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Aeronautical Chart Services (ACS)
AERONAUTICAL CHART SERVICES (ACS)
This is a department under the Directorate of Operations. It is a Technical department with highly skilled personnel in the use various charting softwares and data processing/management software.
The functional requirement of ACS within the Air Navigational Services is defined in the ICAO Annex 4 which provided the Standard and Recommended Practices in the production of Aeronautical charts. Which has to conform with the international Civil Aviation Organization specifications and requirement.
As an operational department, it is saddled with the responsibility of collecting, processing, quality control and distribution of Aeronautical information in graphical form usable by flight operators, locally and internationally.
The department of ACS is composed of three sub-units;
- Aeronautical Survey unit
- Aeronautical Data Management unit, and
- Aeronautical Cartographic unit
All these units complement one another to produce the Aeronautical charts which are documented in the ICAO Annex 4 as well as the Aeronautical chart production criteria and specifications as provided in ICAO document 8697 (Aeronautical Chart Manual).
AERONAUTICAL SURVEY UNIT
This is a highly specialized unit comprises of well-trained Aeronautical Surveyors whose function is to gather all Geo-spatial data (Geographical data) using highly sensitive surveying tools and techniques.
This unit goes on to the field to gather primary data source and at times work with the engineering arms of the organization to ensure successful installation of navigational aids. The Aeronautical survey unit carries out the following functions
This unit goes on to the field to gather primary data source and at times work with the engineering arms of the organization to ensure successful installation of navigational aids. The Aeronautical survey unit carries out the following functions
1. Setting out of Surveying equipment
2. Setting out of survey monuments for the purpose of surveying activities
3. Calibration of surveying equipment to ensure quality of data collected during surveying exercise which are measured in terms of accuracy (horizontal and Vertical accuracy), precision, resolution and integrity
4. Collection of aerodrome data in line with ICAO Annex 14 and Annex 15 provisions
5. Collection and Identification of obstacles within the Aerodrome vicinity, particularly within the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) which covers Arrival and Departure path of an aerodrome
6. Continuous Obstacle Assessment program to help ensures that Obstacles that might affect safe flight into an aerodrome is identified and properly mapped in the concerned Aeronautical charts.
7. Processing of Aeronautical data collected from field in conformance with ICAO Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs)
8. Ensuring that the data format is consistent with the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) provision which is an essential phase in the AIS to AIM transition road map.
9. Production of aerodrome layout and Grid maps for Aerodrome operators to be used during emergency period in airport operations.
2. Setting out of survey monuments for the purpose of surveying activities
3. Calibration of surveying equipment to ensure quality of data collected during surveying exercise which are measured in terms of accuracy (horizontal and Vertical accuracy), precision, resolution and integrity
4. Collection of aerodrome data in line with ICAO Annex 14 and Annex 15 provisions
5. Collection and Identification of obstacles within the Aerodrome vicinity, particularly within the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) which covers Arrival and Departure path of an aerodrome
6. Continuous Obstacle Assessment program to help ensures that Obstacles that might affect safe flight into an aerodrome is identified and properly mapped in the concerned Aeronautical charts.
7. Processing of Aeronautical data collected from field in conformance with ICAO Standard and Recommended Practices (SARPs)
8. Ensuring that the data format is consistent with the World Geodetic System of 1984 (WGS84) provision which is an essential phase in the AIS to AIM transition road map.
9. Production of aerodrome layout and Grid maps for Aerodrome operators to be used during emergency period in airport operations.
AERONAUTICAL DATA MANAGEMENT UNIT
This is an initiative to manage the voluminous data collected by the Aeronautical Survey unit and other related services. The functions of Aeronautical Data Management unit include
1. Establishment of quality control on collected Aeronautical data using VERIFICATION and VALIDATION exercise
2. For VERIFICATION, the exercise is carried out against independent source as a way of ensuring accuracy. Data collected from the field or other secondary sources are verified using Geographical Information System (GIS) tools and software.
3. On verification, if there any inconsistency or ambiguity such data is returned for necessary rectification. It is an important component of AIS DATA-CHAIN.
4. For VALIDATION, the unit ensures that the data submitted is in conformance with the ICAO specified data format so that it may be considered valid.
5. The unit exploits the modern information technology in ensuring data interoperability between system by carrying out data transformation for the purpose of seamlessness. Raster data are transformed to Vector data and verse versa.
6. Apart from the production of Aeronautical chart in PDF or paper format, the unit also embark in the development of datasets in conformance with the list of datasets expected of all ICAO contracting State to develop. This dataset includes AIP dataset, Terrain dataset, Obstacle dataset and Aerodrome mapping dataset (AMDB)
7. Datasets are developed based on ICAO data format for exchange which are Aeronautical Information Conceptual Model (AICM) which is built on Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Aeronautical Information Exchange Model (AIXM) which is built on Extensible Markup Language (XML)
8. Management of Aeronautical data and Aeronautical information through a centralized departmental database. This is to ensure data/information INTEGRITY and prevent duplication of data from multiple sources which is the primary source of error
9. Providing necessary support in the area of Data Migration during AIS Automation program.
2. For VERIFICATION, the exercise is carried out against independent source as a way of ensuring accuracy. Data collected from the field or other secondary sources are verified using Geographical Information System (GIS) tools and software.
3. On verification, if there any inconsistency or ambiguity such data is returned for necessary rectification. It is an important component of AIS DATA-CHAIN.
4. For VALIDATION, the unit ensures that the data submitted is in conformance with the ICAO specified data format so that it may be considered valid.
5. The unit exploits the modern information technology in ensuring data interoperability between system by carrying out data transformation for the purpose of seamlessness. Raster data are transformed to Vector data and verse versa.
6. Apart from the production of Aeronautical chart in PDF or paper format, the unit also embark in the development of datasets in conformance with the list of datasets expected of all ICAO contracting State to develop. This dataset includes AIP dataset, Terrain dataset, Obstacle dataset and Aerodrome mapping dataset (AMDB)
7. Datasets are developed based on ICAO data format for exchange which are Aeronautical Information Conceptual Model (AICM) which is built on Unified Modeling Language (UML) and Aeronautical Information Exchange Model (AIXM) which is built on Extensible Markup Language (XML)
8. Management of Aeronautical data and Aeronautical information through a centralized departmental database. This is to ensure data/information INTEGRITY and prevent duplication of data from multiple sources which is the primary source of error
9. Providing necessary support in the area of Data Migration during AIS Automation program.
AERONAUTICAL CARTOGRAPHIC UNIT.
This unit is responsible for the production of ICAO Aeronautical charts in which some are Mandatory, Non-mandatory and Conditional charts. The following are functions of Aeronautical Cartographic unit
1. Production of En-route charts for effective Airspace Management for both Civil and Military Airspace Users
2. Production of Instrument and Visual Approach charts which are charts used during arrival and landing into an airport taking cognizance of obstacles and navigational aids available to support the necessary maneuvering during approach into landing
3. Production of Obstacle Type-A chart ICAO which is a mandatory chart developed to ensure that all information concerning terrain and obstacles within the flight path (funnel) is captured in case of aircraft engine failure or emergency maneuvering
4. Liaising with relevant relative services to ensure proper documentation and depiction of relevant aeronautical data and information in the aeronautical charts
5. Adherence strictly to the provision in ICAO Annex 4 and ICAO document 8697 to ensure uniformity in the presentation and usage of Aeronautical charts
6. Production of customized Aeronautical charts such as Hajji Operational chart, Commercial bearing and distance chart, Search and Rescue chart and any other charts according to end-users’ request
7. Provision of Aeronautical chart into the Nigerian AIP in Portable Data Format (PDF) or Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format.
8. Production, distribution and selling of Aeronautical charts
9. Attending to queries concerning content in the Aeronautical chart, both as a map or a part of the AIP.
2. Production of Instrument and Visual Approach charts which are charts used during arrival and landing into an airport taking cognizance of obstacles and navigational aids available to support the necessary maneuvering during approach into landing
3. Production of Obstacle Type-A chart ICAO which is a mandatory chart developed to ensure that all information concerning terrain and obstacles within the flight path (funnel) is captured in case of aircraft engine failure or emergency maneuvering
4. Liaising with relevant relative services to ensure proper documentation and depiction of relevant aeronautical data and information in the aeronautical charts
5. Adherence strictly to the provision in ICAO Annex 4 and ICAO document 8697 to ensure uniformity in the presentation and usage of Aeronautical charts
6. Production of customized Aeronautical charts such as Hajji Operational chart, Commercial bearing and distance chart, Search and Rescue chart and any other charts according to end-users’ request
7. Provision of Aeronautical chart into the Nigerian AIP in Portable Data Format (PDF) or Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) format.
8. Production, distribution and selling of Aeronautical charts
9. Attending to queries concerning content in the Aeronautical chart, both as a map or a part of the AIP.
