Aeronautical Information Publication


In aviation, an Aeronautical Information Publication is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization as a publication issued by or with the authority of a state and containing aeronautical information of a lasting character essential to air navigation. It is designed to be a manual containing thorough details of regulations, procedures and other information pertinent to flying aircraft in the particular country to which it relates. It is usually issued by or on behalf of the respective civil aviation administration.

Overview

The structure and contents of AIPs are standardized by international agreement through ICAO. AIPs normally have three parts – GEN, ENR and AD. The document contains many charts; most of these are in the AD section where details and charts of all public aerodromes are published.
AIPs are kept up-to-date by regular revision on a fixed cycle. For operationally significant changes in information, the cycle known as the AIRAC cycle is used: revisions are produced every 56 days or every 28 days. These changes are received well in advance so that users of the aeronautical data can update their flight management systems.
For insignificant changes, the published calendar dates are used.
In some countries the AIP is informally known as the Airman's Manual or the Air Pilot.

Electronic AIP

has published a specification for an electronic AIP. The eAIP Specification aims to harmonise the structure and presentation of AIPs for digital media. In this respect, a digital AIP is a digital version of the paper AIP, usually available in PDF format, while an electronic AIP is available in PDF as well as other formats, more suitable for reading on the screen and for electronic data exchange. Many countries around the world provide digital AIPs either on CD-ROM subscription or on a Web site. The external links section below lists AIPs which aim to follow the EUROCONTROL eAIP Specification.

AIRAC effective dates (28-day cycle)

The current AIRAC cycle is .
#20032004*2005200620072008*2009201020112012*2013201420152016*2017201820192020*20212022
0123 Jan22 Jan20 Jan19 Jan18 Jan17 Jan15 Jan14 Jan13 Jan12 Jan10 Jan9 Jan8 Jan7 Jan5 Jan4 Jan3 Jan2 Jan28 Jan27 Jan
0220 Feb19 Feb17 Feb16 Feb15 Feb14 Feb12 Feb11 Feb10 Feb9 Feb7 Feb6 Feb5 Feb4 Feb2 Feb1 Feb31 Jan30 Jan25 Feb24 Feb
0320 Mar18 Mar17 Mar16 Mar15 Mar13 Mar12 Mar11 Mar10 Mar8 Mar7 Mar6 Mar5 Mar3 Mar2 Mar1 Mar28 Feb27 Feb25 Mar24 Mar
0417 Apr15 Apr14 Apr13 Apr12 Apr10 Apr9 Apr8 Apr7 Apr5 Apr4 Apr3 Apr2 Apr31 Mar30 Mar29 Mar28 Mar26 Mar22 Apr21 Apr
0515 May13 May12 May11 May10 May8 May7 May6 May5 May3 May2 May1 May30 Apr28 Apr27 Apr26 Apr25 Apr23 Apr20 May19 May
0612 Jun10 Jun9 Jun8 Jun7 Jun5 Jun4 Jun3 Jun2 Jun31 May30 May29 May28 May26 May25 May24 May23 May21 May17 Jun16 Jun
0710 Jul8 Jul7 Jul6 Jul5 Jul3 Jul2 Jul1 Jul30 Jun28 Jun27 Jun26 Jun25 Jun23 Jun22 Jun21 Jun20 Jun18 Jun15 Jul14 Jul
087 Aug5 Aug4 Aug3 Aug2 Aug31 Jul30 Jul29 Jul28 Jul26 Jul25 Jul24 Jul23 Jul21 Jul20 Jul19 Jul18 Jul16 Jul12 Aug11 Aug
094 Sep2 Sep1 Sep31 Aug30 Aug28 Aug27 Aug26 Aug25 Aug23 Aug22 Aug21 Aug20 Aug18 Aug17 Aug16 Aug15 Aug13 Aug9 Sep8 Sep
102 Oct30 Sep29 Sep28 Sep27 Sep25 Sep24 Sep23 Sep22 Sep20 Sep19 Sep18 Sep17 Sep15 Sep14 Sep13 Sep12 Sep10 Sep7 Oct6 Oct
1130 Oct28 Oct27 Oct26 Oct25 Oct23 Oct22 Oct21 Oct20 Oct18 Oct17 Oct16 Oct15 Oct13 Oct12 Oct11 Oct10 Oct8 Oct4 Nov3 Nov
1227 Nov25 Nov24 Nov23 Nov22 Nov20 Nov19 Nov18 Nov17 Nov15 Nov14 Nov13 Nov12 Nov10 Nov9 Nov8 Nov7 Nov5 Nov2 Dec1 Dec
1325 Dec23 Dec22 Dec21 Dec20 Dec18 Dec17 Dec16 Dec15 Dec13 Dec12 Dec11 Dec10 Dec8 Dec7 Dec6 Dec5 Dec3 Dec30 Dec29 Dec
1431 Dec

Note: * = leap year containing 29 Feb