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Aurora Data Originators Portal

Information for data originators on the Aurora system.

In October 2018 NATS implemented a new Aeronautical Information Management System called Aurora. The system is used by the UK AIS to receive, process, publish and store aeronautical data and aeronautical information in compliance with the ‘ADQ’ requirements (for more information see aeronautical information.)

The Aurora Data Originators Portal (an integral part of Aurora, providing the interface between the AISP and Authorised Sources) opened on the 3rd Jan 2019.

Since then, UK Aeronautical Information Product Change Request submissions have been made via the portal and received directly in the Aurora system. To gain access to the portal all Authorised Sources are required to sign Formal Arrangements with AIS.

More information about Authorised Sources of Aeronautical Information and AIP Sponsors, the Regulatory Approval of Aeronautical Information and Data, Formal Arrangements and other elements of compliance can be found in CAP 1054.

All those responsible for providing and maintaining aeronautical data and information published in AIS products (including publications such as Aeronautical Information Publication, AIP Amendments, AIP Supplements, Aeronautical Information Circulars and Briefing Sheets) are required to ensure that it is compliant and therefore also kept up-to-date. Submissions of aeronautical data to AIS can be made in the Aurora Data Originators Portal (https://www.aurora.nats.co.uk/) either manually or by provision of acceptable datasets.

Aeronautical data and aeronautical information to be provided by surveyors, procedure designers, and airspace designers shall include all attributes (complete data set), or part (if amending existing full data set) described in relevant CAA publications:

  •  CAP 1732 Aerodrome Survey Guidance, Appendix 5;
  •  CAP 785B Approval of instrument flight procedures;
  •  Policy Statement - AERONAUTICAL DATA ASSOCIATED WITH AIRSPACE DESIGN (CAP 1616) - Annex A including the Aeronautical Data Template Spreadsheet.

To meet the data set specification requirements, the aeronautical information exchange model AIXM developed by EUROCONTROL and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) should be used, therefore AIXM files can also be exchanged with the AISP. Due to the fact that the UK is in the process of implementing AIXM data sets in the upstream data chain, parties willing to exchange AIXM files with AISP, should engage with AISP first to test those files and receive feedback ahead of the required date of submission.

Note: AIXM can become the primary format used for providing data to AIS, even if the relevant CAA publications (such as CAP 1616 or CAP 1732) specify a different format to be used for a specific process involving aeronautical data exchange, but only if it has been agreed with the CAA and AIS and is reflected in the formal arrangements.

Aurora Data Originators Portal Users (Authorised Sources and AIP Sponsors) can access guidance material and training videos from within the Portal.

Please contact support.aissupervisor@nats.co.uk if you have any questions about the Aurora system.

Please contact the CAA Aeronautical Information Management Regulators Team at aimr@caa.co.uk if you have any questions on aeronautical information management or aeronautical data quality related matters.