Aviation information and data contribute to the smoothness, accuracy and regulation of aircraft movement

Flight data and information are important matters that the pilot and air traffic controller are keen to provide before and during the flight, as well as help the air traffic control center to manage the movement for the purpose of safety, support, organization and accuracy of take-off, landing, and arrival at their destination and last station safely. The flow of air traffic and ensure the movement of the aircraft from one place to another correctly and safely.

The collection, processing and control of the quality of aviation information and data is carried out before distribution to the users of Saudi airspace, and accuracy and reliability must be available in data collection in accordance with the executive regulations of the General Civil Aviation Authority and the documents and annexes of the International Civil Aviation Organization, and aviation information and data are distributed by means of regular issuances (AIRAC Cycle).  So that it is issued every 28 days according to dates known to the pilots in advance in the world.

Aviation information and data must be provided and displayed in a unified way to all pilots around the world and distributed within the Saudi Aviation Manual, which is available electronically on the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) website, which includes up-to-date, concise and accurate information about airports and air routes, as well as information about civil aviation laws while providing all kinds of navigational maps that are needed.  The pilots during the flight which is constantly updated.

Among the products of aviation information, flight maps that contain accurate information about the air routes linking airports in the Kingdom, or the air routes crossing the skies of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia showing directions, distances and ground navigational devices that the plane passes through, as well as the lowest possible altitude over the terrain and industrial obstacles.  Other types of airport maps contain runway information and its bearing power, as well as aircraft positions and ground corridors that pilots use to navigate from the aircraft stand to the runway to do the takeoff or landing operation.

When taking off, pilots use take-off maps and when landing, they use landing maps published in the Saudi Aviation Guide, which contain information about the take-off or landing route and the minimum safe height over obstacles to ensure the safety of air traffic at all stages of the flight and when visibility is poor during bad weather conditions.

A navigational notice is issued to pilots (Notam), which is distributed by radio communication and contains information related to any of the aviation equipment or services or any source of danger and changes that occur in a short time that requires informing the pilot about them in a timely manner to take the necessary measures during the flight, 24 hours year long to distribute new information on the airport, airspace or navigational devices, as well as when there are maintenance or development work at the airport facilities.

The pilot uses data and information about the air traffic of aircraft in the air and on the ground, which he obtains through a group of air control centers to know the path of the planes, as these centers are equipped with radar devices to make sure that all the aircraft are in their circle and fly in their specified air path, and these centers perform air surveillance.  For all aircraft in Saudi airspace.

Moreover, on the aircraft there is a special radar device for receiving and transmitting called a "recognition device" that receives the signal on the ground. The aircraft appears more clearly on the radar screen.

 It is noteworthy that GACA seeks to develop the air transport industry in accordance with the latest regulations in line with developments in the aviation industry at the international level, and also works to continuously maintain the highest safety standards in the Kingdom, and also works to update laws and regulations in line with developments in the field  The aviation sector globally, and the authority issues and renews licenses, approvals and certificates for the civil aviation industry in accordance with laws and regulations, in addition to conducting regular checks to monitor and ensure the highest possible levels of safety.

GACA checks the providers of aviation information and data services in accordance with the executive regulations of the General Authority of Civil Aviation to ensure that accurate information is provided on time and distributed worldwide in a uniform form to all airspace users.