Flight Information Service
Encyclopedia
A flight information service (FIS) is a form of air traffic service
which is available to any aircraft within a flight information region
(FIR), as agreed internationally by ICAO.
It is defined as information pertinent to the safe and efficient conduct of flight, and includes information on other potentially conflicting traffic, possibly derived from radar
, but stopping short of providing positive separation from that traffic.
Flight Information also includes:
An FIS shall be provided to all aircraft which are provided with any ATC service or are otherwise known to Air Traffic Service units. All Air Traffic Service units will provide an FIS to any aircraft, in addition to their other tasks.
In some countries, including the United States, an FIS is provided by units known as flight service station
s (FSS).
, the traffic is such that some form of service is necessary. It can be seen as a half-way house between an uncontrolled and controlled airfield: As a part of the FIS, the AFIS provides pilots of aircraft with details of other known traffic taking off, landing and flying in the vicinity of the airfield.
In the UK this service is provided by a licensed Flight Information Service Officer
(FISO), who has been validated at the particular Aerodrome, using the callsign suffix "Information". The authority of an FISO providing a service at an aerodrome resembles a fully qualified controller for aircraft taxiing
, but only extends to the provision of an FIS to aircraft landing, taking-off or in flight, within the Area of Responsibility (i.e. the Aerodrome, and Air Traffic Zone (ATZ)).
In some countries, e.g., Norway, every AFIS-airport has a designated TIZ (Traffic Information Zone), resembling a Control Zone
in design. AFIS-aerodromes with heavier traffic also has an additional TIA, (Traffic Information Area), resembling a Terminal Control Area
.
Air Traffic Service
In aviation, an air traffic service is an extra-ventricular service which regulates and assists aircraft in real-time to ensure their safe operations...
which is available to any aircraft within a flight information region
Flight Information Region
In aviation a flight information region is a region of airspace with specific dimensions, in which a flight information service and an alerting service are provided. It is the largest regular division of airspace in use in the world today....
(FIR), as agreed internationally by ICAO.
It is defined as information pertinent to the safe and efficient conduct of flight, and includes information on other potentially conflicting traffic, possibly derived from radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
, but stopping short of providing positive separation from that traffic.
Flight Information also includes:
- Meteorological information
- Information on aerodromes
- Information on possible hazards to flight
An FIS shall be provided to all aircraft which are provided with any ATC service or are otherwise known to Air Traffic Service units. All Air Traffic Service units will provide an FIS to any aircraft, in addition to their other tasks.
Dedicated Flight Information frequencies
Any particular FIR will often have one or more dedicated FIS frequencies where aircraft can make first contact for information. The quality of the information that such frequencies can give is tempered by the large geographical area that they cover, and in some more sparsely populated FIRs the frequencies are often not staffed. An FIS might suggest that aircraft contact a more suitable frequency, e.g., a local airport's radar unit, should that unit be in a position to provide a better service. These units often use the callsign suffix "Information".In some countries, including the United States, an FIS is provided by units known as flight service station
Flight service station
A Flight Service Station is an air traffic facility that provides information and services to aircraft pilots before, during, and after flights, but unlike air traffic control , is not responsible for giving instructions or clearances or providing separation...
s (FSS).
Aerodrome Flight Information Service
In some countries, an Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) is provided at airfields where, despite not being busy enough for full air traffic controlAir traffic control
Air traffic control is a service provided by ground-based controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and in the air. The primary purpose of ATC systems worldwide is to separate aircraft to prevent collisions, to organize and expedite the flow of traffic, and to provide information and other...
, the traffic is such that some form of service is necessary. It can be seen as a half-way house between an uncontrolled and controlled airfield: As a part of the FIS, the AFIS provides pilots of aircraft with details of other known traffic taking off, landing and flying in the vicinity of the airfield.
In the UK this service is provided by a licensed Flight Information Service Officer
Flight Information Service Officer
Flight information service officers or FISO, provide a Flight Information Service to any air traffic that requests it, or requires it. A FISO is a licensed operator, who most usually works at an aerodrome, although there are some FISOs working in Area Control Centers. FISOs must been validated for...
(FISO), who has been validated at the particular Aerodrome, using the callsign suffix "Information". The authority of an FISO providing a service at an aerodrome resembles a fully qualified controller for aircraft taxiing
Taxiing
Taxiing refers to the movement of an aircraft on the ground, under its own power, in contrast to towing or push-back where the aircraft is moved by a tug...
, but only extends to the provision of an FIS to aircraft landing, taking-off or in flight, within the Area of Responsibility (i.e. the Aerodrome, and Air Traffic Zone (ATZ)).
In some countries, e.g., Norway, every AFIS-airport has a designated TIZ (Traffic Information Zone), resembling a Control Zone
Control zone
A control zone is an aviation term that describes a volume of controlled airspace, normally around an airport, which extends from the surface to a specified upper limit, established to protect air traffic operating to and from that airport...
in design. AFIS-aerodromes with heavier traffic also has an additional TIA, (Traffic Information Area), resembling a Terminal Control Area
Terminal Control Area
A terminal control area , also known as a terminal manoeuvring area in Europe, is an aviation term to describe a designated area of controlled airspace surrounding a major airport where there is a high volume of traffic...
.