AIM Officer
One of the least known and most vital roles in support of international civil aviation is filled by the Aeronautical Information Management Personnel (AIM). The objective of the Aeronautical Information is to ensure the flow of information necessary for the safety, regularity and efficiency of international air navigation.
Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) divisions refer to the divisions gathering aeronautical data/information needed at all phases of flights (before/during/after flights), and putting the same into use of aircraft operators and pilots. Any incomplete or wrong aeronautical data/information may compromise safety of air navigation.
In Turkey, one of the founding members of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the sole authorized body in "Aeronautical Information Services" is the Directorate General of State Airports Administration , the "Air Navigation Service Provider". In our country, approximately 493 Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) personnel serve on 24 hour basis at 52 airports operated by Directorate General of State Airports Administration . Primary duties of such personnel are as follows;
- The processes for gathering any and all aeronautical information regarding Turkish Airspace and airports, and for preparing the same in the "Aeronautical Information Publication (AIP)" format in English and Turkish, as well as for issuing and distributing the same
- To check any and all national and international aircraft which is going to use Turkish Airspace have obtained flight permit or not, to grant permit for use of Turkish Airspace, and to co-ordinate refusing of any unauthorized aircraft on behalf of the "Ministry of Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications" during public holidays, weekends and outside regular working hours
- To issue, inspect and monitor the Flight Plans required to be filled in by each aircraft prior to the flight;
- The processes in relation to NOTAM (Notice to Airmen), referring to any and all warnings issued to all the personnel, serving at flight operations, regarding any facilities, services, methods or hazards together with conditions or changes thereof;
- To follow international developments arising at the field of Aeronautical Information Management (AIM), and to launch automation- and integration-related projects.
- To assess any and all notices in relation to SAR (Search and Rescue) received through COSPAS-SARSAT (Satellite-Assisted Search and Rescue System) or any other means, and to establish coordination with the concerned organizations.
All these developments emerging on both international and national basis emphasize once again that Aeronautical Information Management (AIM) service, responsible for providing the users with the aeronautical information/data and communications, required for safety, order and effectiveness of the national and international air navigation, in the most rapid, most accurate and most effective manner at all phases of the flights, is critically important and indispensable for the aviation industry.