European AIS Database

The European aeronautical information services database (EAD) is a centralised reference database of quality-assured aeronautical information that enables users to retrieve and download AIS data in real time. 

It provides instant access to the most up-to-date digital aeronautical information from the ECAC and ECAC+ areas, from Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs), pre-flight information bulletins (PIBs), briefing facility services and the AIP library.

The EAD is the world’s largest aeronautical information management (AIM) system.

The EAD is safer, faster, more accurate and more cost-effective than older, non-harmonised methods of AIS data collection and delivery. It increases the availability and accessibility of AIS information, and it contributes to reducing safety risks related to the distribution and publication of aeronautical information.

In December 2016, EUROCONTROL became the first pan-European aeronautical information service provider to be certified under the Single European Sky legislation regarding the provision of the European AIS Database (EAD). The certification was extended in 2018 and remains valid, following updates EU rules, as long as EUROCONTROL meets the necessary EU requirements.

Data sourced globally include original and processed NOTAM, SNOWTAM and ASHTAM messages, as well as the minimum set of static data, as per ICAO PANS-AIM (10096), required for NOTAM validation and pre-flight information bulletin (PIB) generation.

Data from ECAC States and beyond include original and processed NOTAM, SNOWTAM and ASHTAM, AIPs, AICs, amendments, supplements, charts, as well as the full set of aeronautical information published in AIP. It also covers aerodrome information, including procedures, obstacles, en-route information such as airspace, routes, navaids and waypoints, and general information such as organisation, authority and units.

Worldwide EAD data providers

The EAD has been providing AIS services for almost 20 years. As of January 2023, 56 States worldwide, including all ECAC States, are using EAD services as data providers and some 200 are using the services as data users.

The following chart depicts the status of migration of data providers to EAD. For States which have not yet migrated (shown in grey), our data operations provider maintains the minimum static dataset.

As a central repository of aeronautical information, the EAD offers a number of services through its associated integrated sub-systems that support the daily operations of AIS units, including:

The two main access modes for EAD services offer the following:

It enables a user to retrieve a dedicated data set at defined intervals (e.g. AIRAC cycle) from EAD for further processing by a local system. A great solution if a continuous connection with the database is not required and updates are needed only when data changes. Data files are made available through the EAD internet filing system (EAD IFS).

If needed, NOTAM information contained in the EAD can also be made available through a regular AFTN connection.

Use of the services made available by the EAD is subject to the payment of charges. They include service charges as well as royalty fees, applied by the Member States, when EAD data is made available by the client to third party end users.

The table below shows the applicable charges per client type:

In order to establish EAD Charges, the Client is requested to provide its yearly turnover.

Type 2 clients

For ANSPs of non-EUROCONTROL Member States countries, or States with a Comprehensive Agreement with EUROCONTROL, the turnover is defined by the cost base for the provision of air navigation services financed through various invoicing mechanism, e.g. en-route air navigation charges for ANSPs and CAA, Terminal Air Navigation Charges or fees for airports, other specific fees or charges.

For other type 2 clients, the turnover is defined by the budget of the entity using EAD information (e.g. university department).

Type 3 clients

Revenues generated by products or the services using information provided by the EAD. This may include:

• Software applications using EAD data in a feature or to provide an output. If this feature is part of an integrated application and cannot be separated from it or sold separately as an ad-on service, it will be the turnover of the entire application;
• Consultancy or software development services based on or using EAD data;
• Any other service using the data.

If no turnover is available yet (start-up), a flat fee per year is applied.

The amount of charges will be determined during the discussion on the EAD agreement between the EAD service and the client. Clients will be asked to produce the related turnover evidence.

In addition, each EAD data user should have adequate liability insurance coverage, the level of which depends on the usage of the EAD data.

When the EAD data user chooses to access the EAD services through the ready-to-run EAD Pro software package, a yearly software license applies. The price list is available here.

When the EAD data user chooses to access through MyEAD (B2B web services based called AIMSL – AIM Service Layer), or through manual data download in the case of SDO static data, no additional charges apply.

The EAD will issue annual invoices to the EAD client. Payment must be made by the client within a period of thirty calendar days from the date of the invoice, using the bank account details indicated in the invoice.

Each invoice will be issued in the standard EUROCONTROL format. The original invoice will be sent by regular post to clients in addition to a scanned (PDF) version sent by e-mail.

If you receive dubious e-mails or calls, please contact the EAD service immediately via our contacts.

EAD data providers

If you are a data provider interested in joining the EAD, please contact us via our contacts form.

EAD data users

Interested data users should follow these steps to join:

We provide support and training for EAD clients - data providers and users - during the migration process, as well as during operational activities, as follows:

AIXM is the backbone of the EAD and represents both the data model on which the static data (SDO) is based and the means of exchanging the aeronautical data.

The EAD supports AIXM 4.5 in uploading and downloading aeronautical data in SDO and, since Release 10, also uploading and downloading in AIXM 5.1 format.

AIXM 5.1 is the version of the data model and exchange schema implemented in the​​​​​​​ EAD which complies with European Commission (EU) Regulation 73/2010), with the ICAO SARPS provisions regarding electronic obstacle data (part of eTOD) and with the Digital NOTAM.

To date, the​​​​​​​ EAD supports BASELINE data exchange for uploading aeronautical data and BASELINE and/or PERMDELTA for downloads in AIXM 5.1 format.

The specifications on which the implementation of AIXM 5.1 in the​​​​​​​ EAD is based are listed below:

• AIXM 5.1 Temporality Concept (the​​​​​​​ EAD has developed a more detailed AIXM 5.1 Temporality Implementation specification, which is included in the SDD XML Primer (available for EAD Clients));
• AIXM 5.1 Feature Identification and Reference;
• AIXM 5.1 Business Rules (the rules identified in the EAD Profile);
• AIXM 5.1 Application Schema and Extensions (for AIXM 5.1 extensions);
• OGC Use of GML for Aviation Data (ref. OGC 12-028r1 – the GML Profile provided in this specification has been implemented in the​​​​​​​ EAD since EAD Release 11).

EUROCONTROL has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), since 9 December 2016, and, have been recertified as of 2021 in Pursuant to the Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/373 ^[1] as a pan-European Aeronautical Information Service Provider (AISP). This service is provided by EUROCONTROL on behalf of its Member States with the European AIS. Database (EAD). A copy of the certificate may be obtain by EAD clients via the “Contact Us” field (bottom right).

It is important to note, that aeronautical data and information transferred to and stored in EAD do not comply with the requirements of the Commission Regulation EU 73/2010 3 ^[2] on aeronautical data quality (also known as ADQ Regulation), because EUROCOTROL/EAD has not received the full compliance statement regarding data quality or, the required mandatory data quality attributes from all States and, as a consequence, cannot claim full DQR compliance for States within the scope of this regulation.

According to Commission Regulation (EU) 73/2010, “Member States shall ensure that air navigation service providers comply with the data quality requirements laid down in Annex IV, Part A” (Art 6, a) and “Aeronautical information service providers shall ensure that aeronautical data and aeronautical information items published in the AIP of their Member State are annotated to indicate those that do not meet the data quality requirements laid down in this Regulation”.

Since EAD stores information originating from the national AIS providers, the level of data quality in EAD is directly dependent on those data providers. Consequently, in the context of its certification, EAD makes available the level of compliance for the States within the scope of this regulation at the following link. Click here

Furthermore, EUROCONTROL also cooperates actively with the States within the scope of the Regulation, in order to assist them in improving data quality and publishes their annotation reports showing DQR compliance for each data item made available in EAD (access via the above link).

• ^[1] COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2017/373 of 1 March 2017 laying down common requirements for providers of air traffic management/air navigation services and other air traffic management network functions and their oversight;
• ^[2] COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 73/2010 of 26 January 2010 laying down requirements on the quality of aeronautical data and aeronautical information for the single European sky.

The EAD Service Steering Group (SSG) is predominantly a service and business oriented group with the aim of providing high-level guidance in all areas supporting the EAD as an integrated, harmonized and interoperable solution for the use of safe, secured and high-quality aeronautical information.

It steers EAD service provision through continued involvement in the EAD, maintaining commitment from its stakeholders, encouraging the use of a standardised approach to the exchange of aeronautical information and related data.

It is composed of

• senior representatives, from civil and military governmental organisations and corporatized, or privatised Air Navigation Service Provider (ANSP) organisations, with a vested interest to provide, or with responsibility for the provision of, aeronautical information in EAD for, or on behalf of, an ECAC Member State;
• any State that is not member of ECAC but is committed or migrated to the​​​​​​​ EAD as a Data Provider.

Additional representatives may be granted observer status, including, but not limited to, senior representatives from international aeronautical organisations, aircraft operators, airline associations, the European Union (EU) and airport operators.

The enhanced European AIS Database (eEAD) is the first step towards the realisation of the target EAIMS project. The new eEAD will ensure the continuation at least of all services and functions of the current EAD system. An eEAD system to replace the current AIS database is being procured through an open call for tenders (CFT).

eEAD CONOPS

This eEAD Concept of Operations (CONOPS) document (edition 6.0) describes the overall operational concept of the eEAD and in particular the services it provides. It will be used as a reference for the future eEAD procurement.

This document takes into consideration all requirements that stakeholders have of the current EAD services and systems. The CONOPS has passed through several workshops and successive consultation rounds with all actors of the aviation business, including ANSPs of EUROCONTROL Member States, airspace users, major data houses and the aircraft operations industry.

This CONOPS 6.0 was endorsed unanimously by the EAD Service Steering Group members at their 27th meeting. The document represents the official scope of the eEAD project. The document is available for download below. For any questions on this matter, please contact the eEAD Project Manager.

EAIMS

The European ATM Information Management Service (EAIMS) is a Network Manager Strategic Project (part of the Network Strategy Plan). The project is in line with activities taking place under the SESAR Deployment Programme and the (Pilot) Common Projects. The goal of EAIMS is to ensure access to consolidated, consistent and NM operationally validated data in a seamless and transparent way from a single access point in support of ARO/AIS/ASM/ATFCM/ATS, flight operations and airport operations.