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.

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

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.

On 9 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 data sourced globally includes original and processed NOTAM, SNOWTAM and ASHTAM messages, as well as minimum sets of static data operation (SDO) required for NOTAM validation and pre-flight information bulletin (PIB) generation, including aerodromes identification with associated runways, airspaces (FIR, UIR, TMA, P-D-R pre-determined routes), routes, navaids and waypoints.

Data from ECAC States and beyond includes original and processed NOTAM, SNOWTAM and ASHTAM, AIPs, AICs, amendments, supplements, charts, as well as full set of aeronautical information data 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 users

EAD has been providing AIS services for over 15 years. As of January 2019, 49 States had aligned themselves with the EAD processes and systems in their aeronautical information management solutions. Four additional States are in the process of migrating to the EAD and 12 other States have expressed an interest in adopting the service.

EAD data providers include European States, but also countries such as Canada, the Philippines and South-Africa. In January 2019, EAD had some 200 EAD data users worldwide.

As a central repository of aeronautical information, the EAD offers a number of integrated sub-systems that support the daily operations of AIS units.

These sub-systems can be used in any combination, in function of each client’s needs and preferences.

They enable aeronautical information users to retrieve the information they need through their respective functions: retrieval or querying of static data (SDO), download  of AIP information (PAMS),  or  PIB and NOTAM retrieval (INO). ATS reporting offices can also use the INO briefing facility (BF) to manage and distribute their flight plans.

The core components of the EAD are the following:

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

It enables the user to retrieve a dedicated data set at intervals (e.g. AIRAC cycle) from the EAD that can then be manually inserted/loaded into a local system. This is the solution if a continuous connection with the database is not required and only updates are needed when there are 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.

Applicable charges vary per EAD client type. They may include service charges, applied by EURCONTROL, as well as royalty fees, applied by the Member States, in cases where EAD data is made available by the client to third party end users.

The table below shows the applicable charges per client type:

The level of charges applied for the use of EAD data is based on how and where the data will be used, as well as the related turnover (in €/year) of the product or service that makes use of EAD data. This method ensures that all users pay charges commensurate with the size of their business.

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

The amount of charges will be determined during the agreement discussion 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 an adequate liability insurance coverage, the level of which depends of the usage of the EAD data.

Please see Annex 5 Attachment B of the Template of the EAD Agreement.

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 case of SDO static data, no additional charges apply.

EAD will issue annual invoices to the EAD client. Payment shall be made by the client, within a period thirty calendar days of the date of the invoice within the bank account number as indicated in the invoice.

Each invoice will be issued in the standard EUROCONTROL format. Each invoice will be signed and stamped. The original invoice will be sent by regular post to clients. Upon the client’s request, a scanned (PDF) version of the invoice can be sent by mail.

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

We post you official EUROCONTROL documents, such as bills and statements of accounts, all printed on secured watermarked paper, bearing the EUROCONTROL logo.

Bank accounts are printed on these official bills and statements of accounts. Never make payments to any other accounts.

We might contact you by e-mail or telephone to let you know which amounts are still outstanding. But we will never communicate a change of account this way.

Only those accounts printed on EUROCONTROL official bills are the right ones: use those and no others.

EAD data providers

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

EAD data users

Interested data users should follow the following steps in order to join the EAD:

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 EAD and represents both the data model on which the static data (SDO) is based, as well as the exchange means for the aeronautical data.

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

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

To date, 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 EAD is based, are listed below:

• AIXM 5.1 Temporality Concept (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 is implemented in EAD since EAD Release 11)

These specifications and other AIXM 5.1 reference documentation are published on www.aixm.aero.

Pursuant to Regulation (EC) 216/2008 1 ^[1] and Commission Regulation (EU) No 1035/2011 2 ^[2] , EUROCONTROL has been certified by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), since 9 December 2016, as an air navigation service provider organisation certified to provide air navigation services as listed in the service provision conditions, laid down in the attachment to the below certificate, and under the conditions of this certificate.

In this context, it is important to note that aeronautical data and information transferred to and stored in EAD SDO database do not comply with the requirements of the Commission Regulation EU 73/2010 3 ^[3] on aeronautical data quality, because EAD has not received the full compliance statement regarding data auality or the required mandatory data quality attributes from all States and, as a consequence, cannot claim full DQR compliance for Sates within the scope of this regulation.

However, since EAD is applying the Commission Regulation (EU) 73/2010, the level of compliance for the Sates within the scope of this regulation is monitored by EAD and accessible from the EAD website at the following link.

Further, according to the same 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 that “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”.

In this context EUROCONTROL cooperates actively with the Sates within the scope of the Regulation, with a view to assist them in improving the data quality and publishes via the above link their annotation reports showing their DQR compliance per data item.

• ^[1] REGULATION (EC) No 216/2008 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 February 2008 on common rules in the field of civil aviation and establishing a European Aviation Safety Agency, and repealing Council Directive 91/670/EEC, Regulation (EC) No 1592/2002 and Directive 2004/36/EC
• ^[2] COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) No 1035/2011 of 17 October 2011 laying down common requirements for the provision of air navigation services and amending  Regulations (EC) No 482/2008 and (EU) No 691/2010 (Text with EEA relevance)
• ^[3] 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 was created to provide guidance for EAD management. Its mission encompasses steering EAD service provision, maintaining commitment from  stakeholders and encouraging the adoption of a standardised approach for the exchange of aeronautical information and related data.

Meetings take place every six months and focus on general management, system management, client migration, system performance and operational issues.

• Chairman: Maja Martek Socec
• Secretary: Inge Tierens

SSG members

The SSG is composed of senior representatives from civil and military governmental organisations and air navigation service providers, which have a vested interest in aeronautical information (AI) and/or responsibility for the provision of AI for or on behalf of:

• a European Civil Aviation Conference (ECAC) Member State;
• any non-ECAC Member State which has migrated to EAD as a data provider.

SSG responsibilities

The main tasks of the EAD SSG are to:

• provide guidance to the Head of European Aeronautical Information Management Unit (EAIM) and to ensure that the EAD evolves in line with EUROCONTROL’s objectives and customers’ requirements;
• provide advice, guidance and support to the Head of EAIM on the management of the EAD systems and services;
• advise on operational, policy or financial decisions to ensure that the EAD service remains viable and meets its business objectives;
• agree on actions for all matters with a potential major impact on the EAD functionality and/or budget before reporting on these to the relevant authority;
• carry out an annual review of the EAD service and its copyright charging scheme.

The enhanced European AIS Database (eEAD) is the first step towards the realisation of the target EAIMS project. The new eEAD will ensure at a minimum the continuation of all services and functions of the current EAD system. The procurement of an eEAD system to replace the current AIS database is done 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 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 stakeholder 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.