The Requirements

The need for quality and integrity of information presented in a state's AIP is well known. The consequences of reproduction of inaccurate flight safety critical data are serious.

The production and amendment phases of the AIP, using a traditional desk-top publishing process, rely heavily on human procedures to ensure critical data is reproduced accurately.

Normal text changes to AIP documents must be accurately reported and marked with change bars and effective dates. These procedures are subject to human factors.

Over the last 6 years, Mekon have worked in close cooperation with several civil aviation authorities. This, together with first hand experience of AIP conversion has realised the need for a solution that exploits current and new technology in content management and delivery.

The Mekon Aeronautical Publishing System is the culmination of this work. Mekon FrameAPS maintains accuracy of critical AIP data through database connectivity. The process of amendment generation produces amended pages and provides a detailed report of the changes made.

FrameAPS can be supplied as a stand alone application, or form part of an integrated AIS solution. Mekon provides conversion services for existing 3 part AIP's and conversion of 8 part to 3 part.

States already serviced by Mekon include Norway, Finland, Malaysia, Macedonia, South Africa, the Maldives, Roberts FIR, Switzerland and South Korea.

Database connectivity

Editing. Critical data is held in a relational database, storing information relating to Aerodromes, Significant Points, Radio NAV Aids, Obstacles and Airspace. This information can be edited through a database interface which creates a log of all changes made, and a record of who made them.

Inserting data

The critical data that is stored in the database can be inserted into documents as non-editable entries, which hold the location details of the database record.

When data is inserted into a document it is automatically coloured to identify it. When a New Version is generated, change bars are added at the location of the inserted data and page dates changed accordingly.

When a new version of an AIP is generated, FrameAPS performs a check, comparing the item in the database to the item in the document. If required, a change bar is added and the item is then marked as changed.

Database System

The database table structure and content is based around the Eurocontrol Aeronautical Information Conceptual Model (AICM) which is also being used for European Aeronautical Database (EAD) development. The standard edition Oracle is supplied with FrameAPS which can include a user interface to make changes to the database. Alternatively the FrameAPS Oracle database can be directly linked to a central AIS database so that all AIS data changes are managed centrally.

Text Amendments

FrameAPS Text Amendment functions provide an option to make changes to the document that are not contained in the database. These functions enable users to add or delete text from a document, maintaining a full record of author details and when and with what authority the changes were made. Text Amendments become 'locked entries', which are only editable through FrameAPS commands.

When the New Version of the AIP is generated, FrameAPS erases Deletion Amendments and activates the Added Text Amendments.

Amendment generation

When the New Version is generated from the Working Version, FrameAPS will synchronise the document’s database links with the current database contents. If any links have changed prior to this process, FrameAPS will add a change bar to the document and report the changes.

FrameAPS will then delete any text that was marked as a Deletion Text Amendment and activate any text marked as an Insertion Text Amendment for the chosen AIRAC date. All colour coded marks used to identify the links and the changed data are removed prior to the printing process. New AIRAC issue dates are placed on all pages where FrameAPS generated changes occur. Page dates in the List of Pages are also automatically updated when the list is re-generated. All text that was added as a Text Amendment will no longer be a ‘locked entry’ to ease future amendments, although database linked items are still non-editable.

Reports

Reports on each document can be run at any time during the amendment process, but when the New Version is activated as described above, a full report on all changes in a section is compiled in a separate FrameMaker document that provides the following:

• Author details.
• The date the amendment was made.
• On what page the amendment appears.
• Hypertext links to each amendment.

APS viewer

Savings in handling paper amendments and improving access to information with free text search are all benefits of an eAIP, providing it is well designed.

Adobe PDF provides an immediate eAIP system, which when coupled with FrameAPS and additional Java based technology, results in highly functional AIP viewing. Hypertext links on the List of AIP Pages (GEN 0.4) enable users to jump to a specific page, while a carefully designed navigation model guides the user through the available sections. Once the current effective section is revealed, navigation buttons on the top of each page give the user an option to keyword search, return to the table of contents, or go directly to a supplement affecting the section, or a published future section which will become effective at the next AIRAC date. If the section has no supplement or future AIRAC date associated, the button is greyed out, with the option unavailable.

Software maintenance & support

Software maintenance programme

FrameAPS is undergoing constant development to improve its functionality and exceed the demands of the industry.

Future upgrades to FrameAPS will be made available free of charge when supplied in conjunction with an optional Software Maintenance Contract.

Technical support

FrameMaker and FrameMaker+SGML are specialist professional tools requiring expert technical support. Experience has shown that there is a wide variety of FrameMaker applications, each with varying levels of complexity, and therefore the level of support services provided must be varied in order to match customer requirements.

Investigate the full services available from Mekon Technical Support.

Training Services

Training forms a vital part of the FrameAPS solution in order to provide clients with a quick return on investment. Courses can be conducted at our own training suite, located in the UK, or alternatively, off-site anywhere in the world.

Courses start by teaching the fundamentals of the publishing tool using proven Adobe course material while keeping the aviation publishing element to a minimum. This ensures the core tool is fully understood before the complex AIP template and file structure is introduced.

The advanced course takes students through all of the AIP templates, database management and connectivity. On completion of this module, students will be able to publish an AIP while competently utilising the full functionality of FrameAPS.

Find out the full range of training that Mekon offers.

Document services

Template Preparation

Templates can be prepared for one or two languages and consist of formats specifically designed for AIP production, including Annex 15 auto numbering and reporting point symbols and direction arrows for En-Route tables.

Conversion

A complete conversion to the FrameAPS system is available -as is a full conversion from 8 part to the 3 part format AIP. The conversion is inclusive of database setup and system testing.

Find out details of the full document services available at Mekon.

System requirements

Client

• Pentium II processor
  
• 64 MB of RAM
  
• 1 GB of Hard disk space
  
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, Service Pack 3
  
• Adobe FrameMaker 6.0
  
• VGA monitor
  
• CD-ROM drive
  
• Adobe Postscript or PCL printer

Server

The server will require a minimum of 1.5 GB of Hard disk space for the base application plus working space for documents and data.

Product Information Downloads
• Datasheet PDF (245 KB)

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