland.fi Visiting address: Lentäjäntie 1 D, 5th floor, 01530 Vantaa

www.ais.fi
 
Note: Flight Planning Centre is also the ATS reporting office (ARO).  Access An to the digital electronic flight plan form (eFPL) and the its operating completion instructions are is available via https://sky.fintraffic.fi or at www.ais.fi.
 
The availability of Pre-flight Information Bulletins is described in para 3.5.3.
 

5.2 Coverage

The Flight Planning Centre maintains AIS library (AIP, AIP SUP, AIC), which covers the ICAO EUR region and parts of AFI, CAR, MID, NAM, NAT and PAC regions. The library consists mainly of electronic publications.
 
Post-flight information
 
Inadequacies of facilities essential to the safety of flight operations, and the presence of birds on or around the airport constituting potential hazard to aircraft operations, observed by a pilot during the flight, are reported without delay to the ATS unit either by radio or telephone.
 

6 DIGITAL DATA SETS

6.1 AIP data set

Not available in Finland.

6.2 Terrain data sets

Terrain data sets are provided by National Land Survey of Finland ( karttapalaute@maanmittauslaitos.fi).
National Land Survey of Finland provides terrain data (KM2) to general mapping. KM2 presents surface of the Earth containing naturally occurring features such as mountains, hills, ridges, valleys, bodies of water, permanent ice and snow, and excluding obstacles.
Terrain data sets are available for Area 1, Area 2, and Area 4.
For Area 1 terrain data set KM2 has been thinned to 64 M grid size.
Product specification and terrain data sets in GeoTIFF format can be downloaded from:

6.3 Obstacle data sets

Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom maintains the air navigation obstacle register.
Obstacle data sets are published as CSV files according to the breakdown shown below at https://www.ais.fi/obstacles-suomi-finland. CSV files contain information according to regulation EU 2017/373 Annex III Appendix 1 Aeronautical Data Catalogue.
Data sets do not include obstacles published by NOTAM.
The users shall carefully assess the available data to determine whether the product is adapted to their intended use.

6.3.1 Area 1

Data set is an electronic list containing obstacles which are 100 M AGL or higher.

6.3.2 Area 2

6.3.2.1 Obstacles penetrating obstacle limitation surfaces
Data set is an electronic list containing man-made obstacles, that penetrate ICAO Annex 14 (national aviation regulation AGA M3-6) obstacle limitation surfaces and are over 3 M AGL.

6.3.3 Area 3

Not available in Finland.

6.3.4 Area 4

Data set is an electronic list containing man-made obstacles in Area 4 data collection surface.

6.4 Aerodrome mapping data sets

Not available in Finland.

6.5 Instrument flight procedure data sets

Not available in Finland.