NOTAM site 'upgrade'
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: somewhere underneath 3rd rock
Spent a total of 8 hours trying to get NOTAMs this weekend. The new site continuously crashed. When I was finally able to do anything, I found the information totally useless for gliding. This system is totally unable to cope with weekend demand.When setting a cross country task, it is normal to plot those NOTAMs in the planned task area on the map and then set a task avoiding them - notamplot was great for this.
According to the very hastled person I spoke to, our best option is to request a series of overlapping "narrow" routes running north/south giving a 99 mile corridor. Then try to locate the information that is required, plot this manually (again) and then set a task.
The new system was meant to provide the required information for all involved in aviation - it certainly fails miserably for gliding - which has been recognised, and by the comments here and elsewhere, it seems to be failing for many other forms of aviation. The other reason I was given was that it was very costly to produce the A1/A8 and they are trying to cut costs - Sadly, this was resulted in a masive reduction in safety for all.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Sussex
Rustle:
I've posted the NATS reply to one pilot on our website
http://www.flyontrack.co.uk/comm.asp
Look under "New AIS Service" to see it
Can you post those comments here or on your website?
http://www.flyontrack.co.uk/comm.asp
Look under "New AIS Service" to see it
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: London
The other NOTAM thread currently running refers to the ability to get UK Notams from the FAA:
https://www.notams.faa.gov/
You then enter EGTT for London FIR.
Is this list exhaustive?
Is it possible that Notamplot could be reconfigured to this source?
Does this provide the ability to bypass the new AIS system?
Thank you!
https://www.notams.faa.gov/
You then enter EGTT for London FIR.
Is this list exhaustive?
Is it possible that Notamplot could be reconfigured to this source?
Does this provide the ability to bypass the new AIS system?
Thank you!
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: Blackbushe
All Notam Plot needs is the data in a text format. Surely this must still exist for flying clubs etc who are not online.
All NATS have to do is have a page with the docs in the old format somewhere accessable on thier web site. It is very easy to repoint Notam Plot to another web page.
Saying this, if anybody knows of a web site that has the info in text format. Can you please mention it. Problem solved
I don't know if Ian Fallon ( creator of Notam Plot ) reads these, but if not, I'm willing to have a go at converting the Notam text to something the software can use.
All NATS have to do is have a page with the docs in the old format somewhere accessable on thier web site. It is very easy to repoint Notam Plot to another web page.
Saying this, if anybody knows of a web site that has the info in text format. Can you please mention it. Problem solved
I don't know if Ian Fallon ( creator of Notam Plot ) reads these, but if not, I'm willing to have a go at converting the Notam text to something the software can use.
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: somewhere underneath 3rd rock
All Notam Plot needs is the data in a text format. Surely this must still exist for flying clubs etc who are not online.
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 504
Likes: 0
From: South Yorkshire
All Notam Plot needs is the data in a text format. Surely this must still exist for flying clubs etc who are not online.
All NATS have to do is have a page with the docs in the old format somewhere accessable on thier web site. It is very easy to repoint Notam Plot to another web page.
Saying this, if anybody knows of a web site that has the info in text format. Can you please mention it. Problem solved
It should be possible for Ian to change NOTAMPlot to work from the FAA RAW format relatively easily, as the RAW format is very well structured. Let's hope he does so.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: Surrey, UK.
I'm going to ruin someone's chips again 
The LAT/LONG info that NotamPlot requires used to be input by hand.
To cut costs, NATS no longer do this where there is an ICAO code or name of area (danger areas activated by NOTAM etc.)
Obviously the web-redesign was free
Because the state of origin -- UK (NATS) in this case -- provide the NOTAM info to other AIS agencies it won't be there either.
Draw your own conclusions.
editied because I forgot to mention the ICAO and DA bit.
The LAT/LONG info that NotamPlot requires used to be input by hand.
To cut costs, NATS no longer do this where there is an ICAO code or name of area (danger areas activated by NOTAM etc.)
Obviously the web-redesign was free
Because the state of origin -- UK (NATS) in this case -- provide the NOTAM info to other AIS agencies it won't be there either.
Draw your own conclusions.
editied because I forgot to mention the ICAO and DA bit.
Last edited by rustle; 27th August 2002 at 16:42.
Joined: Aug 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,136
Likes: 6
From: UK
It is the NATS supplied weather and notam (old text based mono screen probably running DOS) system that crews/ handling agents use at most(all?) BAA airports plus a few others eg Jersey.
So if they can supply the A1/A8 to this system then why can't they put them on the web???????
So if they can supply the A1/A8 to this system then why can't they put them on the web???????
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
From: Surrey, UK.
F40,
Thanks...
And you're sure those users are still getting this post 19/08/2002??
Got any contacts I can get recently dated copies of A1/A8 from?
Puts the cost/benefit thing in a whole new perspective if so (as well as underlining the BS we've heard so far from NATS)
Thanks...
And you're sure those users are still getting this post 19/08/2002??
Got any contacts I can get recently dated copies of A1/A8 from?
Puts the cost/benefit thing in a whole new perspective if so (as well as underlining the BS we've heard so far from NATS)
Guest
Posts: n/a
It is surprising we have not had a response from NATS on this forum. Any NATS people out there?
Come on guys, if my organisation was taking this much flack I would want to put my side and explain to the users, what I was going to do to get out of the mess.
Rod1
Come on guys, if my organisation was taking this much flack I would want to put my side and explain to the users, what I was going to do to get out of the mess.
Rod1
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 871
Likes: 0
From: Chichester, UK
I received a reply to my E-mail: "Thanks for your comments, they have been taken into consideration". Short and sweet, but at least the mail is being read and hopefully the message is getting through. Iit would be nice if someone would comment.
Ah, reading www.flyontrack.co.uk, there's this:
Ah, reading www.flyontrack.co.uk, there's this:
I did put forward many of your observations, and they are working to keep up with the steady flow of complaints and enquiries coming in. They had 1400 e-mails to work through as we were speaking.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: UK
Hi all, finally got around to subscribing to PPRUNE as well as the Flyer list.Firstly thanks for all the positive messages about NotamPlot - I'm glad you all found it useful.
I'm currently investigating several avenues I could take with NP in order to regain a graphical plot of NOTAMs at least similar to what we had previously.
Will keep you posted ...
Ian
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Sussex
Evo 7 must have been poised as I posted the AIS reply on our website at www.flyontrack.co.uk where there's more comment on this and other ideas to reduce airspace infringements. By the time I looked here he'd lifted it!!
Here's the rest of it:
I've just spoken to the manager of the new AIS website by phone and have invited him to have a look here and at Pprune for feedback, and hopefully for a response.
I did put forward many of your observations, and they are working to keep up with the steady flow of complaints and enquiries coming in. They had 1400 e-mails to work through as we were speaking.
Apparently the new programme is a commercial product (in use elsewhere) which was upgraded at 0900 this morning when they took it offline for 4 minutes to incorporate some fixes in reponse to user feedback.
I trust in due course that we will receive a direct response from AIS. In the meantime, please keep your comments coming as they are taking note! (Endquote)
So there you have it !
Here's the rest of it:
I've just spoken to the manager of the new AIS website by phone and have invited him to have a look here and at Pprune for feedback, and hopefully for a response.
I did put forward many of your observations, and they are working to keep up with the steady flow of complaints and enquiries coming in. They had 1400 e-mails to work through as we were speaking.
Apparently the new programme is a commercial product (in use elsewhere) which was upgraded at 0900 this morning when they took it offline for 4 minutes to incorporate some fixes in reponse to user feedback.
I trust in due course that we will receive a direct response from AIS. In the meantime, please keep your comments coming as they are taking note! (Endquote)
So there you have it !