Thanks Rob, all good useful stuff which will be fed back up the line.

Just discovered http://mysite.freeserve.com/ais2plot/index.html which re-formats the AIS backup briefings on the NATS website for use in NotamPlot

Which brings me back to our ongoing battle for release of the Q Line referred to in my last post on this thread.

I have previously warned the CAA that, whether they like it or not, people will produce tools to manipulate the data. That prediction is now true.

Given that, it is best that they work from good information in a database format rather than attempting to work by parsing a text file that was never designed for the task.

We asked for this in October last year. CAA are still sitting on the fence.

We now see Ais2Plot NotamPlot NotamPro and AltAIS all parsing text files because the CAA still refuses to sanction the release of the Q Line.

The Q Line was designed by ICAO to facilitate the filtering of NOTAM by electronic data processing specifically for the purpose of producing Pre-Flight Information Bulletins.

Comments anyone?

Mike

Unstuck and back to the top....... :)

Credit where its due!
 

Well, we know all about the problems with the AIS website discussed here - many of which have been, or are starting to be, addressed - but I just thought it was about time to make mention here of the improvements that the system has brought, and for which I believe we should be thankful. If we don't pass on positive feedback to AIS, then the individuals who work there may come to believe they have a thankless task, and give up! We wouldn't want that...

I have just been doing the planning for a trip over the coming weekend (wx permitting!) which will entail flying through 6 FIRs, and will involve 7 destination airfields, and as many alternate airfields.

Compared to last year on a comparable foreign trip, the task of gathering NOTAM information for a number of FIR and airfields is far simpler, because you can get it all in one place in and one format. And because you can re-run the same query several times, you can do most of the work in advance, then check for late changes before departure relatively easily.

So here's my vote of thanks for what is an improved service. Thanks!

Andy :O

Your comments have been passed back to the guys at AIS Andy, Im sure they will be much appreciated.

Why not come and visit them on 12 June at Heathrow?

Mike

Would love to but have to work... Anyway, have had a nice note of thanks from the NATs guys :)

hmmm .. actually wish I had read/seen this thread earlier!

I have been playing with the AIS site for some time, and usually with Win XP/IE, but running webwasher to remove ads, speed up net access and filter cookies. Getting the cookie filters right was OK, but I couldn't get menu access until I also allowed the javascript access to the cookies on my machine. It took a while to work this out, cutting and pasting urls from the source code an so fourth to decide on what was wrong.

Perhaps their logon page - the first one you see - should advise that access isn't possible without IE or Netscape, with cookies for the site allowed, and java filters off?

Once you get it working, it's not bad. Similar to Tinny, I didn't get an error message when I also used a 1 in the briefing ID field - which was frustrating - but today I did get a popup error message when I used my name? I guess that is a fix. Well done that man!

A briefing update page would be a good thing - log on, enter your ID number/whatever and get just the updated Notams.

Why the CAA consider the Q field as some sort of secret, I will never know - always has been available in Oz. What do they think they are protecting???

Linked weather from the site along with the Notams seems an obvious "wish list" item. It's pretty poor when you get better service for free from other countries' sites (no logon required, full text, linked weather etc etc) than you can from the "home" site.

P.S. Why does it take three pages to get to the UK AIP, when all of the interviening pages are simply the same link repeated?

Thanks Checkboard

To be fair it does say in the FAQ's that JavaScript & Cookies must be enabled.

Briefing update is available. Go to the Briefing Handbook, select the briefing and choose "Update".

BTW anyone wanting a last minute update can call the Duty Officer (H24). If they quote the PIB ID No which is printed on the brief they obtained, the Duty Officer will check for any new NOTAM not included in the original brief.

Most of the problems now are to do with usability, i.e. making it intuitive in operation. "Handbook" to me is an Instruction Book, have suggested they change it to "Saved Briefings" or similar.

Your problems indicate that it is still not intuitive or easy enough to navigate. However it is infinitely better than it was last August.

If you think this one is fun try https://www.homebriefing.com/aes/login.jsp
You can register and get some free credits to try it out (yes you do have to pay for NOTAM!)

You might also find some interesting stuff here

Mike

I used the NOTAM service last weekend to get info for a cross channel trip. My only comment is that when I tried to use the route section it complained when I put the French designator in with a message saying all codes must start with eg

I would have loved to come on the visit since I still dont really understand NOTAM's but as somone has already said I have to work:{

Possibly you are registered for UK only?

If so, as there is no mechanism for updating your registration you will have to re-register, choosing a different username and password.

Sorry you can't make the visit.

Mike

To see how some of the rest of the world does it, look at

http://www.airservices.gov.au/brief/areabrf.htm

All you do is click on the numbered area, or areas in which you want to fly to get a comprehensive briefing. This includes, in order;

Area forecast
All aerodrome forecasts (TAF/METAR/TTF) for the area
All FIR NOTAMS
All location specific NOTAMS for places within the area
All Head office NOTAMS if selected
A list of all locations in the area which do not have current NOTAMS

Could not be simpler.



This

If you want headoffice NOTAMS tick the HeadOffice Notam box.

CitationJet has a good point in that the Australian system is very easy to use. I used it when out there earlier thius year and it was great. Its also possible to access the same info through phone, fax or web in a consistent way, and to get specific NOTAM for a route instead of the entire area listings.

One thought though is that these big long listsings may not work as well in Europe as the density of airfields, FIR, Navaids, etc. in a given area is much higher here than in Australia where things are much more spread out geographically.

Andy