A vote of thanks to the Notams team
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Surrey, UK.
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FD "Is there something left to complain about?..."
You and I are going to have to co-ordinate a bit better
I know it seems impossible, but we're only just now approaching the availability of NOTAM data as it was on August 5th 2002.
(e.g. the ability to download PIBs from the NATS website (www.nats.co.uk) without logging-on)
When the one-click downloads are available (sorted) it will be a move forward (Thales for delivery)
When the Q-Line XML/CSV download is available it will be a move forward (CAA for decision)
When the "AIP online" is searchable it will be a move forward.
I do agree that the AIS staff, who were lumbered with the shortcomings of the new system, have bent over backwards to try and assist and to push through the necessary "fixes"...
You and I are going to have to co-ordinate a bit better
I know it seems impossible, but we're only just now approaching the availability of NOTAM data as it was on August 5th 2002.
(e.g. the ability to download PIBs from the NATS website (www.nats.co.uk) without logging-on)
When the one-click downloads are available (sorted) it will be a move forward (Thales for delivery)
When the Q-Line XML/CSV download is available it will be a move forward (CAA for decision)
When the "AIP online" is searchable it will be a move forward.
I do agree that the AIS staff, who were lumbered with the shortcomings of the new system, have bent over backwards to try and assist and to push through the necessary "fixes"...
Why do it if it's not fun?
Join Date: Jul 2001
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FD,
Quite right - very well said. Except that isn't NATS now a private company? In which case they deserve even more credit for providing a much-needed service free of charge - not too many private companies willing to do that, especially when they're very unlikely to see much indirect financial gain from it either, if any at all. Well done!
FFF
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Thanks... to NATS as well to be willing to listen. Not all government agencies are so receptive.
FFF
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Savannah GA & Portsmouth UK
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True NATS are now a private company, however they operate under the NATS En-Route Licence (NERL) under which, broadly speaking, they are required to provide all of the services that were in the AIP at the time of privatisation. The funding that they receive therefore allows for the provision of the NOTAM service.
The whole point of bringing in the new system was to reduce head-count at AIS by automating the process. As always the attempt to translate the common sense, expertise and judgement of skilled personnel into a set of rules that can be followed by a computer program has not gone smoothly, hence the complaints.
Rustle's not quite accurate. Once the new one-button briefs are available (expected mid April), THEN we will be back to the situation of last August by having a geographically sorted standard brief like the old A8.
Ian Bennett has got NotamPro working again. Ian Fallon is changing jobs and hasn't had a chance to work on NotamPlot yet.
However these programs continue to work by parsing the text in the FIR brief in order to give a graphical map-based display, as does Alt AIS
We continue to press the CAA to agree to the release of a download in a database format, including the "Q Line" which will allow these programs, and others that may be written in the future to operate in a potentially more robust and accurate way. NATS have already stated that they have no objection to the release of the data.
Mike Cross
Representing AOPA
Edited by Mike to correct faulty hyperlinks
The whole point of bringing in the new system was to reduce head-count at AIS by automating the process. As always the attempt to translate the common sense, expertise and judgement of skilled personnel into a set of rules that can be followed by a computer program has not gone smoothly, hence the complaints.
Rustle's not quite accurate. Once the new one-button briefs are available (expected mid April), THEN we will be back to the situation of last August by having a geographically sorted standard brief like the old A8.
Ian Bennett has got NotamPro working again. Ian Fallon is changing jobs and hasn't had a chance to work on NotamPlot yet.
However these programs continue to work by parsing the text in the FIR brief in order to give a graphical map-based display, as does Alt AIS
We continue to press the CAA to agree to the release of a download in a database format, including the "Q Line" which will allow these programs, and others that may be written in the future to operate in a potentially more robust and accurate way. NATS have already stated that they have no objection to the release of the data.
Mike Cross
Representing AOPA
Edited by Mike to correct faulty hyperlinks
Last edited by Mike Cross; 25th Mar 2003 at 09:53.
