The Philippine FIR occupies one of the largest area in the region. Bounded to the north by Hong Kong, Taipei and Naha (Japan) FIRs, to the east by Oakland Oceanic FIR, to the south by Ujung Pandang and Jakarta FIRs, to the Southwest by Kota Kinabalu and Singapore FIRs and to the west by Ho Chi Minh FIR. Within the Philippine FIR are 3 terminal movement areas (TMAs), 16 prohibited/restricted/danger areas, 22 military/civilian exercises/training areas, 50 ATS and RNAV routes, 245 reporting points, 65 radio navigation aids, 54 instrument approaches, 7 international airports, 81 national airports, 324 heliports and private aerodromes, and 130 Air Traffic Service (ATS) and Air Navigations Service (ANS) operational facilities.
The AIS maintains and manages all related data within the Philippine FIR, and process it to an information essential to flight - to satisfy the needs of the users (pilots, document producing agencies, ATS, etc.). However, the effective functioning of AIS is dependent upon the co-operative effort of all other services, such as communications, aerodromes, ATS, etc., since raw data must be originated by such services. With this in mind, AIS is continually looking for ways of improving the lines of communications and harmonize working relationship.
AIS also maintains liaison with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLS), Bureau of Customs (Dept. of Foreign Affairs), Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (Dept. of Justice), National Quarantine office (Dept. of Health), Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB), Dept. of Tourism (DOT), and other international & national agencies.
LOOKING FORWARD
AIS, in its effort to improve its products and services, and to provide information of defined quality and integrity has entered into agreements with other agencies and geared itself towards automation.
One of the most important undertaking it has entered into is the collaborative effort with the National Imagery and Mapping Agency (NIMA) of the US DoD, and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (NAMRIA). The project - "World Geodetic System - 1984 (WGS-84) survey of 13 key airfields", met the accuracy standards set forth by ICAO and FAA. Currently, AIS and NIMA are in a good working relationship and continually collaborating to contribute in the safety of flight.
Another very important project of AIS is its automation project, which in the eyes of others is a "big leap". Yes, as it would be aptly said, because form a manual way of doing things, AIS will be pursuing a very bold step - that of automating the whole of AIS. Not only the NOTAM system, or the Aeronautical Information Publication, or the Flight Briefing System, or the Flight Plan Filing, or the Weather Briefing�but all AIS systems. It will be automated and totally integrated and can be accessed either through AFTN, direct cable connection, and the internet.
The Automation of Aeronautical Information Service will involve the development of a Central Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) Processing System and four (4) interconnected Briefing Offices at the Manila International Flight Operations Briefing Station (IFOBS) & Domestic Flight Operations Briefing Station (DFOBS), Mactan and Davao Airports. The project is geared towards establishing six more briefing offices at Clark, Laoag, Legaspi, Puerto Princesa, Subic Bay and Zamboanga Airports - all international gateways and strategic national airports. And, eventually interconnecting all national airports.
These briefing offices interconnected to the Central NOTAM Processing System will form an integrated Aeronautical Information Service network aimed at ensuring a safe, regular and efficient international civil aviation through the delivery of aeronautical information in a defined quality and integrity. This project is consistent with the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization wherein the Philippines is a Member State.
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