GEN 3  SERVICES

GEN 3.1  Aeronautical Information MANAGEMENT

3.1.1  RESPONSIBLE SERVICE

3.1.1.1 The Aeronautical Information Management which forms part of the Civil Aviation Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain, ensures the flow of information necessary for the safety, regularity and efficiency of international air navigation within the area of its responsibility indicated under GEN 3.1.1.2 below. It consists of AIM Headquarters, International NOTAM Office (NOF) and AIM units established at aerodromes as listed under GEN 3.1.5 below.
3.1.1.2  AIM Headquarters
Post:

AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
P.O. Box 586
Kingdom of Bahrain

Tel:+973 17321180 / 1 / 2

Fax:+973 17323876

AFS:OBBBYNYX

Email:sdc@mtt.gov.bh

URL:https://aim.mtt.gov.bh

NOTAM: OBZZNAXX

SNOWTAM: OBZZSNXX

3.1.2  AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY OF AIM

The Aeronautical Information Management is responsible for the collection and dissemination of information for the BAHRAIN FIR / BAHRAIN UIR.

3.1.3  AERONAUTICAL PUBLICATIONS

3.1.3.1 The aeronautical information is provided in the form of the Integrated Aeronautical Information Package consisting of the following elements:
  1. An electronic Aeronautical Information Publication (electronic AIP);

  2. An electronic Amendment Service to the electronic AIP (AIP AMDT);

  3. An electronic Supplement Service to the electronic AIP (AIP SUP);

  4. NOTAM, and Pre - Flight Information Bulletins (PIB);

  5. An electronic Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC) Service; and

  6. Check lists and summaries

NOTAM and the related monthly checklists are issued via the Aeronautical Fixed Service (AFS) while PIB are made available at aerodrome AIM units. All other elements of the package are published on the internet.

3.1.3.2  Electronic Aeronautical Information Publication (electronic AIP)

The electronic AIP is the basic aviation document intended primarily to satisfy international requirements for the exchange of permanent aeronautical information and long duration temporary changes essential for air navigation.

The electronic AIP BAHRAIN FIR is available in HTML format. The HTML version and and a PDF version derived therefrom is published on the internet, and can be found at https://aim.mtt.gov.bh The HTML version is the primary method of publication of the electronic AIP BAHRAIN FIR.

Electronic AIP Bahrain FIR

This electronic AIP, issued in English only, is the basic aeronautical information document for the BAHRAIN FIR / BAHRAIN UIR, for use in international and domestic operations whether the flight is a commercial or a private one and contains lasting information essential to air navigation.

3.1.3.3  Amendment service to the electronic AIP (AIP AMDT)

Amendments to the electronic AIP (AIP AMDT) are published on the internet. Two types of electronic AIP AMDT are produced:

  1. Electronic Regular AIP Amendments (AIP AMDT) are issued in accordance with the established regular interval (ref. GEN 0.1), and incorporate permanent changes into the electronic AIP at the indicated publication date;

  2. Electronic AIRAC AIP Amendments (AIRAC AIP AMDT) are issued in accordance with the AIRAC system, identified by the acronym AIRAC, and incorporate operationally significant permanent changes into the electronic AIP at the indicated AIRAC effective date.

A brief description of the subjects affected by the amendment is given on the electronic AIP Amendment cover sheet.

Each electronic AIP amendment cover sheet includes references to the serial number of those elements, if any, of the Integrated Aeronautical Information Package which have been incorporated in the electronic AIP by the amendment and are consequently cancelled.

Each AIP AMDT and each AIRAC AIP AMDT will be allocated separate two digit serial numbers which are consecutive in line with the AIRAC cycle. This will be followed by a two digit number to denote the year of issue or validity, e.g. AIP AMDT 01 / 11; AIRAC AIP AMDT 01 / 11. This new system will supersede the old system (which used a continuous sequence of numbers).

For further details refer to the electronic AIP BAHRAIN FIR version on the internet and its Help section.

3.1.3.4  Electronic Supplement Service to the electronic AIP (AIP SUP)

Temporary changes of long duration (three months and longer) and information of short duration which consists of extensive text and / or graphics, supplementing the permanent information contained in the electronic AIP are published as electronic AIP Supplements (AIP SUP). Operationally significant temporary changes to the electronic AIP are published in accordance with the AIRAC system and its established effective dates and are identified clearly by the acronym AIRAC.

Electronic AIP Supplements are separated by information subject (General - GEN, En-route - ENR and Aerodromes - AD). In a similar manner to AIP AMDT, each Supplement (regular or AIRAC) is allocated a serial number which is consecutive and based on the calendar year, i. e. AIRAC AIP SUP 01 / 11.

Electronic AIP Supplements are kept in the AIP as long as all or some of their contents remain valid. The period of validity of information contained in the electronic AIP Supplement will normally be given in the supplement itself. Alternatively, NOTAM may be used to indicate changes to the period of validity or cancellation of the supplement.

The checklist of electronic AIP Supplements currently in force is issued additionally by the medium of the monthly printed plain language summary of NOTAM in force.

Electronic AIP Supplements are placed on the desktop of the electronic AIP as a separate subject item under the electronic AIP Tabulator "SUP". For further details refer to the electronic AIP BAHRAIN FIR version on the internet and its Help section.

3.1.3.5  NOTAM and Pre - flight Information Bulletins (PIB)

NOTAM contain the information concerning the establishment, condition or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential for personnel concerned with flight operations. The text of each NOTAM contains the information in the order shown in the ICAO NOTAM Format and is composed of the significations / uniform abbreviated phraseology assigned to the ICAO NOTAM Code complemented by ICAO abbreviations, indicators, designators, call signs, frequencies, figures and plain language. NOTAM are originated and issued for BAHRAIN FIR / BAHRAIN UIR and are distributed in one series which is identified by the letter A.

Series A

All NOTAM information for domestic and international use pertinent to flight within the BAHRAIN FIR / BAHRAIN UIR.

Series S (SNOWTAM) - Information providing a runway surface condition report notifying the presence or cessation of hazardous conditions due to standing water on the movement area.
SNOWTAM are prepared in accordance with PANS-AIM (Doc 10066), Appendix 4, and are issued for individual aerodrome by Bahrain NOF, with separate serial numbers.

Pre - flight Information Bulletins (PIB), which contain a recapitulation of current NOTAM and other information of urgent character to the operator / flight crews, are available at the Aerodrome AIS Units. The extent of the information contained in the PIB is indicated in subsection 5.

3.1.3.6  Electronic Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC)

The electronic Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC) contain information of long - term forecast of any major change in legislation, regulations procedures or facilities; purely explanatory or advisory nature liable to affect flight safety; and information or notification of an explanatory or advisory nature concerning technical, legislative or purely administrative matters. AICs are divided in accordance with subjects and their affects and are issued in one series (A).

Each electronic AIC is numbered consecutively on a calendar year basis. The year, indicated by two digits, is a part of serial number of the AIC, e.g. AIC 1 / 11. A checklist of AIC currently in force is issued as an AIC once a year.

Electronic AIC are placed on the desktop of the electronic AIP accordingly as a separate item under the eAIP Tabulator "AIC". For further details refer to the electronic AIP BAHRAIN FIR version on the internet and its Help section.

3.1.3.7  Checklist of NOTAMS

A checklist of NOTAM is issued monthly via AFS. This checklist contains all valid NOTAMS, latest AIP AMDT, latest AIP SUP and AIC.

3.1.3.8  Summary of NOTAM

Summary of NOTAM is published on the official website. It contains a plain language (in English) presentation of the valid NOTAM and information about the latest AIRAC AIP AMDT, AIC issued and checklist of AIP SUP.

3.1.3.9  Publication Sale

All publications can be obtained from the following official website in both HTML and PDF versions and is free of charge to all users. https://aim.mtt.gov.bh

3.1.4  THE AIRAC SYSTEM

3.1.4.1 In order to control and regulate the flow of operationally significant changes requiring amendments to charts, route - manuals etc., such changes, whenever possible, will be issued on predetermined dates according to the AIRAC SYSTEM.

Whenever possible this type of information will be published as an AIRAC AIP AMDT / SUP. If an AIRAC AMDT / SUP cannot be produced due to lack of time on a predetermined date, a NIL AIRAC notification NOTAM will be issued one cycle before the effective date of the AIRAC concern.

3.1.4.2 The table overleaf indicates AIRAC effective dates for the coming years. AIRAC information will be issued so that the information will be received by user not later than 28 days, and major changes not later than 56 days, before the effective date.

At AIRAC effective dates, a Trigger NOTAM will be issued giving a brief description of the contents, effective date and cross reference number of the AIRAC AIP AMDT or AIRAC AIP SUP that will become effective on that particular date.

Schedule of AIRAC effective dates

 201420152016201720182019
109-Jan08-Jan07-Jan05-Jan04-Jan03-Jan
206-Feb05-Feb04-Feb02-Feb01-Feb31-Jan
306-Mar05-Mar04-Mar02-Mar01-Mar28-Feb
403-Apr02-Apr31-Mar30-Mar29-Mar28-Mar
501-May30-Apr28-Apr27-Apr26-Apr25-Apr
629-May28-May26-May25-May24-May23-May
726-Jun25-Jun23-Jun22-Jun21-Jun20-Jun
824-Jul23-Jul21-Jul20-Jul19-Jul18-Jul
921-Aug20-Aug18-Aug17-Aug16-Aug15-Aug
1018-Sep17-Sep15-Sep14-Sep13-Sep12-Sep
1116-Oct15-Oct13-Oct12-Oct11-Oct11-Oct
1213-Nov12-Nov10-Nov09-Nov08-Nov07-Nov
1311-Dec10-Dec08-Dec07-Dec06-Dec05-Dec

If no information was submitted for publication at the AIRAC date, a NIL notification will be issued by NOTAM not later than one AIRAC cycle before the AIRAC effective date concerned.

3.1.5  PRE - FLIGHT INFORMATION SERVICE AT AERODROMES / HELIPORTS

3.1.5.1 NOTAM ARE ADDRESSED TO AND RECEIVED FROM THE FOLLOWING NOTAM OFFICES:
Addis AbabaBrusselsGreenlandLaosParisTokyo
AlgierBucharestHarareLilongwePragueToronto
AmmanBudapestHelsinkiLisbonRigaTripoli
AmsterdamCairoHo Chi MinhLondonRomeTunis
AnkaraCasablancaHong KongLuqaSanaaU.A.E.
AthensColomboIcelandLusakaSeebVienna
AucklandCopenhagenJakartaMacauSeoulVilnius
BaghdadDamascusJeddahMadrasSeychellesWarsaw
BangkokDar - es - SalaamJohannesburgMadridShannonWindhoek
BeijingDhakaKabulMaleSingaporeYangon
BeirutDublinKarachiManilaSlovakiaZurich
BelgradeEntebbeKathmanduMaputoSlovenia 
BombayFrankfurtKhartoumMelbourneSofia 
BrisbaneGaboroneKuala LumpurMoskowStockholm 
Brunei KuwaitNairobiSydney 
   NicosiaTaipei 
    Tehran 
3.1.5.2 NOTAM are additionally received from:
KolkataNew DelhiTallinn
3.1.5.3 NOTAM are additionally addressed to:
Dallas Fort WorthKota KinabaluLuxembourgMoscow
OttawaShanghaiWashingtonVientiane
3.1.5.4 NOTAM are received from the following offices in the USA
ARTCC BostonCorpus ChristieNew York JFK
ARTCC HoustonDallas Fort WorthNewark
ARTCC MiamiDaytonNewburgh
ARTCC New YorkDetroitNorfolk
ARTCC WashingtonGreensboroPhiladelphia
AtlantaHouston IntercontinentalPittsburgh
BaltimoreIndianapolisRaleigh / Durham
BangorKnoxvilleSan Antonio
BirminghamMemphisSt Louis Lambert
BostonMinneapolisTampa
Chicago O’HareNashvilleWashington
CincinnatiNew Orleans 
Cleveland  
3.1.5.5 A self - briefing pre - flight information service is available at BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL airport with the coverage indicated below:
3.1.5.5.1 BAHRAIN: Complete coverage as for BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL NOTAM OFFICE. See GEN 3.1.5.1 to GEN 3.1.5.4.
3.1.5.6  Pre - flight Information Bulletins (PFIBs)
3.1.5.6.1 In addition to the self - briefing pre - flight information service, a comprehensive tailored pre - flight briefing is available to scheduled operators from BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL airport. Application for service should be made to the Airport AIM / MET Briefing Office:
Post:

AIM / MET Briefing
P.O. Box 586
Kingdom of Bahrain

Tel:+973 17321181 / +973 17321182 and +973 17321178

Fax:+973 17323876

3.1.5.6.2 Bahrain Integrated Aeronautical Information Package is available on: https://aim.mtt.gov.bh
3.1.5.7  Accuracy of Information
3.1.5.7.1 The AIP BAHRAIN FIR and associated NOTAM are compiled from the variety of sources. Except for Bahrain, all information is acquired from independent states and from commercial sources. The greatest care is exercised in the assembly and compilation of information for the AIP BAHRAIN FIR and associated NOTAM and they are considered to be as reliable as possible at the time of issue. Civil Affairs will not be held responsible, however, for the accuracy of the contents of the AIP BAHRAIN FIR or NOTAM or for any omissions therefrom, neither will Civil Aviation Affairs be responsible for the adequacy or receipt of NOTAM or AIP amendments.
3.1.5.7.2 Any errors or om missions discovered should be notified without delay to the AIM Department or to Civil Aviation Affairs.
3.1.5.7.3 To further enhance the quality of the services provided by AIM, Bahrain has implemented ISO 9001 : 2008 to AIM, should any comments or suggestions arise, please do not hesitate to mail or email us at the following address:
Post:

AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
P.O. Box 586
Kingdom of Bahrain

Email:sdc@mtt.gov.bh

URL:https://aim.mtt.gov.bh

3.1.6  ELECTRONIC TERRAIN AND OBSTACLE DATA (ETOD)

3.1.6.1 Air Navigation Obstacles and Electronic Terrain Data Sets of Bahrain may be obtained from:
Post:

AERONAUTICAL INFORMATION MANAGEMENT - Air Navigation
Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs
P.O. Box 586
Kingdom of Bahrain

Tel:+973 17321180 / +973 17321181

Fax:+973 17329977 / +973 17323876

Email:etod@mtt.gov.bh

Email:sdc@mtt.gov.bh