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k) Radio navigation aid

k) Radio navigation aid

Owned by Wolfgang Scheucher
Last updated: 2018 Dec 14

Introduction & Background

Minimum Data Items

This page contains the mapping for the following data items as defined in PANS-AIM, chapter 5.3.3.1.1

k) Radio navigation aid (type, identification, name, aerodrome served, hours of operation, magnetic variation, frequency/channel, position, elevation, magnetic bearing, true bearing, zero bearing direction).

Conditional & Optional Data Items

Besides this minimum AIP data set items, additional data items specified in the following sections of Appendix 2 of PANS-AIM - which are marked with #AIP-DS# - are taken into consideration for the mapping. In the context of this mapping, these properties are conditional AIP data set items.

  • GEN 2.5 List of radio navigation aids;
  • ENR 4.1 Radio navigation aids — en-route;
  • ENR 4.2 Special navigation systems;
  • AD 2.19 Radio navigation and landing aids;
  • AD 3.18 Radio navigation and landing aids.

All other data items defined in the PANS-AIM Data Catalogue are considered optional.

Page Table of Content

Basic mapping (minimum data items)

The properties, which are considered as minimum AIP data set for Radio navigation aid are mapped to the following main AIXM 5 features:


Note

As in AIXM 5.1(.1) the Navaid is composed of specialised class(es) of NavaidEquipment (see diagram below).

The NavaidEquipment is an abstract class, i.e. the specialisation classes (e.g. Localizer, VOR, NDB etc.) inherit all attributes and associations of the NavaidEquipment.

To avoid that the same mapping is repeated for all the specialisation classes, the mapping is done for the NavaidEquipment class if appropriate.

Hence, for a correct interpretation of the mapping, when the abstract class NavaidEquipment is used, it has to be replaced by the corresponding specialised class(es).

PANS-AIMDescription (PANS-AIM)AIXM 5Definition (AIXM 5.1.1)Remarks
TypeType of radio navigation aidNavaid.type

Navaid: A service providing guidance information or position data for the efficient and safe operation of aircraft supported by one or more radio navigation aids. 

type: Type of the navaid service such as ILS, MLS, VORTAC, VOR/DME, etc.


IdentificationThe code assigned to uniquely identify the navaid

Navaid.designator,

and/or

(

NavaidEquipment.designator

or

MarkerBeacon.auralMorseCode

)

Navaid.designator: The coded identifier given to the navaid system.

NavaidEquipment: A physical navaid equipment like VOR, DME, localizer, TACAN, etc.

NavaidEquipment.designator: The identifying code given to the navaid.

auralMorseCode: The Morse code transmitted by the beacon.

 

In case of enroute marker beacon the designator may be coded as identification, in case of marker used as part of an ILS rather the aural morse code will be the identification.

NameThe textual name assigned to the navaid 

Navaid.name

and/or

NavaidEquipment.name

Navaid.designator: The long name given to the composite navaid.

NavaidEquipment.name: The long name given to the navaid equipment.

Aerodrome servedThe ICAO location indicator or name of the aerodromes served

Navaid.servedAirport

servedAirport: The AirportHeliport served by the Navaid.
Hours of operationThe hours of operation of the radio navigation aid

Navaid.availability.NavaidOperationalStatus.operationalStatus equal-to 'Operational'

and

Navaid.availability.NavaidOperationalStatus.timeInterval

and/or

NavaidEquipment.availability.NavaidOperationalStatus.operationalStatus

equal-to' 'Operational''

NavaidEquipment.availability.NavaidOperationalStatus.timeInterval

Navaid.availability: The operational status of the navaid.

NavaidEquipment.availability: The operational status of the navaid equipment.

operationalStatus: Indicates the state of the navaid.

timeInterval: A component of the schedule.


Magnetic variation - Angle

The angular difference between True North and Magnetic North

The magnetic variation at the radio navigation aid

 Note for Accuracy: ILS Localizer/NDB

NavaidEquipment.magneticVariation,

and

NavaidEquipment.magneticVariationAccuracy

magneticVariation: The measured angle between Magnetic North and True North at the VOR and at the time reported in dateMagneticVariation.

magneticVariationAccuracy: The accuracy of the measured angle between Magnetic North and True North at the VOR and at the time reported in dateMagneticVariation

According to PANS-AIM Appendix 1 (Aeronautical Data Catalogue) accuracy is only required for Localizer and NDB. In AIXM 5.1.1 it may be encoded for all kind of navaids as it is an attribute of the NavaidEquipment class.
Magnetic variation - DateThe date on which the magnetic variation had the corresponding value.NavaidEquipment.dateMagneticVariationdateMagneticVariation: The year the magnetic variation was measured.

FrequencyFrequency or tuning frequency of the radio navigation aid 

Localizer.frequency

or

Glidepath.frequency,

or

VOR.frequency,

or

MarkerBeacon.frequency,

or

NDB.frequency,

or

SDF.frequency

frequency: The value of the frequency.

channel: The channel of the DME.


Channel 

The channel number of the radio navigation aid

Note: DME

TACAN.channel,

or

DME.channel,

or

Azimuth.channel

channel: The channel of the DME/TACAN/Azimuth.
PANS-AIM Appendix 1 (Aeronautical Data Catalogue) only requires a channel for DME. In AIXM 5 several other specialised NavaidEquipment features provide a channel attribute.
PositionGeographical location of the radio navigation aid

(

Navaid.location.ElevatedPoint

and

Navaid.location.ElevatedPoint.horizontalAccuracy

)

and/or

(

NavaidEquipment.location.ElevatedPoint

and

NavaidEquipment.location.ElevatedPoint.horizontalAccuracy

)

Navaid.location: Graphical location of the navaid (system). This should be the same location as the equipment that provides navigability

NavaidEquipment.location: the graphical location of the component

horizontalAccuracy: The difference between the recorded horizontal coordinates of a point and its true position referenced to the same geodetic datum expressed as a circular error at 95 percent probability.

In AIXM, for both the Navaid and the specialised classes of NavaidEquipment a position may be encoded.

Data encoding rules define how the position shall be encoded (e.g. in case Navaid is just a "VOR" or a colocated Navaid, e.g. "NDB_MRK", etc.).

Elevation

The elevation of the transmitting antenna of DME

Note: DME

NavaidEquipment.location.ElevatedPoint.elevation

and

NavaidEquipment.location.ElevatedPoint.verticalAccuracy

and

NavaidEquipment.location.ElevatedPoint.verticalDatum


elevation: The vertical distance of the point measured from Mean Sea Level (MSL).

verticalAccuracy: The difference between the recorded elevation of a point and its true elevation referenced to the same vertical datum expressed as a linear error at 95 percent probability.

verticalDatum: The set of reference points or a mathematical model of the Earth's surface (a datum) against which vertical position measurements of a point, are made as basis for measuring elevations.

In AIXM, for both the Navaid and the specialised classes of NavaidEquipment an elevation may be encoded. The elevation shall only be coded for the NavaidEquipment.


Magnetic bearing / True bearing

Localizer alignment - Bearing: The localizer course 

Localizer alignment - Type: :Type of localizer alligment, true or magnetic

Localizer.magneticBearing

and

Localizer.magneticBearingAccuracy

and

Localizer.trueBearing

and

Localizer.trueBearingAccuracy

magneticBearing: The measured angle between the localizer beam and Magnetic North at the localizer antenna.

magneticBearingAccuracy: Accuracy of the measured angle between the localizer beam and Magnetic North at the localizer antenna.

trueBearing: The measured angle between the localizer beam and True North at the localizer antenna. Note : The True North is the north point at which the meridian lines meet.

trueBearingAccuracy: Accuracy of the measured angle between the localizer beam and True North at the localizer antenna.

The PANS-AIM Aeronautical Data Catalogue (ADC) does not contain the property "magnetic bearing" or "true bearing" for the Subject Radio navigation aid.

For the mapping it is assumed that the corresponding sub-properties in the ADC are "Localizer alignment Bearing" and "Localizer alignment Type"

Zero bearing direction

Direction of the 'zero bearing' provided by the station. For example: magnetic north, true north

Note: VOR

VOR.zeroBearingDirectionzeroBearingDirection: A code indicating the direction of the 'zero bearing' provided by the station. For example: magnetic north, true north.
According to PANS-AIM Appendix 1 (Aeronautical Data Catalogue) only required for the VOR.

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Additional Mapping (conditional data items)

Purpose

Besides the minimum data items covered above, PANS-AIM "GEN 2.5 List of radio navigation aids" in addition requires the following conditional data item :

4) indication whether aid serves en-route (E), aerodrome (A) or dual (AE) purposes.

PANS-AIMDescription (PANS-AIM)AIXM 5Definition (AIXM 5.1.1)Remarks
PurposeIndication whether navigation aid serves en-route (E), aerodrome (A) or dual (AE) purposes.

Navaid.purpose

purpose: Indication of the intended usage of the navaid (enroute or terminal)


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Station Declination

Besides the minimum data items covered above, in addition the following conditional data items are required by PANS-AIM "ENR 4.1 Radio navigation aids — en-route"  

1) ... for VOR, station declination to the nearest degree used for technical line-up of the aid;

and "AD 2.19 Radio navigation and landing aids" / "AD 3.18 Radio navigation and landing aids".

1) ...  for VOR/ILS/MLS also station declination to the nearest degree used for technical line-up of the aid;

PANS-AIMDescription (PANS-AIM)AIXM 5Definition (AIXM 5.1.1)Remarks
Station declination

An alignment variation of the navaid between the zero degree radial and true north, determined at the time the station is calibrated.

Note: VOR/ILS/MLS

Localizer.declination,

or

VOR.declination

or

Azimuth.annotation.Note.translatedNote.note

declination: The angular difference between True North and the station declination (Magnetic North - as indicated by the station).

According to PANS-AIM Appendix 1 (Aeronautical Data Catalogue) station declination is applicable for VOR, but also Localizer and Azimuth (see also AD 2.19/AD 3.18)

AIXM 5.1(.1) Issue_028_Azimuth declination

The Azimuth feature used for the encoding of MLS does not have a "declination" attribute. It may only be encoded as Note for the "Azimuth feature.

Workaround AIXM 5.1(.1): Code a corresponding Note

Status AIXM 5.2: To be reported to CCB

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Operating authority

Besides the minimum data items covered above, in addition the following conditional data items are required by

  • PANS-AIM "ENR 4.1 Radio navigation aids — en-route"  
  • and "AD 2.19 Radio navigation and landing aids" / "AD 3.18 Radio navigation and landing aids".

If the operating authority of the facility is other than the designated governmental agency, the name of the operating
authority shall be indicated in the remarks column. 


PANS-AIMDescription (PANS-AIM)AIXM 5Definition (AIXM 5.1.1)Remarks
Operating authorityName of the operating authority of the facility

NavaidEquipment.authority.OrganisationAuthority.name

or

NavaidEquipment.annotation


or


Navaid.annotation


authority: The organization responsible for the equipment (could be owner or operator).

PANS-AIM only requires the facility coverage to be provided as part of the remark. Hence, it is sufficient to provide that information as an NavaidEquipment.annotation or Navaid.annotation


However, AIXM 5 also provides the possibility to code that information in a more structured form via NavaidEquipment.authority.

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Coverage

Besides the minimum data items covered above, in addition the following conditional data items are required by

  • PANS-AIM "ENR 4.1 Radio navigation aids — en-route"  
  • and "AD 2.19 Radio navigation and landing aids" / "AD 3.18 Radio navigation and landing aids".

Facility coverage shall be indicated in the remarks column.

PANS-AIMDescription (PANS-AIM)AIXM 5Definition (AIXM 5.1.1)Remarks
DOCDesignated operational coverage (DOC or stadard service volume SSV) as range or service volume radius from the navaid / GBAS reference point, height and sectors if required.

(

RadioFrequencyArea.equipment.EquipmentChoice.navaidEquipment

and

CircleSector

)

or

NavaidEquipment.annotation

or

Navaid.annotation

RadioFrequencyArea: A limitation, such as coverage, usability, etc., of a navaid equipment or service frequency 

equipment: A choice of a radio communication channel, a navigational aid or a special navigation station.

EquipmentChoice: A link class that allows selecting between a radio communication channel, a navigational aid, a radar system or a special navigation station which is impacted by the RadioFrequencyArea limitation 

CircleSector: A non graphical definition describing a portion of a circle associated with the RadioFrequencyArea.

PANS-AIM only requires the facility coverage to be provided as part of the remark. Hence, it is sufficient to provide that information as an NavaidEquipment.annotation.

However, AIXM 5 also provides the possibility to code that information in a more structured form using the RadioFrequencyArea feature.


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Type of supported operations

Besides the minimum data items covered above, in addition the following conditional data items are required by PANS-AIM "AD 2.19 Radio navigation and landing aids" / "AD 3.18 Radio navigation and landing aids":

1) ... type of supported operation for ILS/MLS, basic GNSS, SBAS, and GBAS...

PANS-AIMDescription (PANS-AIM)AIXM 5Definition (AIXM 5.1.1)Remarks
Type of supported opsIndication of the type of supported operation for ILS/MLS and GBAS

Navaid.signalPerformance

and/or

Localizer.backCourseUseable

signalPerformance: The signal performance level indicating the precision of an ILS or MLS system.

backCourseUsable: A code indicating the usability of the localizer signal in the back course sector.

Relevant types listed by CodeNavaidServiceType are: ''ILS', 'ILS_DME', 'LOC', 'LOC_DME', 'MLS', 'MLS_DME''.

Also 'OTHER' might be used to encode a certain type of ILS/MLS.

"Type of operation" is not defined in PANS-AIM.

As in the PANS-AIM the datatype for this property is "codelist", it is assumed a coded value indicating the signal performance level in space corresponding to the precision of an ILS or MLS system according to ICAO Annex 10, Volume I, Chapter 3 (e.g. CAT I, CAT II, etc).

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GNSS, GBAS & SBAS related information

Besides the minimum data items covered above, in addition the following conditional data items for GNSS/GBAS/SBAS are required by PANS-AIM "AD 2.19 Radio navigation and landing aids" / "AD 3.18 Radio navigation and landing aids":

1) ... type of supported operation for ILS/MLS, basic GNSS, SBAS, and GBAS...

...

3) ...service provider and reference path identifier(s) (RPI), as appropriate

...

6) ... elevation of GBAS reference point ..., and the ellipsoid height of the point...For SBAS, the ellipsoid height of the landing threshold point (LTP) or the fictitious threshold point (FTP)...;

7) service volume radius from the GBAS reference point...

...

If the GBAS serves more than one aerodrome, description of the aid shall be provided under each aerodrome

Note

All information regarding SBAS is part of the FAS Data block (relevant for the IFP Data Set).

In the PANS-AIM Aeronautical Data Catalogue many of elements listed above are of the Instrument "Flight Procedure data" and not the "Radio navigation aid" subject.

A mapping is therefore not reasonable, until clarification of what is really required to be part of the AIP Data Set, See also CCB AIXM-206

AIXM 5.1.1 issue_027_GBAS/SBAS as Navaid.type

The data type for the Navaid.type attribute, CodeNavaidServiceType does not provide a dedicated value for GBAS or GNSS or SBAS.
There is also no specialised class of NavaidEquipment for GBAS, SBAS and GNSS.
In AIXM some elements for SBAS operation are part of the FASDataBlock object (i.e.referencePathIdentifier, serviceProviderSBAS) or coded as TerminalSegmentPoint .
AIXM 5.1.1 does not provide a dedicated attribute for Ellipsoidal height.
Workaround AIXM 5.1.1:
'OTHER:GBAS', 'OTHER:SBAS', 'OTHER:GNSS' may be used as Navaid.type and corresponding Note may be provided for the details.
The Ellipsoidal height may be calculated based on the elevation (orthometric height) and the geoidUndulation, if encoded.
Status AIXM 5.1: see CCB AIXM-206
PANS-AIMDescription (PANS-AIM)Remarks
Type of supported opsIndication of the type of supported operation for ILS/MLS and GBAS

Info

PANS-AIM is not consistent: In the Aeronautical Data Catalogue for the "Radio navigation aid" subject, only GBAS is mentioned,  in AD 2.19 GNSS, SBAS and GBAS is listed.

SBAS provider

(Service provider)

Identifier of a particular satellite-based approach system service provider

Info

In the PANS-AIM Aeronautical Data Catalogue the property "SBAS provider" is not defined for the "Radio navigation aid" subject but for the "Final Approach Segment" subject.

Elevation of GBAS reference point

The elevation of GBAS reference point

Note: GBAS

Info

In the PANS-AIM Aeronautical Data Catalogue part of the "Radio navigation aid" subject

Ellipsoidal height /

(for landing threshold point (LTP) or the fictitious threshold point (FTP))

The ellipsoid height of the GBAS reference point,

Note: GBAS, SBAS

Info

In the PANS-AIM Aeronautical Data Catalogue the property "LTP/FTP" is not defined for the "Radio navigation aid" subject but for the "Final Approach Segment" subject.

RPI

Reference Path Identifier - A four-character identifier that is used to confirm selection of the correct approach procedure.


Info

In the PANS-AIM Aeronautical Data Catalogue the property "RPI" is not defined for the "Radio navigation aid" subject but for the "Final Approach Segment" subject.

RPI is a 4-character identifier. The 1st character references the SBAS system providing service (e.g. “W” WAAS, “E” EGNOS, “M” MSAS, “G” GAGAN, “S” SDCM). This is followed by the runway number (2 characters). The last character, beginning with the letter “A” and excluding the letters “C”, “L”, and “R”, uses succeeding letters for each procedures to a particular runway.

DOCDesignated operational coverage (DOC or stadard service volume SSV) as range or service volume radius from the navaid / GBAS reference point, height and sectors if required.

Info

In the PANS-AIM Aeronautical Data Catalogue part of the "Radio navigation aid" subject

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Special navigation systems

Besides the data items already covered above, in addition the following conditional data items are required by PANS-AIM "ENR 4.2 Special navigation systems":

#AIP-DS# Description of stations associated with special navigation systems (DECCA, LORAN, etc.), including:
1) name of station or chain;
2) type of service available (master signal, slave signal, colour);
3) frequency (channel number, basic pulse rate, recurrence rate, as applicable);
4) hours of operation;
5) geographical coordinates in degrees, minutes and seconds of the position of the transmitting station; and
6) remarks.
If the operating authority of the facility is other than the designated governmental agency, the name of the operating
authority shall be indicated in the remarks column. Facility coverage shall be indicated in the remarks column.

PANS-AIMDescription (PANS-AIM)AIXM 5Definition (AIXM 5.1.1)Remarks
NameThe textual name assigned to the special navigation system

SpecialNavigationSystem.name

and/or

SpecialNavigationStation.name

SpecialNavigationSystem.name: The textual name of the chain of a special navigation system. For example, Mangern Chain

SpecialNavigationStation.name: The textual name of the station.



TypeType of service available (master signal, slave signal, colour).

SpecialNavigationSystem.type


and/or


SpecialNavigationStation.type


SpecialNavigationSystem.type: A code indicating the type of special navigation system. For example, LORAN, DECCA, GNSS, etc.

SpecialNavigationStation.type: A code indicating the type of service within the chain. E.g. Master, Red Slave (DECCA), Slave (LORAN) etc..


FrequencyFrequency (channel number, basic pulse rate, recurrence rate, as applicable) of the special navigation systemSpecialNavigationStation.frequencyfrequency: The value of the emission frequency.
Hours of operationsThe hours of operation of the special navigation systemSpecialNavigationStation.availabilityavailability: The operational status of the Special Navigation Station.
PositionGeographical location of the special navigation systemSpecialNavigationStation.positionposition: The graphical point of the special navigation station.
Operating authorityName of the operating authority of the facility

SpecialNavigationSystem.responsibleOrganisation

and/or

SpecialNavigationStation.responsibleOrganisation

responsibleOrganisation: The organization responsible for the equipment.
Facility coverageDescription of special navigation system faciity coverageRadioFrequencyArea.EquipmentChoice.specialNavigationStation

RadioFrequencyArea: A limitation, such as coverage, usability, etc., of a navaid equipment or service frequency 

equipment: A choice of a radio communication channel, a navigational aid or a special navigation station.

EquipmentChoice: A link class that allows selecting between a radio communication channel, a navigational aid, a radar system or a special navigation station which is impacted by the RadioFrequencyArea limitation