In recent years, Airservices Australia
have adopted an aggressive and belligerent policy
towards copyright of aeronautical data. Airservices assert that they 'own' all the basic
aeronautical data that pilots need to fly safely in Australia. Information such
as location, codes, radio frequencies, runway headings etc are affected. Pilots can only
access some data if they agree to onerous conditions, or pay for even more
tightly controlled commercial data. Other data is not available from
Airservices at all, apparently in a bid to protect their business partners.
This policy has
taken away your basic rights to certain types of aeronautical data, has
prevented access to some types of data and has
caused other data to be withdrawn from public access.
You can find out more about the problems this causes for pilots
and what we can collectively do to fix it at
Airservices Australia Copyright Policy is broken