May I ask for your assistance please?
We are very close to being able to close off the NOTAM issues but we need feedback from you. In particular on the new VFR briefs, the backup arrangements, and the Fax download.
Four new VFR briefs are now available from
www.ais.org.uk you will find them listed on the NOTAM drop-down menu. They are intended to replace the old A1/A8 bulletins for display at aerodromes.
Two issues have been raised with us:-
1. The FIR briefs are not sorted in the manner we requested. We asked for a South-North sort of localised NOTAM (as per the old A8 bulletin), with FIR-wide NOTAM in another section. What we have been given is a sort of the localised NOTAM, first by type (there are 5 types) and THEN geographically, North-South rather than South-North.
2. Glider pilots have indicated that the period of validity of the brief is too short. I checked this morning and got a validity period of six and a half hours. Some glider flights last longer than this, and equally a pilot operating away from base may find this too short.
Are you happy with these or should we ask for modifications? My personal preference would be for the sort to be geographic (South-North) and then by type and for the validity period to be 12 hours. You may have a better idea.
Secondly, we now have VFR/IFR briefs available at
http://www.nats.co.uk/operational/pibs/index.shtml as backup in the event of the AIS server being inaccessible. Any comments on these?
Thirdly fax download is available on the following numbers:-
VFR BRIEF ON LONDON FIR DIAL 020 8557 0064
VFR BRIEF ON SCOTTISH FIR DIAL 020 8557 0065
VFR BRIEF ON LONDON AERODROMES DIAL 020 8557 0051
VFR BRIEF ON SCOTTISH AERODROMES DIAL 020 8557 0052
The procedure is to use the polling facility on your fax machine or else to dial manually and press the START button on your fax machine when answered. I have had problems using a Panafax UF315 but am not aware of anyone else having any problem. Feedback would be appreciated if you could try it out. Currently the system can only handle one call at a time on each of the numbers so you may get engaged tone if it is already in use.
Work continues on improving usability and browser compatibility.
Please give us your feedback. Recent reports of a failure to read NOTAM costing a pilot UKL 600 in fines and costs for infringing TRA highlight the need to get it right.
Thanks in advance for your response
Mike Cross