Aeronautical Information, Charts and Publications
The product set
The AIP (parts GEN, ENR and AD) is the primary permanent reference, amended on the AIRAC cycle - 28 days, effective 0900 UTC on the published date. AIP supplements cover temporary changes of long duration, AIC carries administrative notices, and NOTAM covers short-notice or temporary information. Pre-flight information bulletins assemble the relevant NOTAMs for a route.
Charts a controller must recognise: aerodrome and ground movement charts, SID and STAR charts, instrument approach charts, area and en-route charts, and ATC surveillance minimum altitude charts. Each carries an effective date, magnetic variation, elevations in feet and distances in NM.
Traps
Confusing issue date with effective date (28 days apart on AIRAC). Mixing NOTAMR (replaces) with NOTAMC (cancels). Confusing aerodrome elevation, threshold elevation and highest obstacle elevation. Treating a supplement as an AIP amendment, or assuming an expired NOTAM is still valid.
Rule of thumb
Permanent change: AIP amendment on AIRAC. Short-notice or temporary: NOTAM. Long-duration temporary: supplement. Memorise '28 days, 0900 UTC' as one pair.
Worked example
A new SID becomes effective 12 June. The AIRAC effective date is the Thursday 28 days after the previous cycle; users must receive the information at least 28 days before it takes effect, so the chart's effective date is printed on the chart and cross-checked against the AIP amendment list in the pre-flight bulletin before use.