AIM
5/19/22
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9. Flight Information Services (FIS)
FIS is a method of disseminating meteorological
(MET) and aeronautical information (AI) to displays
in the cockpit in order to enhance pilot situational
awareness, provide decision support tools, and
improve safety. FIS augments traditional pilot voice
communication with Flight Service Stations (FSSs),
ATC facilities, or Airline Operations Control Centers
(AOCCs). FIS is not intended to replace traditional
pilot and controller/flight service specialist/aircraft
dispatcher preflight briefings or inflight voice
communications. FIS, however, can provide textual
and graphical information that can help abbreviate
and improve the usefulness of such communications.
FIS enhances pilot situational awareness and
improves safety.
a.
Data link Service Providers (DSPs). DSPs
deploy and maintain airborne, ground
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based, and, in
some cases, space
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based infrastructure that supports
the transmission of AI/MET information over one or
more physical links. A DSP may provide a free of
charge or a for
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fee service that permits end users to
uplink and downlink AI/MET and other information.
The following are examples of DSPs:
1.
FAA FIS-B. A ground-based broadcast
service provided through the ADS-B Universal
Access Transceiver (UAT) network. The service
provides users with a 978 MHz data link capability
when operating within range and line-of-sight of a
transmitting ground station. FIS-B enables users of
properly equipped aircraft to receive and display a
suite of broadcast weather and aeronautical informa-
tion products.
2.
Non-FAA FIS Systems. Several commercial
vendors provide customers with FIS data over both
the aeronautical spectrum and on other frequencies
using a variety of data link protocols. Services
available from these providers vary greatly and may
include tier based subscriptions. Advancements in
bandwidth technology permits preflight as well as
inflight access to the same MET and AI information
available on the ground. Pilots and operators using
non-FAA FIS for MET and AI information should be
knowledgeable regarding the weather services being
provided as some commercial vendors may be
repackaging NWS sourced weather, while other
commercial vendors may alter the weather informa-
tion to produce vendor
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tailored or vendor
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specific
weather reports and forecasts.
b.
Three Data Link Modes. There are three data
link modes that may be used for transmitting AI and
MET information to aircraft. The intended use of the
AI and/or MET information will determine the most
appropriate data link service.
1.
Broadcast Mode: A one-way interaction in
which AI and/or MET updates or changes applicable
to a designated geographic area are continuously
transmitted (or transmitted at repeated periodic
intervals) to all aircraft capable of receiving the
broadcast within the service volume defined by the
system network architecture.
2.
Contract/Demand Mode: A two-way interac-
tion in which AI and/or MET information is
transmitted to an aircraft in response to a specific
request.
3.
Contract/Update Mode: A two-way interac-
tion that is an extension of the Demand Mode. Initial
AI and/or MET report(s) are sent to an aircraft and
subsequent updates or changes to the AI and/or MET
information that meet the contract criteria are
automatically or manually sent to an aircraft.
c.
To ensure airman compliance with Federal
Aviation Regulations, manufacturer’s operating
manuals should remind airmen to contact ATC
controllers, FSS specialists, operator dispatchers, or
airline operations control centers for general and
mission critical aviation weather information and/or
NAS status conditions (such as NOTAMs, Special
Use Airspace status, and other government flight
information). If FIS products are systemically
modified (for example, are displayed as abbreviated
plain text and/or graphical depictions), the modifica-
tion process and limitations of the resultant product
should be clearly described in the vendor’s user
guidance.
d.
Operational Use of FIS. Regardless of the type
of FIS system being used, several factors must be
considered when using FIS:
1.
Before using FIS for inflight operations,
pilots and other flight crewmembers should become
familiar with the operation of the FIS system to be
used, the airborne equipment to be used, including its
system architecture, airborne system components,
coverage service volume and other limitations of the
particular system, modes of operation and indications
of various system failures. Users should also be
familiar with the specific content and format of the
services available from the FIS provider(s). Sources
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Meteorology