GEN 3 Services

GEN 3.1 AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION SERVICES

1 Responsible service

1.1 The Aeronautical Information Service is a division of Air Navigation Department of the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority which ensures the flow of aeronautical data and aeronautical information necessary for global air traffic management (ATM) system safety, regularity, economy and efficiency in an environmentally sustainable manner within the area of its responsibility as indicated under GEN 3.1.2. This service consists of AIS Headquarters, International NOTAM Office and AIS briefing offices established at certain aerodromes as listed under GEN 3.1.5.
1.2 AIS headquarters (AIS HQ) and international NOTAM office (NOF)
Post:Aeronautical Information Service
Air Navigation Department
Civil Aviation Authority
P.O. BOX 73
DOHA
STATE OF QATAR
Tel:(974) 4470 5566
(974) 4470 5577
Fax:(974) 4470 5678
Email:doha.ais@caa.gov.qa
AFS:OTBDYOYX, OTHHYOYX (AIS HQ)
OTNOYNYX (NOF)
1.2.1 The service provided in accordance with the provisions contained in ICAO Annex 15 – Aeronautical Information Services.
1.3 AIS sections and service hours
1.3.1 AIS Headquarters operates 0400-1100 UTC, SUN-THU.
1.3.2 NOF and AIS briefing offices operate H24.

2 Area of responsibility

The Aeronautical Information Service is responsible for the collection and dissemination of information for the entire territory of State of Qatar and for the airspace of the high seas encompassed by Doha TMA.

3 Aeronautical publications

3.1 The aeronautical information is provided in the form of the aeronautical information products consisting of following elements:
  • Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP);
  • Amendment service to the AIP (AIP AMDT);
  • Supplement to the AIP (AIP SUP);
  • NOTAM and Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB);
  • Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC); and
  • Checklists of valid NOTAM.

All the above elements are published via the website at www.caa.gov.qa/en-us/Pages/AIM.aspx except NOTAM .

3.2 Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)

The State of Qatar Aeronautical Information Publication is the official aviation document intended primarily to satisfy international requirements for the exchange of permanent aeronautical information and long duration temporary changes essential for air navigation.

This document is published in accordance with the provisions of Annex 15 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation and is, in English language only. The Qatar AIP is maintained up-to-date by the AIS Headquarters through all its amendment service.

3.3 Amendment service to the AIP (AIP AMDT)

The Amendments to the AIP, together with checklists are made by means of replacement of pages (pages are made available in PDF format in electronic environment) and is, published in accordance with the established regular intervals. This incorporates permanent changes to the AIP in a specified publication date.

AIRAC AIP Amendment (AIRAC AIP AMDT), issued in accordance with the AIRAC system and identified by the 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 described on the cover sheet. New information included on the amended AIP pages and is marked either by a vertical line or by a horizontal arrow in the margin of the affected section of the page except for the changes in charts are annotated on the chart itself to indicate the amendments made.

Each AIP page and each AIP replacement page introduced by an amendment, including the amendment cover sheet, 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 sheet 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.

A checklist of AIP pages containing page number/chart title and the publication or effective date (day, month by name and year) of the information is reissued with each amendment and is an integral part of the AIP.

3.4 Supplement to the AIP (AIP SUP)

Temporary changes of long duration (three months and longer) and 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, En-route—ENR and Aerodromes—AD) and are placed accordingly at the beginning of each AIP Part. Supplements are published on yellow paper to be conspicuous and to stand out from the rest of the AIP. Each AIP Supplement (regular or AIRAC) is allocated a serial number which is consecutive and based on the calendar year.

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.

3.5 NOTAM and Pre-flight Information Bulletins (PIB)

A NOTAM contains 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 signs, frequencies, figures and plain language. NOTAM originated and issued for the State of Qatar are distributed in ‘G’ series, by Qatar NOF.

NOTAM issued by Qatar NOF which contain airspace information above the upper limits of Doha TMA are re-issued by Bahrain NOF

NOTAM are originated when necessary to disseminate information of direct operational significance which:

  1. is of a temporary nature and of short duration;
  2. operationally significant permanent changes; or
  3. temporary changes of long duration are made at short notice.

Each NOTAM issued by Qatar NOF is assigned a 4-digit serial number preceded by the letter 'G' indicating the series, followed by a stroke and 2 digits indicating the year of issue. The serial number begin with 0001 every year i.e G0001/16.

NOTAM are exchanged between Qatar NOF and other International NOTAM Offices as follows:

  1. For sending NOTAM to Qatar use only address OTZZNAZX
  2. For requesting NOTAM from Qatar use only address OTNOYNYX

PIBs, which contain a recapitulation of current NOTAM and other information of urgent character for the operator/flight crews, are available at AIS briefing offices. The extent of the information contained in the PIB is indicated under Sub-section 5.

3.6 Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC)

Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) contains 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.

Each AIC is numbered consecutively on a calendar year basis. The year, indicated by two digits, is a part of the serial number of the AIC. A checklist of current AIC is issued as an AIC once a year.

3.7 Checklist of valid NOTAM

A checklist of valid NOTAM is issued monthly via AFS. The checklist contains (all numbers of valid AIP SUP/AICs) a list of AIP Supplements and AICs in-force and upcoming latest publications

3.8 Sale of publications

All publications can be obtained from the website www.caa.gov.qa/en-us/Pages/AIM.aspx in both HTML and PDF versions and is free of charge to all users.

4 AIRAC System

4.1 In order to control and regulate 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 AIRAC AIP SUP.

If an AIRAC AIP AMDT or SUP cannot be produced due to lack of time, a NOTAM will be issued in lieu of AIRAC AIP AMDT or SUP. Such NOTAM will be immediately followed by an AMDT or SUP.

4.2 The table below indicates AIRAC effective dates for the years 2015 to 2020. AIRAC information will be issued so that the information will be received by the user not later than 28 days, and for major changes 56 days before the effective date. A trigger NOTAM will be issued on the Publication Date of the AIRAC AIP AMDT or AIRAC AIP SUP, by giving a brief description of the contents, effective date and reference number of the AIRAC publication.
4.3 This ‘Trigger’ NOTAM will come into force on the effective date of the AIRAC PUBLICATION concerned and will remain valid until for another 14 days.
4.4 A NIL AIRAC NOTAM will be issued one cycle before the AIRAC effective date if no information is submitted for publication of an AIRAC AIP AMDT or AIRAC AIP SUP for an AIRAC effective date. The NIL AIRAC NOTAM will come into force on the AIRAC effective date concerned and will remain valid for another 14 days.
4.5 Schedule of AIRAC effective dates
201820192020202120222023
104-Jan03-Jan02-Jan28-Jan27-Jan26-Jan
201-Feb31-Jan30-Jan25-Feb24-Feb23-Feb
301-Mar28-Feb27-Feb25-Mar24-Mar23-Mar
429-Mar28-Mar26-Mar22-Apr21-Apr20-Apr
526-Apr25-Apr23-Apr20-May19-May18-May
624-May23-May21-May17-Jun16-Jun15-Jun
721-Jun20-Jun18-Jun15-Jul14-Jul13-Jul
819-Jul18-Jul16-Jul12-Aug11-Aug10-Aug
916-Aug15-Aug13-Aug09-Sep08-Sep07-Sep
1013-Sep12-Sep10-Sep07-Oct06-Oct05-Oct
1111-Oct10-Oct08-Oct04-Nov03-Nov02-Nov
1208-Nov07-Nov05-Nov02-Dec01-Dec30-Nov
1306-Dec05-Dec03-Dec30-Dec29-Dec28-Dec
14--31-Dec---

5 Pre-flight information service at aerodromes/heliports

5.1 The Pre-flight Information Service is an online briefing service which is available on the website www.caa.gov.qa/en-us/Pages/AIM.aspx and can be accessed worldwide via internet.
5.2 Aircraft operators and their representatives may generate and download Pre-flight Information Bulletins through a special software application (CADAS Center Terminal).
5.3 Access to the web server is controlled by authorized user accounts and password authentication.
5.4 The Pre-flight briefing is available at aerodromes as listed below.
Aerodrome/HeliportBriefing coverage
DOHA/DOHA INTLAll route stages emanating from State of Qatar
DOHA/HAMAD INTL
5.5 Additional information, maps and charts including documentation, can be obtained upon request. Refer to GEN 3.1.1.2, Qatar AIS contact information.
5.6 Provision for the Post-flight information is established to report inadequacies of air navigation facilities essential to the safety of flight operations, and presence of birds on or around the airport constituting potential hazard to aircraft operations, observed by pilot during the flight. Following Post-flight forms are available through www.caa.gov.qa/en-us/Pages/AIM.aspx web link.
  1. Inadequacies of air navigation facilities
  2. Bird observation/strike

6 Electronic terrain and obstacle data

6.1 Electronic terrain and obstacle data (eTOD) can be obtained from Qatar AIS headquarters upon on request. Refer to GEN 3.1.1.2 for contact details and GEN 3.1.1.3 for hours of service.
6.2 Availability of data-sets:
6.2.1 Electronic terrain and obstacles in Area 1
Coverage areaElectronic ObstaclesElectronic Terrain
Area 1AvailableAvailable
6.2.2 Electronic terrain for Area 2, 3 and 4
Coverage areaOTHH — HAMAD INTERNATIONALOTBD — DOHA INTERNATIONAL
Note: Asterisk (*) indicates terrain does not penetrate the required surface
Area 2AvailableAvailable
Area 3Available*Available*
Area 4AvailableAvailable
6.2.3 Electronic obstacles for Area 2, 3 and 4
Coverage areaOTHH — HAMAD INTERNATIONALOTBD — DOHA INTERNATIONAL
Note: Asterisk (*) indicates obstacles does not penetrate the required surface
Area 2aAvailableAvailable
Area 2bAvailableAvailable
Area 2cAvailableAvailable
Area 2dAvailableAvailable
Area 3AvailableAvailable
Area 4Available*Available*