Once you have completed the registration process, the screen you see below will appear. To prepare your briefing, select one of the briefs available from the menu.

The first five options (i.e. Aerodrome, Area, Route, Narrow route & Point brief) provide access to briefs which allow you to create a unique, personalised bulletin.

The next four options can be used to produce standard VFR briefs. These have fixed parameters which cannot be changed by the user. They provide NOTAM briefs for both the London and Scottish FIRs and Aerodromes.

The last option is the ‘Briefing Handbook’ (saved briefings). This facility allows you to return to any of the ‘dynamic’ briefs previously created in order to re-apply them. More information on how to re-use a brief is described in a later chapter.

CIRCUITS: Use an aerodrome brief. NOTAMs are only available for licensed aerodromes, so if you are using a non-licensed aerodrome, you should use a point brief to establish whether there are any aerial activities taking place in the vicinity.

LOCAL AREA: Use a Point brief. The point brief allows you to define a radius up to 99NM around a specific point.

FLYING A to B: Use the narrow route brief; generally the same rules for submitting a flight plan apply.

IFR & VFR BRIEFINGS FOR NOTICE BOARDS: If you require a full IFR &/or VFR briefing for all en-route NOTAMs in the FIR then use a route brief.

VFR BRIEFINGS FOR NOTICE BOARDS: If you wish to obtain a VFR bulletin then use the VFR briefs. These have fixed parameters. Two provide en-route NOTAMs, for the London (EGTT) FIR and Scottish (EGPX) FIR, two provide Aerodrome briefs for the same regions.

AVOIDING AIR DISPLAYS - RED ARROWS
Air displays take place at many venues in the UK, not just at aerodromes. Within the bulletin, such activities are identified by the words restricted area – temporary RA(T). It is often the case that more than one RA(T) will exist during the day. Mauve AICs are also issued to notify the event when such activities are taking place and can also be accessed via the IAIP page by selecting the Circulars (AIC), many of which contain a map of the RA(T).

The AIS Information Line 0500 354802 also provides up-to-date information on restricted areas –temporary, airspace upgrades and emergency restrictions of flying.

The user defined briefings, (i.e. Aerodrome, Area, Route, Narrow Route and Point brief) all use a common set of parameters, described below.

BRIEFING ID: The default identifies the date/time that the briefing was selected for use. The briefing will be saved in the Briefing Handbook under this ID. You can change it to something more meaningful (e.g. “Local”) if you wish. The ‘R’ (Recall) icon to the right hand side provides access to the Briefing Handbook (Saved Briefing menu).

CONTENT - SNOWTAM, ASHTAM, BIRDTAM: The briefing output will always contain NOTAM. The other elements (i.e. Snow, Volcanic ash, Intense Bird Activity) can also be selected for use.

UTC VALIDITY: The Default date/time is 12 hours from time the brief is prepared. Note that the brief will always use UTC as a time reference.

FLIGHT RULES: The default setting will produce NOTAM for both IFR & VFR operations; you can select one or the other to reduce the amount of information returned.

This brief provides Aerodrome NOTAM for the aerodromes you choose. It will advise you of changes to the published aerodrome facilities, e.g. unserviceable navigation aids, lighting, fuel availability etc.

BRIEFING ID, CONTENT, UTC VALIDITY, FLIGHT RULES: See NOTAM – COMMON PARAMETERS

AERODROMES: Use ICAO four-letter codes when identifying Aerodromes.

Note 1: NOTAMs are only issued on Licensed Aerodromes. Some unlicensed aerodromes will possess a four letter ICAO code but if you insert an unlicensed aerodrome into this type of briefing then the system will provide a NIL return.

Note 2: A list of UK Aerodrome codes can be found by selecting the HELP Tab then selecting Additional Resources. As an alternative to repeatedly inserting individual Aerodrome codes, it is possible to use personalised lists. You can do this by selecting the ‘R’ icon on the right hand side of the menu.

Note 3: If you are unsure of the ICAO code for a particular aerodrome then use the search icon (magnifying glass) to interrogate the database.

AREA BRIEF

This brief provides NOTAMs for FIR’s that you select. It DOES NOT provide Aerodrome NOTAMs.

BRIEFING ID, CONTENT, UTC VALIDITY, FLIGHT RULES: See NOTAM – COMMON PARAMETERS

CRUISING LEVEL: This briefing allows you to insert a lower and upper vertical limit. The default is set from 000 to 999. To refine the vertical parameters adjust the limits accordingly. for example, 030/190 will produce a brief from 3000ft to 19000ft.

FIRs: Use ICAO four-letter codes when identifying FIRS. e.g. EGTT = London FIR, EGPX = Scottish FIR, LFRR = Brest FIR, EISN = Irish FIR.

Note 1: A full list of European FIR codes can be found by selecting the HELP Tab then selecting Additional Resources. As an alternative to repeatedly inserting individual FIR codes, it is possible to set up personalised lists. You can do this by selecting the ‘R’ icon on the right hand side of the menu.

Note 2: If you are unsure of the ICAO code that applies to an FIR then use the search icon (magnifying glass) to interrogate the database.

ROUTE BRIEF

This brief provides NOTAMs for the aerodromes you enter, the whole of the FIR’s in which they are located and any FIR’s crossed by the direct track from your departure aerodrome to your destination and any additional FIR’s you choose.

BRIEFING ID, CONTENT, UTC VALIDITY, FLIGHT RULES: See NOTAM – COMMON PARAMETERS

CRUISING LEVEL: This briefing allows you to insert a lower and upper vertical limit. The default is set from 000 to 999. To refine the vertical parameters adjust the limits accordingly. For example, 030/190 will produce a brief from 3000ft to 19000ft.

ADDITIONAL CROSSED FIRs: The brief will automatically identify all the FIRs that lie in a straight line between your departure point and destination. If NOTAMs are required on any additional ‘neighbouring’ FIRs then these can be added to the brief.

ALTERNATE AERODROMES: You can include a list of alternate aerodromes in the brief by using this function.

This is the most commonly used brief. It will produce a brief covering your departure, arrival and alternate aerodromes as well as NOTAM affecting your route.

BRIEFING ID, CONTENT, UTC VALIDITY, FLIGHT RULES: See NOTAM – COMMON PARAMETERS

FLIGHT LEVEL: A vertical limit must be defined. The output will contain NOTAMs from the surface to the flight level you insert, for example, by inserting 045 the output will contain NOTAMs relevant from the Surface to 4500ft.

NARROW ROUTE WIDTH: A default parameter of 10nm ie +/- 5nm either side of track has been set. This parameter can be adjusted to a maximum of 99nm.

ROUTE: Specific rules, which are the same as those applicable to an ICAO Flight Plan apply when completing the Route section of the brief. The default setting is DCT for a direct flight from departure point to destination. Except when defining an Airway, DCT must be inserted between each element of the route.

The following values can be inserted into the route section:

Three-letter Navaids e.g. DCT BNN DCT = A route via the Bovingdon VOR

Five-letter Waypoints e.g. DCT MIMBY DCT = A route via MIMBY

Lat/Long coordinates e.g. DCT 51N030W DCT or DCT 5130N03010W

Range/Bearing from Navaids e.g. DCT BIG130030 DCT (130degrees/30nm fm BIG).

Airways e.g. DCT MALBY L9 KENET DCT (Joining Airway L9 at MALBY to KENET)

ADDITIONAL CROSSED FIRs/ALTERNATE AERODROMES: See Route brief

NOTE 1: This brief does not permit the use of two-letter aerodrome locators, IATA three-letter aerodrome codes or ICAO four-letter aerodrome codes in the route section. Navaids or Lat/Lon may be used instead. We have named the brief to make it easier to find in the Saved Briefings and changed the default times to reduce data.

NOTE 2: NAVAID ICAO codes are not necessarily unique. The same code may be used for a number of facilities worldwide, for example SAM is used as an identifier for:-

The software will normally attempt to select the facility that is nearest to the route. This can cause a problem when a facility has recently been withdrawn from service and no longer in use.

POINT BRIEF

This brief provides NOTAMs covering a radius from a fixed point. It is very useful for local flying as you can define a circle based on your home airfield. Aerodrome NOTAMs are supplied for the aerodromes you choose.

BRIEFING ID, CONTENT, UTC VALIDITY, FLIGHT RULES: See NOTAM – COMMON PARAMETERS

ORIGIN: The origin of the brief can be defined as an Aerodrome ICAO code, Navigation Aid or Lat/Long using seven or eleven characters in a strict format. If a licensed aerodrome is used for the origin, then you will need to insert the aerodrome ICAO code into the Aerodromes field in order to obtain a briefing for that aerodrome.

RADIUS: The default radius is 25nm, a maximum radius of 99nm can be applied.

AERODROMES: Use ICAO four-letter codes when identifying aerodromes.

NOTE 2: For additional assistance a list of co-ordinates for UK unlicensed sites has been created. This list can be accessed by selecting Point Brief Help from the HELP menu tab.

SAVED BRIEFINGS

Each time a briefing is produced it is automatically saved in your user handbook. The Briefing ID of the original briefing is shown so when you create a brief that you might re-use it is a good idea to give it a meaningful ID.

Saved briefs can be re-applied by clicking on either the Use or Update buttons. Always review the parameters before re-submitting the brief. To select a brief, click on the circle on the left hand side and then select Use or Update.

The Use function will automatically update the time parameters and produce a full briefing. The Update function will identify those changes that have taken place since the original brief was produced. The Update function will only work up to three days from the time the original brief was produced.

Note: You cannot delete a briefing once it has been created.

SERVICES

You can create personal lists of regularly used aerodromes, FIRs, routes etc. Once constructed these files can be selected by use of the ‘R’ and applied to help in compiling a NOTAM brief.

PERSONAL AERODROMES/FIRs UIRs/ROUTES: When defining a NOTAM brief, as an alternative to repeatedly inserting individual codes, you can set up personalised lists using the Services menu. You can create, edit or delete these lists. This function is particularly useful for storing long and complex lists of regularly used facilities.

PERSONAL SETTINGS

This function allows you to change the registration information. The RELOAD function ignores changes and restores the details to the previous settings.

SEARCH

The Search facility allows you to search the database. This facility is valuable in helping to identify the ICAO codes applicable to aerodromes, waypoints, navaids, FIRs and Restricted Airspace such as Danger Areas etc. The Search function is only available when registered to the NOTAM function.

Note: The database holds a worldwide repository of information and data. In order to expedite the search, it is recommended that the search parameters are defined as much as possible.

SEARCH RESULTS

The example below results from search on Birmingham Aerodrome. you can select an item for use in a brief by selecting the underlined ICAO code.

HELP

The HELP function provides guidance to help you navigate the web site and to prepare a NOTAM brief. Further advice and guidance is also available by contacting AIS at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it The supervisor account is monitored during normal office hours, Monday to Friday.