Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)
AIP Australia consists of a package of documents which provides all of the operational information necessary for the safe and efficient conduct of national (civil) and international air navigation throughout Australia and its States and Territories.
AIP Supplements (SUP)/Aeronautical Information Circulars (AIC)
SUP include operational information appropriate to the AIP. SUP are published when the information is of a temporary nature and requires advanced notification. SUP indicating major changes affecting air operations are usually issued under the ICAO Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control (AIRAC) requirement which stipulates that implementation occurs on a specific AIRAC date.
AIC contain information of a technical nature and are generally educational; giving advance notice of new facilities, services, procedures, etc.
Enroute Supplement Australia (ERSA)
ERSA is a publication which contains information vital for planning a flight and for the pilot in flight. It includes pictorial presentations of all licenced aerodromes and is amended every 12 weeks. Other information includes aerodrome physical characteristics, hours of operation, visual ground aids, air traffic services, navaids, lighting, CTAF frequency, aerodrome operators' details and any changes applicable. ERSA is available in spiral bound or loose leaf format and can be supplied with or without the Runway Distance Supplement.
Runway Distance Supplement (RDS)
RDS provides take-off and landing distances data and supplementary data for all licensed aerodromes. It is amended at the same time as the ERSA.
Civil Aviation Act And Regulations (CAR)
The Civil Aviation Act provides the primary legislative base for air safety control in Australia and contains a number of important regulatory provisions. In accordance with the Civil Aviation Act, the Regulations contain the mandatory regulatory requirements in relation to airworthiness and operational matters, licencing and requirements, enforcement powers and air traffic control.
Civil Aviation Orders (CAO)
The Regulations make provision for CAO. CAO include information on technical standards and specifications. In particular, they contain detailed mandatory operational, airworthiness and safety requirements, including design requirements, standards, specifications, mandatory operational, technical and administrative procedures and safety instructions.
Civil Aviation Advisory Publications (CAAP)
CAAP are advisory documents which set out in simple language the purpose of the Regulation/Order and ways to comply with the mandatory requirements.
CAAP have three sections; Blue – Operational, Green – Airworthiness, Yellow – Aerodrome.
Departure And Approach Procedures (DAP)
The charts connected with all instrument departure and approach procedures are contained in two separate packages called DAP East and DAP West. DAP also contain information on Noise Abatement Procedures, if applicable, for all locations.
Visual Terminal Charts (VTC)
VTC provide both aeronautical and topographical information at a scale of 1:250,000 for VFR operations in the vicinity of major aerodromes. In some cases, VTC show detail of tracks to be flown and significant landmarks which are used by pilots of VFR aircraft to avoid inadvertent penetration of controlled airspace.
Enroute Charts (ERC) High (H) And Low (L)
ERC (L) are drawn to various scales to accommodate significant air traffic route areas and show controlled airspace, prohibited, restricted and danger areas, air routes, ATS and radio-navigation services.
ERC (H) are designed to provide selected information similar to that of ERC (L) series and are primarily for use by aircraft operating on transcontinental and intercapital routes at FL200 and above.
Terminal Area Charts (TAC)
For use in terminal areas, TAC provide airspace, air-routes, prohibited, restricted, and danger areas, navigation aids and radio frequencies. They are designed to display aeronautical information at a larger scale for easier use in congested areas. Scale varies for each chart.
Visual Navigation Charts (VNC)
VNC will help you plan your flight in relation to controlled airspace, transition from the WAC to the VTC when operating around terminal areas, and navigate when nearing controlled Airspace or Restricted and Danger Areas. Topographical information at a scale of 1:500,000.
Planning Chart Australia (PCA)
PCA contains meteorological Area Forecast boundaries and locations, communication coverage outside controlled airspace and WAC coverage.
World Aeronautical Charts (WAC)
These Australian charts are part of the ICAO 1:1,000,000 international series. Designed for pre-flight planning as well as pilotage, WAC are constructed using Lambert's conformal conic projection and conform to ICAO specifications.