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PEN 004

Flight information service officer

Two places of work

A flight information service officer, FISO, gives flight information service, FIS. The FISO works in one of two places.

AFISAerodrome flight information service

At an AFIS aerodrome, from the AFIS unit. AFIS at work, below.

En-route FISFlight information service en route

Within an FIR, away from the aerodromes. En-route FIS, below.

The service a FISO gives is taught in ATM 006: who gives FIS and alerting service, the scope of FIS and the means of transmission.

AFIS at work

The aerodrome as the AFIS unit sees it, and four of the unit’s tasks on it.

Runway-in-useManaging the movementof vehicles and personson the manoeuvring areaCollision hazards with aircraft,vehicles and personsAbnormal aircraft configurationand condition
Each task, with the rest of what AFIS gives: ATM 006.

En-route FIS

FIS in airspace Class E: an air traffic controller, ATCO, and a FISO work in the same airspace, each in charge of one kind of flight.

Class EIFRVFRATCOFISO
ATCO
  • In charge of and in contact with IFR flights
  • Separates IFR flights
FISO
  • In charge of and in contact with VFR flights
  • VFR flights are not separated

Traffic information is given by both the ATCO and the FISO.

Neither vertical nor horizontal separation is provided within FIS airspace.Pilots are told about other traffic, and keep clear of other traffic themselves.

The approach, in segments

The approach is split into segments. Each starts at a fix or a point, and the missed approach point lies on the final one.

Initialapproach segmentIntermediateapproach segmentFinalapproach segmentIAFIFFAPMAPtInitial approach fixIntermediate fixFinal approach pointMissed approachpoint
In order: IAF, initial approach segment, IF, intermediate approach segment, FAP, final approach segment, with the MAPt.

Reading material

Professional Environment

PEN 004 FISO, Flight Information Service Officer PowerPoint / PDF
European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Easy Access Rules for Air Traffic Management/Air Navigation Services: Provision of Services (Regulation (EU) 2017/373), March 2025 Reference, free
European Union Aviation Safety Agency, Easy Access Rules for Standardised European Rules of the Air (SERA), August 2025 Reference, free
International Civil Aviation Organization, Procedures for Air Navigation Services: Air Traffic Management, Doc 4444, 16th edition, 2016 Reference, paid
International Civil Aviation Organization, Annex 11, Air Traffic Services, 15th edition, July 2018 Reference, part free