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Under the ICAO 1944 Chicago convention, each country
is responsible for providing Aeronautical Information Services (AIS) for
its territory and the airspace for which the state provides Air Traffic
Control.
Civil Aviation Division (CAD) of the Ministry of Works and Transport, in
Trinidad and Tobago was responsible for providing Aeronautical
Information Services for Trinidad and Tobago, Eastern Caribbean States
and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) for the Piarco Flight Information
Region which airspace encompasses 750 thousand square kilometers.
Prior to 1991, Civil Aviation Division provided Aeronautical Information
Services as part of the basic Air Traffic Services functions. Air
Traffic Control Assistants were assigned to assist Air Traffic
Controllers in their many functions.
The Primary functions of the Air Traffic Control Assistants were:-
1) Collect, verify and transmit Flight Plans,
2) Transmit Air Traffic Services messages as directed by Air Traffic
Controllers,
3) Receive and promulgate Notices to Airmen (NOTAM) for the Eastern
Caribbean and the British Virgin Islands.
In January 1991, Civil Aviation Division established a main Aeronautical
Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) communications Centre, and the
AIS commenced operations as a unit in the Civil Aviation Division,
providing services in three functional areas:-
Aeronautical Information Service.
Provide, through manuals, Bulletin, Flight briefing, NOTAM and Amendment
services, information necessary for the safe, regular and efficient
operation of international air navigation.
Air Traffic Services Reporting Office
Provides for the receipt, verification and transmission of flight plans
and air traffic services messages.
Main Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications Network Communication
Centre Services.
Provides primarily for the Eastern Caribbean states and as part of the
global AFTN, uninterrupted, dedicated circuits for the flow of Air
Traffic Services messages between Air Traffic Services units.
In June 1999, the (Civil Aviation) Division commenced the use of
advanced technologies that added responsibilities to the AIS by way of-.
Automatic Terminal Information Services:
Provide voice broadcast of automatic terminal information services
(automatic broadcast of weather and surface conditions) for Piarco
International Airport.
Flight Plan Processing System
Contribute to the automatic processing of Air Traffic Control flight
plans and printing of flight progress strips.
Organizational Change
In 2003 the Civil Aviation Division of the Ministry of Works and
Transport became the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority. This
effectively transferred the responsibility for civil aviation from the
public service to an autonomous body.
Under this new authority the designation Air Traffic Control Assistant
was changed to Aeronautical Information Services Officer. The
responsibilities of these officers remained the same.
END
More on the Operation of the Aeronautical
Information Services Unit
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