Owais Crawford
FIS is a term used in aviation that can stand for several different things. In the context of airports, FIS commonly refers to Federal Inspection Services, which are facilities for processing international passengers and their baggage through customs and immigration. Another use of the acronym in aviation refers to Flight Information Service, which is an air traffic service providing information pertinent to the safe and efficient conduct of flights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Form | Flight Information Service |
| Aerodrome Full Form | Aerodrome Flight Information Service |
| Definition | A form of air traffic service available to any aircraft within a flight information region |
| Provided by | Flight Service Stations (FSS) in some countries, including the United States |
| Other names | Federal Inspection Services, Federal Inspection Services Facilities |
| Purpose | Information pertinent to the safe and efficient conduct of flight |
| Includes | Information on other potentially conflicting traffic, possibly derived from radar |
| Training | Basic training is approximately 13 weeks long and needs to be followed by national and unit training |
| AFIS airports | Not equipped with radar, except in some countries like Denmark and Norway |
| AFIS airports traffic | Not internationally regulated and subject to national regulation by the relevant CAA |
| AFIS airports traffic variation | Depends on national requirements and the type of traffic in the airspace |
| AFIS airports flight types | No international restrictions on flight types |
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What You'll Learn
Federal Inspection Services (FIS)
The FIS facilities are designated by the City under Section 4.06 and are located in the terminals' international areas. They include recheck baggage areas, sterile corridor spaces, and all the space required by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and other related regulating agencies. These agencies ensure that arriving international passengers clear U.S. Customs and Immigration.
The Authority is responsible for providing adequate passenger conveyances for transporting passengers to and from the FIS facilities and Concourse D and Concourse E/F (Dulles). Airlines determine who boards passenger conveyances travelling directly to aircraft or the FIS facilities. The Authority charges a fee of $2.00 per each arriving international seat, and the Lessor charges a facilities use fee per deplaned international passenger.
The new Federal Inspection Services Facility (FIS) at Savannah/Hilton Head International is a 19,000 sq. ft. facility that enhances security-screening operations for international general aviation aircraft and passenger arrivals. All international flights arrive at the FIS, where passengers must undergo an inspection/interview by CBP officers and claim all checked luggage before entering the United States.
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Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS)
An Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) is a service provided at airfields that are not busy enough for full air traffic control but still require some form of service. It is seen as a middle ground between an uncontrolled and controlled airfield. AFIS provides pilots with details of other known traffic taking off, landing, and flying in the airfield's vicinity. This includes relevant information on local traffic and aerodrome conditions, as well as taxi instructions to the holding point of the runway in use.
AFIS is provided at the aerodrome and in the surrounding airspace. The airspace in the immediate vicinity of the aerodrome is known as the Traffic Information Zone (TIZ). This zone is equivalent to the controlled aerodrome's Control Zone (CTR). Above the TIZ, most AFIS aerodromes have a Traffic Information Area (TIA) equivalent to the controlled aerodrome's TMA.
The AFIS officer (AFISO) provides flight information, including traffic and meteorological information, runway state, and other details essential for the safe and efficient conduct of flights. Pilots must use this information to make decisions about their flight route, and they are responsible for maintaining separation from other flights based on the information provided by the AFISO. It is crucial for pilots to provide accurate position reports to enable the AFISO to relay appropriate traffic information.
AFIS is not internationally regulated like Air Traffic Control (ATC) and is subject to national regulation by the relevant Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The training to become an AFISO is also subject to national CAA legislation, with one international academy in Sweden, Entry Point North, providing AFIS training approved by many European nations. The basic school training is approximately 13 weeks long and is followed by national and unit training.
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Flight Information Service (FIS)
FIS is provided to all aircraft that are given any air traffic control (ATC) service or are otherwise known to air traffic service units. All air traffic service units are mandated to provide an FIS to any aircraft, in addition to their other tasks.
In most countries, an Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) is provided at airfields where the traffic is insufficient for full air traffic control but sufficient for some form of service. AFIS provides pilots with details of other known traffic taking off, landing, and flying near the airfield. The traffic information zone (TIZ) is the area of airspace in the immediate vicinity of the aerodrome. Above the TIZ, most AFIS aerodromes have a Traffic Information Area (TIA), which is equivalent to the controlled aerodromes' TMA.
The amount of traffic an aerodrome can handle and still be an AFIS aerodrome is not internationally regulated but is subject to national regulation by the relevant Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The level of traffic at AFIS aerodromes can vary depending on national requirements and the type of traffic in the airspace. In some countries, only visual flight rules (VFR) flights are permitted, while others allow instrument flight rules (IFR), VFR, military, and other types of flights.
In the UK, the FIS is provided by a licensed Flight Information Service Officer (FISO) who has been validated at the particular Aerodrome. All UK FISO units are members of the Association of UK FISOs.
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Eurocontrol's AFIS recommendations
Eurocontrol has published the EUROCONTROL Manual for Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS), which contains detailed procedures, phraseology, and guidelines for alerting services and emergencies. The manual aims to harmonise AFIS procedures at the European level.
The manual emphasises that aerodromes with IFR operations or complex VFR operations should have an Air Traffic Control (ATC) service in place, and AFIS should never substitute ATC. It also describes the coordination procedures that should be in place between AFIS and ATC when there is controlled airspace around an AFIS aerodrome.
To further harmonise FIS across Europe, the Airspace Infringement Action Plan has proposed several recommendations, including:
- The use of radar-derived information.
- Employing appropriately trained and licensed officers.
- Providing FIS from dedicated positions that will not reduce the level of service due to high levels of IFR traffic in the vicinity.
The European Airspace Infringement Action Plan was released in January 2010, and Eurocontrol is currently working on an update to this plan. Additionally, The International Flight Information Service Association (IFISA), founded in 2015, aims to unify the people working in the profession and harmonise FIS.
In terms of regulations, common rules for FIS, which include AFIS, have been established with the adoption of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/469, applicable as of January 27, 2022. This regulation defines the overall safety objectives for FIS as one of the air traffic services (ATS). To ensure safety and harmonisation in the provision of FIS and AFIS, the introduction of radiotelephony (RT) phraseologies for air-ground voice communication is necessary. This reduces the possibility of misinterpretations in communications between ATS units and pilots, especially for cross-border flights.
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AFIS training
Flight Information Service (FIS) is a type of air traffic service available to aircraft within a flight information region (FIR). It provides pilots with information on other known traffic taking off, landing, and flying in the vicinity of the airfield. This includes information on potentially conflicting traffic, which may be derived from radar but does not provide positive separation from that traffic.
An Aerodrome Flight Information Service (AFIS) is provided at airfields that are not busy enough for full air traffic control but still require some form of service. AFIS airports are typically not equipped with radar, so it is crucial for pilots to provide accurate position reports to ensure the AFISO can relay the necessary traffic information.
While AFIS is not as comprehensive as full air traffic control, it plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and efficiency of aircraft operations at less busy airfields. By undergoing AFIS training and becoming an AFISO, individuals can provide valuable assistance to pilots and help maintain a safe airspace environment.
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Frequently asked questions
FIS stands for Federal Inspection Services.
Federal Inspection Services are facilities at airports that process international passengers and their baggage through US Customs and Border Protection.
An FIS facility includes recheck baggage areas, sterile corridor spaces, and all necessary space required by the US Department of Homeland Security, Customs and Border Protection, and related regulating agencies.
