LAW review

Exam review

The LAW topics the instructor named most relevant in the review class on 1 October 2026, in one place and made to print. Every part keeps the wording of its lesson, and a line under it names that lesson for the detail.

Each section shows its syllabus level, the depth the course asks for: 1 know it (state, list, define), 2 explain it (explain, describe, differentiate), 3 apply it (decode, calculate, appreciate). The levels come from the EU training rules, Regulation (EU) 2015/340, and every level is exam material.

Left out, at the instructor’s word: ATS routes, runway lights, the declared distances (TORA, TODA, ASDA and LDA), and the names of the shoulder, runway strip, runway turn pad, displaced threshold, stopway, clearway and RESA.

ICAO and the Chicago Convention

The global level, and how the Chicago Convention is broken down into more detailed rules.

Syllabus level 2explain itLAWB 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 2.1.1, 2.1.2

ICAOInternational Civil Aviation Organization

Global level · Civil aviationResponsibilities

Safety
Registration
Airworthiness
Prevention of economic waste
Fair competition
Standardisation
Aviation law

ICAO process: 4 steps

OriginSomeone comes up with an idea.
DevelopmentA panel develops the material.
ReviewReviewed by the ANC (Air Navigation Commission).
Application and publicationAdopted by the ICAO Council.

The treaty Chicago Convention

Everything below comes out of it.

What it produced 19 Annexes

They contain the SARPs: Standards and Recommended Practices.

Binding Standards Only advisory Recommended Practices

For example Annex 2, Rules of the Air (LAW 005), and Annex 15, Aeronautical Information Services (LAW 006).

More detail Documents

Go into further detail on how to comply with the SARPs.

PANS Procedures for Air Navigation Services
SUPPs Regional Supplementary Procedures, published in ICAO Doc 7030. Region-specific procedures.

SUPPs are not the same thing as an AIP SUP, the AIP Supplement in LAW 006.

From LAW 001, International and national organisations and associations, and LAW 002, Aviation regulation.

EASA

The European level: the EU agency, the law it works in, and how an EU rule is made.

Syllabus level 2explain itLAWB 1.1.1, 1.1.2, 2.2.2

EASAEuropean Union Aviation Safety Agency

European level · EU agencyResponsibilities

Expert advice to the EU
Transposes ICAO rules into EU rules
Safety analysis
Type certification of aircraft
Certifies organisations

EASA is an EU agency. EUROCONTROL is not: it is a European intergovernmental organisation, set up by member states through a treaty.

EUEuropean Union

Gives EASA its authority and tasks · Adopts the regulations

Binding law

Basic Regulation Implementing Rules IR

Soft law (non-binding)

GM Guidance Material AMC Acceptable Means of Compliance CS Certification Specifications SC Special Conditions

EU / EASA process: 6 steps

InitiationThe idea is sent in.
RIARegulatory Impact Assessment.
Drafting rulesA rule proposal is written.
ConsultationKey difference from ICAOPublic consultation: any citizen can comment.
Review of commentsThe comments that came in are reviewed.
Application and publicationThe rule is published and applies.

From LAW 001, International and national organisations and associations, and LAW 002, Aviation regulation.

Units and abbreviations

Which unit is used for what, and the abbreviations and codes to decode.

Syllabus level 3apply itLAWB 5.1.1, ATMB 1.1.1, ATMB 6.1.1

International standard units

Category	Unit	Used for
Horizontal distance	NM Nautical miles	Longer horizontal distances, such as the length of a route 1 NM = 1 852 m
	km Kilometres	Horizontal visibility, used when over 5 000 m
	m Metres	Visibility and RVR under 5 km, runway length
Vertical distance	ft Feet	Vertical distances (altitudes) 1 ft = 0.3048 m FL 100 = 10 000 ft
Vertical distance	m Metres	Also used for vertical distance
Speed	kt Knots	Speed of wind and aircraft 1 kt = 1 NM per hour = 1.852 km/h
Speed	km/h Kilometres per hour	Usually not used in civil aviation in Europe
Vertical speed	ft/min Feet per minute	Rate of climb or descent
Air pressure	hPa Hectopascal	Accurate altitude readings, cabin pressure, altimeter settings 1 hPa ≈ 30 ft, so 10 hPa ≈ 300 ft
Mass	kg Kilogram	For example the weight of an aircraft
Temperature and dew point	°C Celsius	Vital for performance and visibility
Time	UTC Zulu	Coordinated Universal Time, also called Zulu time. A single standard time for global aviation, on a 24-hour day.
Time	Date time group	Written as year, month, day, then time. 21 year 05 month 10 day 11 hour 22 minute 2105101122 is 10 May 2021, 11:22 UTC

Nationality markers

OY Denmark
LN Norway
SE Sweden
G United Kingdom
F France
D Germany
PH Netherlands
N USA
ES Estonia
YL Latvia
LY Lithuania
EC Spain

Ground station callsigns The abbreviation, and the word that is said.

ACC “Control”
APP “Approach”
TWR “Tower”
GND “Ground”
FIS “Information”

Airline designators and callsigns Three-letter operator designators and the callsign that is said on the radio.

AFL “Aeroflot” Aeroflot
AFR “Airfrans” Air France
AUA “Austrian” Austrian Airlines
AZA “Alitalia” Alitalia, out of business
BAW “Speedbird” British Airways
BLX “Bluescan” TUI fly Nordic
DLH “Lufthansa” Lufthansa
DOP “Dancopter” Dancopter
DTR “Danish” Danish Air Transport (DAT)
ELL “Estonian” Estonian Air, out of business
FIN “Finnair” Finnair
GRL “Greenland” Air Greenland
IBE “Iberia” Iberia
ICE “Iceair” Icelandair
JAL “Japanair” Japan Airlines
KBV “Swecoast” Swedish Coast Guard (Kustbevakningen)
KLM “KLM” KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
LIL “Lithuanian” Lithuanian Airlines, out of business
LOT “Pollot” LOT Polish Airlines
LTR “Lufttransport” Lufttransport (Norway)
NOR “Norske” Bristow Norway (formerly Norsk Helikopter). Legacy: files as BHL “Bristow”
SAS “Scandinavian” Scandinavian Airlines
SCW “Scanwing” Malmö Aviation, now Braathens Regional (Sweden)
WIF “Wideroe” Widerøe

Location indicators Four-letter codes. Each letter has a meaning.

E AFS routing areaS TerritoryS Communication centre (location)A As desired by the state

ESSA is Stockholm Arlanda.

BIKF Keflavík Iceland
EBBR Brussels / Brussels-National Belgium
EDDF Frankfurt / Main Germany
EDDM München Germany
EETN Tallinn Estonia
EFHK Helsinki-Vantaa Finland
EGLL London Heathrow United Kingdom
EHAM Amsterdam / Schiphol Netherlands
EIDW Dublin Ireland
EKBI Billund Denmark
EKCH København / Kastrup Denmark
EKRK København / Roskilde Denmark
ELLX Luxembourg Luxembourg
ENBO Bodø Norway
ENBR Bergen / Flesland Norway
ENGM Oslo / Gardermoen Norway
ENTO Sandefjord / Torp Norway
ENZV Stavanger / Sola Norway
EPKK Kraków Poland
ESGG Göteborg / Landvetter Sweden
ESMS Malmö / Sturup Sweden
ESNU Umeå Sweden
ESSA Stockholm / Arlanda Sweden
EYVI Vilnius Lithuania
GCLP Gran Canaria Spain
LBSF Sofia Bulgaria
LDZA Zagreb / Pleso Croatia
LEPA Palma de Mallorca Spain
LFPG Paris-Charles de Gaulle France
LGAV Athens Greece
LIML Milano / Linate Italy
LKPR Praha / Ruzyně Czech Republic
LOWW Wien-Schwechat Austria
LSZH Zürich Switzerland
ULLI Sankt-Peterburg Russia

From LAW 003, Abbreviations and codes, and LAW 005, Rules of the air (the 24-hour day).

Airspace classes

A–E are controlled, F–G are uncontrolled (SERA.6001). Each class describes the separation, the permitted flights, the communication required and the services provided. SERA classifies all airspace above FL 195 as Class C.

Syllabus level 2explain itLAWB 5.7.1

Class	Flight rules	Separation	Service	Speed limit	Radio equipment	Continuous 2-way	ATC clearance
AControlled	IFR	IFR ↔ IFR	ATC	None	Required	Required	Required
AControlled	VFR	VFR is not allowed in Class A.
BControlled	IFR	IFR ↔ IFR, IFR ↔ VFR, VFR ↔ VFR	ATC	None	Required	Required	Required
BControlled	VFR	IFR ↔ IFR, IFR ↔ VFR, VFR ↔ VFR	ATC	None	Required	Required	Required
CControlled	IFR	IFR ↔ IFR, IFR ↔ VFR	ATC	None	Required	Required	Required
CControlled	VFR	VFR ↔ IFR	ATC for separation. Traffic information for VFR/VFR. Avoidance advice on request.	250 kt	Required	Required	Required
DControlled	IFR	IFR ↔ IFR	ATC. Traffic information about VFR flights. Avoidance advice on request.	250 kt	Required	Required	Required
DControlled	VFR	None	ATC. IFR/VFR and VFR/VFR traffic information. Avoidance advice on request.	250 kt	Required	Required	Required
EControlled	IFR	IFR ↔ IFR	ATC, and traffic information as far as practical.	250 kt	Required	Required	Required
EControlled	VFR	None	Traffic information as far as practical.	250 kt	Not required	Not required	Not required
FUncontrolled	IFR	IFR ↔ IFR, as far as practical	Advisory service (ADVS). FIS if requested.	250 kt	Required	Not required	Not required
FUncontrolled	VFR	None	FIS if requested.	250 kt	Not required	Not required	Not required
GUncontrolled	IFR	None	FIS if requested.	250 kt	Required	Not required	Not required
GUncontrolled	VFR	None	FIS if requested.	250 kt	Not required	Not required	Not required

required, not required. Speed limit in full: 250 kt IAS below 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL. Where the transition altitude is lower than that, FL 100 is used instead of 10 000 ft.

Changing classWhen two airspaces of different classes meet vertically (one on top of the other), flights at the shared level comply with the least restrictive class.

Class FNot to be used as a permanent classification: a temporary measure, stated in the Member State’s AIP, for no longer than 3 years. Service in Class F airspace cannot be provided by FISOs.

From LAW 004, Airspace.

Division of airspace

Every part of the world is split into FIRs, oceans included, and the country in charge of each region provides the services there. Each FIR splits into controlled and uncontrolled airspace; the special areas are listed separately.

Syllabus level 2explain itLAWB 5.7.2

FIRFlight Information Region. An airspace of defined dimensions within which flight information service and alerting service are provided.

UIRUpper Flight Information Region. Some regions are divided into an upper and a lower part: the upper part is the UIR, and the lower part keeps the name FIR.

Airspace	What it is	Classes
Controlled airspace A–EATC issues the clearances and carries the separation.
CTRControl Zone	Extends from the ground up to an upper limit.	A–D, never E
CTAControl Area	The umbrella term: controlled airspace that does not reach the ground, but extends upwards from a specified limit. TMA, AWY, OCA (Oceanic Control Area) and UTA (Upper Control Area) are all types of CTA.	A–E
TMATerminal Control Area	Above the CTRs. A TMA is one type of CTA, not the other way round.	A–E
AWYAirway	A CTA shaped like a corridor. Aircraft have to stay on it.	A–E
Uncontrolled airspace F–GThe responsibility is on the pilots.
FIZFlight Information Zone	Not a controlled zone. Only FIS, not ATC. A TIZ / TIA (Traffic Information Zone / Area) is the same airspace under another name: Denmark and Finland say FIZ, Norway and Sweden still say TIZ and TIA.	F–G
ATZAerodrome Traffic Zone	Not a controlled zone. Rarely used, around airfields without a tower. Pilots communicate with each other independently.
Mandatory and identification zones
RMZRadio Mandatory Zone	Carrying and using a radio is mandatory.	Used in E, F and G
TMZTransponder Mandatory Zone	Carrying and using a transponder is mandatory.	Used in E, F and G
ADIZAir Defence Identification Zone	Requires prior notification.

From LAW 004, Airspace.

Special areas

For all of these: dimensions are defined, and hours of activity are in the AIP and NOTAM.

Syllabus level 2explain itLAWB 5.7.2

Area	What it is	Can you fly through?
PProhibited areaP-area	An airspace of defined dimensions above the land areas or territorial waters of a State, within which the flight of aircraft is prohibited. Can be temporary or permanent.Examples Chemical plant, military activity, etc.	ClosedProhibited.
RRestricted areaR-area	An airspace of defined dimensions within which flight is restricted in line with specified conditions. Not banned outright, unlike a P-area.Examples Bird sanctuary (e.g. during nesting season), parachute dropping zone, military activity, etc.	Needs permissionWith permission from the appropriate ATS unit. Prohibited when stated in the AIP.
DDanger areaD-area	Marks an area where something dangerous to aircraft may be going on.Examples Military activity: bombing, firing, training sector, etc.	Left to the pilotAvoid, but it’s the pilot’s responsibility. Prohibited when stated in the AIP.
TRATemporary reserved airspace	Can be in controlled or uncontrolled airspace. Reserved for one user for a set period, usually the military, and open to everyone else the rest of the time.Examples Military activity, military training zones, etc.	Needs permissionWith clearance from the appropriate ATS unit. Prohibited when stated in the AIP.
TSATemporary Segregated Area	The same as a TRA, apart from transit: a TSA is segregated, so non-participating aircraft cannot fly through it at all.Examples Military activity, military training zones, etc.	ClosedNot accessible to non-participating aircraft.
CBACross Border AreaVariant of TRA and TSA	A TSA or TRA that covers two or more states.

Can you fly through? R-areas and TRAs need permission, P-areas and TSAs are closed, and a D-area is left to the pilot.

From LAW 004, Airspace.

IFR and VFR, IMC and VMC

Two separate things: the rules the flight is flown under, and the weather it is flown in.

Syllabus level 3apply itLAWB 5.6.3, 5.6.4

Flight rules

IFRInstrument Flight RulesNormally flown in controlled airspace.

VFRVisual Flight RulesUsually flown outside controlled airspace, but allowed inside it too.

Meteorological conditions

IMCInstrument Meteorological ConditionsVisibility and distance from cloud below the VMC minima.

VMCVisual Meteorological ConditionsVFR flights have to stay in these, at all times.

VMC minima

Classes	Level	Visibility	Distance from cloud
B–G	At and above FL 100 (10 000 ft)	8 km	1 500 m horizontally1 000 ft above and below
B–G	Below FL 100 (10 000 ft)	5 km	1 500 m horizontally1 000 ft above and below
F and G	At and below 3 000 ft AMSL, or 1 000 ft above the terrain, whichever is the higher	5 km	Stay clear of cloudKeep the surface in sight

Applies in airspace classes B–G. In Class F and G at and below 3 000 ft, the cloud distances do not apply. Why FL 100: SERA puts the break at 3 050 m (10 000 ft) AMSL, and FL 100 is used instead wherever the transition altitude is lower than that, as in Denmark.

Special VFR

A VFR flight that ATC clears to operate inside a control zone when the weather is below VMC.

Where it applies: Control zone. It only applies inside a CTR.
How fast: 140 kt IAS. Should not fly faster than that, so there is time to see and avoid other traffic.

ATC must not give a special VFR clearance if

At night: Day only. Unless the competent authority permits otherwise.
Ground visibility: Less than 1 500 m. For helicopters, less than 800 m.
Cloud ceiling: Less than 600 ft.

From LAW 004, Airspace, and LAW 005, Rules of the air, with its special VFR.

General rules of the air

Three levels: Annex 2 sets the international standard, SERA is the version that applies across the EU, and each nation adds its own rules. National differences are published in each country’s AIP.

Syllabus level 3apply itLAWB 5.6.1, 5.6.2, 5.6.3

VFR rules

Controlled flight: At a controlled aerodrome, and in Class B, C or D: it needs an ATC clearance and has to comply with it.
Highest level: Not above FL 195 without authorisation, and never above FL 285, the highest VFR level below RVSM airspace, which starts at FL 290.
Speed: No transonic or supersonic flight.

IFR rules

Instruments: Equipped with instruments suitable for the route being flown.
ATC: An IFR flight shall comply with ATC.
Changing to VFR: An IFR flight can change over to VFR.

Minimum heights

Rules	Where	Above the highest obstacle	Within a radius of
VFR	Congested area	1 000 ft	600 m
VFR	Elsewhere	500 ft or above the ground or water	150 m
IFR	High terrain and mountains	2 000 ft	8 km
IFR	Elsewhere	1 000 ft	8 km

Measured from the highest obstacle inside the radius, not from the ground under the aircraft. Over a congested area, high enough to land clear of people and property if an emergency arose.

Cruising levels

Magnetic track	000°–179° Odd, eastbound	180°–359° Even, westbound
IFR	FL 110, 130, 150	FL 120, 140, 160
VFR +500 ft	FL 115, 135, 155	FL 125, 145, 165

A VFR flight takes the IFR level for its magnetic track and adds 500 ft, so VFR levels end in 5. RVSM, FL 290 to FL 410: vertical separation is 1 000 ft instead of 2 000 ft. Above FL 410 it goes back to 2 000 ft.

Operation in the vicinity of an aerodromeUpwind, crosswind, downwind, base, final: all turns to the left if nothing else is specified. Join at 45° onto the downwind leg; leave at 45° after the upwind leg, or straight out on the runway heading.

ATC clearanceObtain one before operating as a controlled flight. No taxiing at a controlled aerodrome without one.

LightsEvery aircraft must show anti-collision lights: red, on top. At night also navigation lights: red on the left wing, green on the right wing, white at the tail.

SignalsMAYDAY, distress: serious and imminent danger, requiring immediate assistance. PAN PAN, urgency: a condition concerning the safety of the aircraft, or of a person on board or within sight, not requiring immediate assistance. Each preferably said three times.

Light signals for a communication failureGiven with a signalling lamp, an Aldis lamp, in green, red and white light. What each signal means is not required.

Unusual types of flightRules of their own: dropping or spraying, towing, unmanned free balloons, water operations, parachute descents, aerobatic flight, formation flight, simulated instrument flight.

EquipmentZones where carrying and using it is mandatory: RMZ, radio; TMZ, transponder. U-space: airspace set aside for drone traffic and the services that manage it.

Negligent or reckless operationAn aircraft must not be operated in a negligent or reckless manner.

Collision avoidance and right of way

An aircraft must not be flown so close to another that it creates a collision hazard.

Head-onBoth turn right

Both aircraft alter heading to the right.

ConvergingGive way, pass behind

The one with the other on its right gives way. Pass behind: never over, under or in front of it.

OvertakingPass on the right

The overtaking aircraft alters to the right and passes on that side.

From LAW 005, Rules of the air.

The pilot-in-command

Syllabus level 2explain itLAWB 5.6.1

Responsible for the aircraft, and holds the final authorityThe pilot-in-command is responsible for the operation of the aircraft, and has to prepare before the flight. They hold the final authority over the aircraft while in command.

Get the briefing

It is the pilot’s responsibility to obtain the pre-flight briefing, and to become familiar with all available information appropriate to the intended operation.

No alcohol or drugs

A pilot-in-command must not drink alcohol or use drugs before flying.

Say so if a clearance does not suit

If a clearance is not satisfactory, the pilot-in-command shall tell ATC, and may ask for an amended one. A clearance relieves the pilot-in-command of nothing.

In controlled airspace, A to E

ATC issues the clearances and carries the separation. The pilot-in-command still holds final authority, and VFR traffic is still seeing and avoiding.

An emergency over a congested area

The congested-area rule sets how high to fly. It is not a permission to land. If an emergency does happen, the final authority applies: they may put the aircraft down, taking care not to harm people or property on the surface.

When the flight plan cannot be flown

If the weather turns, or VFR is no longer possible, the pilot-in-command takes whatever action the situation needs.

From LAW 005, Rules of the air. Also LAW 004, Airspace (controlled airspace); LAW 006, Aeronautical information management (the briefing); LAW 007, Flight plans and associated messages (the flight plan); and ATM 003, Air traffic control (the clearance).

Air navigation services

Two umbrella terms that meet at ATS. ATS, Air Traffic Services, is a group of services that together promote a safe, orderly and expeditious flow of air traffic.

Syllabus level 2explain itLAWB 5.3.1, 5.4.1, 5.4.2, 5.4.3

ATS is the one service every definition of ATM and ANS shares.

The two members ATM does not share

ATFCMAir Traffic Flow and Capacity Management

Organises and handles the flow of traffic so it does not overfill an airspace.

ASMAirspace Management

Aims to maximise the utilisation of the airspace available.

The three members ANS does not share

CNSCommunication, Navigation and Surveillance

Handles the communication, navigation and surveillance infrastructure.

METAeronautical Meteorological Service

Forecasts, warnings and charts, for example.

AISAeronautical Information Service

Provides all the parts of aviation information required by pilots, ATS staff, airlines and so on.

The four air traffic services

ATCAir Traffic Control

Prevent collisions between aircraft.
Prevent collisions between aircraft on the manoeuvring area and obstructions on that area.
Expedite and maintain an orderly flow of traffic.

Three units: TWR Aerodrome control tower · APP Approach control · ACC Area control centre.

FISFlight Information Service

Gives information and advice for the safe and efficient conduct of flights. As AFIS, Aerodrome Flight Information Service, at an aerodrome with no control tower; as en-route FIS away from one.

ALRSAlerting Service

Notifies appropriate organisations regarding aircraft in need of search and rescue aid, and assists such organisations as required.

ADVSAir traffic advisory service

Provided within advisory airspace to help ensure separation, for IFR flights only. Advisory airspace is temporary: it may only stay in place for 3 years.

Three more services, named alongside them

DATData services

Receives, assembles, translates, selects, formats, distributes and integrates aeronautical data.

FPDFlight Procedure Design

Designs flight procedures, and their documentation and validation.

ATM Network Functions

The functions performed by the Network Manager.

Who provides them

ANSPAir Navigation Service Provider

A company or organisation providing one, several, or all of the ANS services.

From ATM 001, Air navigation management, and ATM 003, Air traffic control.

AIS and AIM

AIS is regulated in ICAO Annex 15, Aeronautical Information Services.

Syllabus level 2explain itLAWB 5.5.1 · course objectives: AIS units, their functions, post-flight information

Name	What it is
Definitions
AISAeronautical Information Service	The service itself: gathering aeronautical information and publishing it. It provides all the parts of aviation information required by pilots, ATS staff, airlines and so on.Paper products
AIMAeronautical Information Management	The newer name: the same job handled as data rather than as paper products, so it can pass straight between systems.Data
The units
AIS headquartersICAO’s name for the central unit	Covers the NOF, related technical services, cartography, and printing and distribution.Staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
NOFInternational NOTAM Office	Part of AIS headquarters.In an AFTN address: YNY, NOTAM office.
AROAir traffic services reporting office	Most countries have scrapped theirs and run everything from one central unit instead.In an AFTN address: ZPZ, ATS reporting office.
What AIS provides
Pre-flight briefingBefore the flight	Everything the crew needs before the flight.
Post-flight informationAfter the flight	Lets pilots report what they met on the way: birds, and any navigation aid that was not working.

The central unit has no international name. Nationally it goes by AIS/AIC, Aeronautical information centre, FPC (flight planning centre) or “Briefing”. That AIC is a centre, not the Aeronautical Information Circular.

From LAW 006, Aeronautical information management, with ATM 001, Air navigation management, and LAW 007, Flight plans and associated messages.

Pre-flight information and the IAIP

Getting briefed is the pilot’s own responsibility, not something done for them.

Syllabus level 2explain itLAWB 5.5.1 · course objectives: the pre-flight briefing, the PIB, the AIC

Responsibility of the pilot-in-command

It is the pilot’s responsibility to obtain the pre-flight briefing.
Before the flight, become familiar with all available information appropriate to the intended operation.
For flights away from the vicinity of an aerodrome, and for all IFR flights, make a careful study of:

WeatherCurrent reports and forecasts for the route, and for the aerodromes to be used.

FacilitiesWhat is available along the route to be followed, and the condition it is in.

AerodromesThe condition of the aerodromes to be used, and whether they suit the aircraft.

Rules and proceduresThe air traffic control rules and procedures for that particular flight.

SERA.2010(b) adds fuel requirements and an alternative course of action if the flight cannot be completed as planned.

What the briefing contains: three elements

AIS briefingA careful study of the Integrated Aeronautical Information Package: the AIP, NOTAM, maps and charts.
Meteorological briefingThe relevant METAR, TAF, SIGWX and the rest: forecast and actual weather for the route and its aerodromes, and en route the winds and temperatures at cruising level, cloud, turbulence and icing.
Flight planningRoute selection, chart preparation, and preparing and submitting the flight plan.

Weather is MET’s work, not AIS’s. MET produces it, AIS makes it available and gives basic route guidance.

The Integrated Aeronautical Information Package

Part	What it carries
The AIP, and the three publications that change it
AIPAeronautical Information Publication	Information of lasting character, essential to air navigation.
AIP AMDTAIP Amendment	Permanent changes that are not of essential operational importance.Takes effect on the publication date shown on it. Light blue cover, in many countries. Not published in Denmark: the AIRAC AMDT carries it.
AIP AIRAC AMDTAIRAC Amendment	Operationally significant permanent changes, published on the AIRAC cycle.Takes effect on an AIRAC date. Sent 42 days ahead, to be in the recipients’ hands 28 days ahead. A major change has to be in their hands at least 56 days ahead. Pink cover, in many countries.
AIP SUPAIP Supplement	Temporary changes of long duration, 3 months or longer.Kept in the AIP for as long as any of its contents are still valid. Yellow pages, recommended.
Published separately, beside the AIP
NOTAM	Temporary changes of short duration, and any change that has to go out at short notice.A message, not a page.
PIBPre-flight Information Bulletin	A recapitulation of the NOTAM in force and anything else of urgent character, in plain language for the crew, put together before the flight.Five kinds: aerodrome, area, route, narrow route and MET. All are built from the same messages: NOTAM, SNOWTAM, ASHTAM, BIRDTAM and ATFM.
AICAeronautical Information Circular	For information that does not qualify for a NOTAM and does not belong in the AIP: flight safety, air navigation, or technical, administrative and legislative matters.Sits outside the AIP. Series A: international and national. B: national only. The letters are a national convention, not an ICAO rule.
What is in force right now
Checklists and lists of valid NOTAM	Published so you can check you are holding the latest pages and the right messages.Online, the eAIP is always current and the AIS website lists the NOTAM in force.

From LAW 006, Aeronautical information management.

The AIP: GEN, ENR and AD

Syllabus level 1know itLAWB 5.5.2

AIP, Aeronautical Information Publication. Information of lasting character, essential to air navigation. A manual with the regulations, procedures and other significant information for one particular country. Issued by, or with the authority of, the State.

The AIP is the bible. Whenever a country does something differently from SERA, that difference is published here.

Part 1

GEN

General

GEN 0Table of contents
GEN 1National regulations and requirements
GEN 2Tables and codes
GEN 3Services
GEN 4Charges for aerodromes and air navigation services

Part 2

ENR

En-route

ENR 0Table of contents
ENR 1General rules and procedures
ENR 2Air traffic services airspace
ENR 3ATS routes
ENR 4Radio navigation aids and systems
ENR 5Navigation warnings
ENR 6En-route charts

Part 3

Aerodromes

AD 0Table of contents
AD 1Aerodromes: introduction
AD 2Aerodromes
AD 3Heliports

Every part starts at 0 with its own table of contents.

From LAW 006, Aeronautical information management.

NOTAM

Issued promptly whenever the information is temporary and short, and whenever a change that would normally go in the AIP has to go out at short notice. For example: unserviceable ground equipment, SNOWTAM, ASHTAM, closed parts of aerodromes.

Syllabus level 2explain itLAWB 5.5.1

What it does to the NOTAM before it

NOTAMNNewA new NOTAM
NOTAMRReplaceReplaces a previous NOTAM
NOTAMCCancelCancels a previous NOTAM

Decoding: the handout example

(A0024/13 NOTAMN

Q) ENOR/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/100/6832N01737E002

A) ENOR

B) 1302150600

C) 1303032100

D) 0600-2100

E) DANGER AREA END463 ELVEGAARDSMOEN ACTIVATED

F) GND

G) FL100)

Message envelopeSeries and type
SummaryItem Q
Where it appliesItems A, F, G
When it appliesItems B, C, D
What it saysItem E

Field	In the example	Reads as
SeriesSeries, number and year	(A0024/13	Series A, number 0024, issued in 2013Each series starts again at 0001 on 1 January. Which series exist, and what each is used for, is decided nationally and published in the AIP.
TypeWhat this NOTAM does	NOTAMN	N: a new NOTAMAn R or a C is followed by the number of the NOTAM it acts on.
QQualifiers	Q) ENOR/QRDCA/IV/BO/W/000/100/6832N01737E002	Ground to FL 100, within 2 NM of 6832N 01737EA coded summary, so a briefing system can pick out the NOTAM that matter for a given flight. In order: the FIR, a code for the subject and its condition, the traffic affected, the purpose, the scope, the lower and upper limits, and a centre point with a radius in nautical miles.
AAerodrome or FIR it is valid for	A) ENOR	ENOR: the Norway FIRThe location indicator of the aerodrome, or of the FIR, that the NOTAM applies to.
BStart date and time	B) 1302150600	15 February 2013 at 06:00 UTCA date time group: year, month, day, hour, minute. The same format as in LAW 003.
CEnd date and time	C) 1303032100	3 March 2013 at 21:00 UTCIn the same date time group format.
DTime schedule	D) 0600-2100	Active daily from 06:00 to 21:00 UTCThe hours inside the start and end dates when the NOTAM actually applies. Without it, the NOTAM is active for the whole period.
EText of the NOTAM	E) DANGER AREA END463 ELVEGAARDSMOEN ACTIVATED	Danger area END463 at Elvegårdsmoen is activeWhat is actually being announced, in plain language and abbreviations. NOTAM carry no accents, so AA stands for å.
FLower limit	F) GND	Ground levelF is the lower limit and G is the upper one, in that order.
GUpper limit	G) FL100)	FL 100The bracket closes the message.

LAW 006 decodes a second real one, a temporary restricted area over Malmö: no Q line, a schedule that runs through midnight, and limits in feet rather than a flight level.

From LAW 006, Aeronautical information management.

AFTN and message priority

Everything an ATS unit sends and receives: what order it gets dealt with, and how it is addressed.

Syllabus level 3apply itLAWB 5.8.4, ATMB 6.1.3 · course objective: the categories of ATS messages

AFTNAeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network

The fixed network aeronautical messages are sent over. Every message carries a priority code and an address. One of the three networks of the AFS, the Aeronautical Fixed Service, with CIDIN and AMHS.

ATS messages: three categories

Emergency
Movement and control
Flight information

FPL, the filed flight plan, is a movement and control message, which is why it goes out at FF.

Code	Priority	What it carries	Category
SS	1	Distress. Distress messages.	Emergency
DD	2	Urgency. The safety of the aircraft, or of a person on board.	Emergency
FF	3	Flight safety. Movement and control messages, anything from the operating agency of immediate concern to an aircraft, and meteorological messages restricted to SIGMET.	Movement and control
GG	4	Meteorological, flight regularity and aeronautical information. NOTAM, SNOWTAM, TAF and METAR.	Flight information
KK	5	Aeronautical administrative. Everything else the network carries.	Not an ATS message

The five codes run in a strict order of their own: an SS is dealt with ahead of a DD, a DD ahead of an FF, and so on down. They are not the same list as the three categories.

The address: eight letters, three parts

EKCHLocation indicatorZPZService or organisationXDepartment or division

EKCHZPZX is the ATS reporting office at København / Kastrup. There is usually no department to name, so most addresses end in X.

Service and organisation designators

YFYAFTN office

ZTZControl tower

ZPZATS reporting office

ZQZArea control centre

YNYNOTAM office

YDYAirport manager

YZYMeteorological data bank

YMYLocal meteorological office

From LAW 007, Flight plans and associated messages, and LAW 006, Aeronautical information management.

The flight plan, items 7 to 18

One real flight plan, Copenhagen to Heathrow, as it goes out over the AFTN. The addresses and the originator come first, then the message itself.

Syllabus level 3apply itLAWB 5.8.1, ATMB 6.1.3

Priority, addresseesFF EGLLZPZX EGTTZQZX EHAMZQZX

Filing time, originator010700 EKCHZPZX

Type, Items 7 and 8(FPL-SAS1509-IS

Items 9 and 10-A20N/M-SDE2E3FGHIRWY/LB1

Item 13-EKCH1015

Item 15-N0450F360 ANEKO L619 NIVUN UN872 REDFA

Item 16-EGLL0155 EGSS EGGW

Item 18-PBN/A1B1C1D1O2S2 DOF/260901 REG/SEROD

EET/EDWW0021 EHAA0037 EGTT0108 SEL/AFCP

OPR/SAS PER/C RMK/TCAS EQUIPPED)

Past the lesson list here: E2, E3, F, I and R in the COM/NAV field, L and B1 for surveillance, and PBN/, SEL/, OPR/ and PER/ in Item 18.

Item	What it holds	Main codes
Item 7Aircraft identification	Three forms, never a mixture.Here: `SAS1509` Scandinavian 1509	Registration DAGXC, N137DK. Written without the dash.Agency and flight number KLM1136. The three-letter designator from LAW 003, then the flight identification.Tactical call sign BRUNO12, RED1. Usually military.
Item 8Flight rules and type of flight	Two letters, run together with nothing between them.Here: `IS` IFR, scheduled	Flight rules I IFR · V VFR · Y IFR, then VFR · Z VFR, then IFRType of flight S scheduled · N non-scheduled · G general aviation · M military · X anything else: school flights, training and the like
Item 9Number and type of aircraft, and wake turbulence category	The ICAO Doc 8643 type designator, then the category. The number is written only when there is more than one. No designator: ZZZZ, and the type in Item 18 after TYP/.Here: `A20N/M` Airbus A320neo, medium	Wake turbulence L light, 7 000 kg or less · M medium, over 7 000 kg, under 136 000 kg · H heavy, 136 000 kg or more · J super, the A380-800
Item 10Equipment and capability	COM/NAV equipment, one letter per capability, then a slash and the surveillance equipment.Here: `SDE2E3FGHIRWY/LB1` standard, and ten things besides	COM/NAV N none, or unserviceable · S standard: L, O, V, which is ILS, VOR and VHF RTF · D DME · G GNSS · H HF RTF · W RVSM approved · Y VHF with 8.33 kHz spacingSurveillance (SSR) N none · A Mode A, code only · C Mode A and C, code and altitude · S Mode A, C and S
Item 13Departure aerodrome and EOBT	The four-letter ICAO location indicator, then the estimated off-block time in UTC, with nothing between them. Off blocks, not airborne.Here: `EKCH1015` København / Kastrup, off blocks 10:15 UTC	ZZZZ water, or a VFR field with no indicator of its own: the place goes in Item 18 after DEP/ · AFIL a plan filed in the air
Item 15Cruising speed, cruising level and route	The speed is the true airspeed. The level runs straight on from it with no separator, then the route.Here: `N0450F360` 450 kt, FL 360	Speed N knots, N0175 is 175 kt · K kilometres per hour, K0220 · M Mach, M082 is Mach 0.82Level F flight level, F085 is FL 085 · A hundreds of feet, A055 is 5 500 ft · S standard metric level, tens of metres · M altitude, tens of metres · VFR uncontrolled VFR, not holding one cruising levelRoute significant points, navigation aids, latitude and longitude, bearing and distance, DCT direct. A change on the way: LN/N0248A050, at LN, 248 kt and 5 000 ft.
Item 16Destination aerodrome, total estimated elapsed time and alternates	The location indicator, then the total estimated elapsed time: a length of time, not a time of day. Then no more than two alternates.Here: `EGLL0155 EGSS EGGW` Heathrow, 1 h 55 min, Stansted and Luton	ZZZZ no indicator: the place goes in Item 18 after DEST/, or ALTN/ for an alternate. A VFR flight is not required to name an alternate.
Item 18Other information	An indicator, a slash, then the content. A lone 0 means there is nothing in it. Leave out DOF/ and the flight is today’s.Here: `DOF/260901` 1 September 2026	DEP/, DEST/, ALTN/, TYP/ when Item 13, 16 or 9 says ZZZZ · REG/ registration, when not the same as Item 7 · EET/ estimated times of crossing FIR boundaries · DOF/ date of flight, year, month, day · RMK/ any other remark, in plain language · STAYINFO/ what the STAY in Item 15 is for · STS/ the reason the flight needs special handling by ATS: HOSP medical, ATFMX exempt from flow management, NONRVSM, HUM humanitarian, FLTCK flight check, SAR search and rescue

Item 19, supplementary information for emergencies and search and rescue (E/ endurance, P/ persons on board and the rest), is not part of the flight plan message.

From LAW 007, Flight plans and associated messages.

Updating a flight plan

Five messages. CHG modifies, CNL cancels, DLA delays, DEP activates and ARR closes. Each one names the flight, so the right plan can be found again.

Syllabus level 3apply itLAWB 5.8.2, 5.8.3, 5.8.4, ATMB 6.1.3

Message	What it does	When it is sent
CHG	Modification. Changes a flight plan already sent.	When something in a flight plan that has already gone out has changed. Only the items that changed are repeated, at the end.
CNL	Cancellation. The flight is not operating.	Cancels a flight plan that has already been sent out. Nothing replaces it.
DLA	Delay. The flight is running late.	When the aircraft will be off blocks more than 30 minutes after the EOBT in the flight plan; 30 minutes or less, and nothing is sent. It carries the new EOBT. Inside the IFPS zone: any move of the EOBT by more than 15 minutes, earlier or later.
DEP	Departure. Activates the flight plan: the FPL becomes the CPL.	Once the aircraft is actually away. It carries the actual time of departure, not an estimate.
ARR	Arrival. Closes the flight plan.	When the aircraft is on the ground. It carries the actual time of arrival. Landed somewhere else: one field longer, the destination in the flight plan, then where it landed. No arrival reported within 30 minutes of the estimated time of arrival, and the alerting service starts.

FPL and CPL. FPL, the filed flight plan: the plan as it was filed, with none of the later changes in it. CPL, the current flight plan: the filed plan plus every change made to it since.

Who sends DEP and ARR. Where the aerodrome has an ATS unit of its own, a tower or AFIS, that unit sends both. Where it has none, the pilot-in-command reports the time first: the actual time of departure to FIS, which files the DEP, and the actual time of arrival to the nearest unit or the AIS briefing office, which files the ARR.

When a flight plan has to be in

120 hNo earlier than this before the EOBT: IFPS will not accept a plan sooner.

3 hAt least this before the EOBT, for a flight that may be subject to air traffic flow management: in practice IFR.

1 hAt least this before the EOBT, for everything else. For VFR it is the hour.

10 minAFIL, filed in the air: at least this before the point of entry.

The 120 hours is a ceiling and the other three are floors: no earlier than that, no later than these.

Decoding a message: the CHG, field by field

(CHGGABWEEHAM1205EDDFDOF/1212138/IN18/RMK/TCAS)

Field	What it is	What it says
`(CHG`	Change message	Modifies a flight plan already sent. Sent when something in a flight plan that has already gone out has changed. Only the items that changed are repeated, at the end. The bracket opens the message, the same as on a NOTAM.
`GABWE`	Aircraft identification	G-ABWE. Item 7 of the flight plan, written without the dash. Together with the next two fields it is what ties this message to the right flight plan.
`EHAM1205`	Departure aerodrome and EOBT	Amsterdam / Schiphol, off-blocks 12:05 UTC. As originally filed. It identifies the flight plan rather than describing the flight, so it stays as it was even when the change is to the time itself. That is what DLA is for.
`EDDF`	Destination aerodrome	Frankfurt / Main. The ICAO location indicator from Item 16 of the flight plan.
`DOF/121213`	Date of flight	13 December 2012. Item 18 information. The date the flight plan was filed for, as year, month, day.
`8/IN`	New content of Item 8	IFR, non-scheduled. A changed item, given as the item number, a slash, and what it now says. Item 8 is flight rules and type of flight, so this flight is now I for IFR and N for non-scheduled.
`18/RMK/TCAS)`	New content of Item 18	Remark: TCAS. The same again for Item 18. Anything not listed here is unchanged. The bracket closes the message.

From LAW 007, Flight plans and associated messages.

Aerodromes

Aerodrome: a defined area on land or water, including any buildings, installations and equipment, intended to be used wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of aircraft.

Syllabus level 2explain itLAWB 5.9.1, 5.9.2, 5.9.3 · course objectives: runway and heliport definitions

Controlled. Air traffic control service is provided to aerodrome traffic. Uncontrolled: no air traffic control service.

Two sides. An aerodrome is also divided into airside and landside.

Aerodrome reference point (ARP). The designated geographical location of an aerodrome. It is measured and reported to the AIS in degrees, minutes and seconds.

Heliport. An aerodrome, or a defined area on a structure, intended to be used wholly or in part for the arrival, departure and surface movement of helicopters.

The areas, one inside the next

Area	Takes in	Definition
Movement area	Runway, taxiways and apron	The part of an aerodrome used for take-off, landing and taxiing: the manoeuvring area and the apron.
Manoeuvring area	Runway and taxiways	The part used for take-off, landing and taxiing, excluding the apron.
Landing area	Runway only	The part of the movement area intended for landing or take-off.

Runway, taxiway, apron

Runway (RWY). A defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome, prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft. An instrument runway (precision approach, or non-precision approach) or a non-instrument runway.

Taxiway (TWY). A defined path on a land aerodrome for the taxiing of aircraft, linking one part of the aerodrome with another. Named with letters, with an optional number after the letter, such as B2.

Apron. A defined area on a land aerodrome, intended to accommodate aircraft for loading or unloading passengers, mail or cargo, fuelling, parking or maintenance.

Runway designators

The designator. Two digits: the whole number nearest one-tenth of the runway’s magnetic bearing, seen from the direction of approach. A single digit gets a zero in front.

For example. A runway on 253° magnetic is 25. The other end, on 073°, is 07. Together they are runway 25-07.

Parallel runways. A letter is added: L, C or R, for left, centre and right.

Four or more parallel runways. One set of adjacent runways takes the nearest one-tenth of the magnetic bearing, the other set the next nearest one-tenth: 06L and 06R, then 07L and 07R.

The letters, left to right

2 runwaysLR

3 runwaysLCR

4 runwaysLRLR

5 runwaysLCRLRorLRLCR

6 runwaysLCRLCR

Seen from the direction of approach. A gap is where the letters start again: the set after it takes the next designator number.

From LAW 008, Aerodromes.

Also on the syllabus

The rest of the LAW syllabus, which the review class did not name. One or two lines each, with the syllabus level; the lesson has the detail.

Syllabus level 3apply itThe highest of the rows. Each row names its own level and objectives.

Lesson	Also on the syllabus	Level
LAW 001Organisations	EUROCONTROL, a European intergovernmental organisation, not an EU agency: NMOC, MUAC, EAD, CRCO. Nationally the Ministry of Transport and the NSA, the competent authority: national licensing, charging schemes, certification of air navigation service providers. Also WMO, ITU, SES, SESAR and the associations.	Level 2LAWB 2.2.1, 2.2.3, 2.3.1, 3.1.1, 3.3.1, 3.3.2, 3.4.1
LAW 002Aviation regulation	The national regulatory procedure: each level makes the rules more detailed. The Ministry of Transport issues framework regulation, the NSA detailed regulation and the ANSP local instructions, for the ATC and FISO employees.	Level 1LAWB 1.1.1, 3.2.1
LAW 003Abbreviations and codes	The phonetic alphabet, the three callsign types and how they are abbreviated.	Level 2Course objectives: callsigns and how they are abbreviated, the phonetic alphabet
LAW 005Rules of the air	Altitude is the vertical distance measured from mean sea level, height from the ground below. Climbing past the transition altitude, the altimeter goes from QNH to 1013.25 hPa and levels become flight levels.	Level 2LAWB 5.6.1
LAW 006Aeronautical information management	SNOWTAM and ASHTAM, the special series NOTAM on snow, ice, slush or standing water, and on volcanic activity: a runway condition code for each third of a runway, and an ICAO colour code.	Level 2LAWB 5.5.1
LAW 007Flight plans and associated messages	When a flight plan has to be filed (six cases), the fifteen things it has to contain (SERA.4005(a)), IFPS and AFIL, and adherence (SERA.8020): fly the current flight plan; a controlled flight needs a clearance before changing it.	Level 2LAWB 5.8.1, 5.8.3, 5.8.4
LAW 008Aerodromes	The aerodrome reference code (4C: the number from the aeroplane reference field length, the letter from the wingspan), PCN and ACN, services, markings and signs, and Part 3 of the AIP, AD.	Level 3Course objectives: runway and taxiway markings, services, aerodrome data in the AIP · PENB 1.1.2
LAW 009Flight progress display	A display of current flight plan data, on paper or on a screen. It must always reflect the current flight plan and the current traffic situation.	Level 1ATMB 6.1.2, 6.2.1
LAW 010Safety management	Safety: risks reduced and controlled to an acceptable level. Identify, estimate, mitigate; Safety-I and Safety-II; the SMS and its four components; severity classes and risk regions.	Level 2LAWB 4.1.1, 4.1.2, 4.1.3, 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3
LAW 011Licensing and certification	ATCOs are regulated internationally, under EASA Part-ATCO; FISOs only nationally, in Denmark under BL 6-71. A FISO licence is normally suspended, or revoked, on medical grounds.	Level 2LAWB 5.2.1, 5.2.2

From the lesson linked in each row. The list follows the course syllabus.