AIC — Aeronautical Information Circular
An Aeronautical Information Circular (AIC) is the third pillar of aeronautical information publication, alongside the AIP and NOTAM. It carries information that is too explanatory, forward-looking or administrative for either of the other two channels, yet still matters for flight safety or the administration of aviation. In the exam you must be able to say what belongs in an AIC — and, just as important, what does not.
Definition and purpose
Per ICAO Annex 15 §6.4, an AIC is a notice containing information that does not qualify for inclusion in the AIP (as an amendment) or for issue as a NOTAM, but which concerns flight safety, air navigation, or technical, administrative or legislative matters.
The practical logic: the AIP is a structured reference document, and NOTAMs carry urgent, short-lived operational data. Everything in between — advance announcements, explanations, advice — goes into an AIC. Example: a State planning a major airspace reorganisation next year announces it early in an AIC, long before the formal AIP amendment appears.
Typical AIC content (Annex 15 §6.4.1)
- Advance notice of major future changes (pre-announcement before an AIP amendment).
- Safety advisories: recurring occurrences, accident trends, seasonal hazards.
- Explanations of new regulations and legislative changes.
- Technical advice, e.g. on radio communications and R/T procedures.
- Statistics: accident and traffic statistics.
- Course and training information.
Colour coding and numbering
| Series | Colour | Content |
|---|---|---|
| AIC A | white | information of long-term / operational significance |
| AIC B | yellow | administrative and financial topics |
Further colours are assigned nationally — e.g. AIC C = green for chart matters in some States.
AICs are published irregularly, as required, and numbered consecutively within the calendar year (e.g. AIC A 03/2024). They are not a substitute for NOTAMs: short-notice operational information always remains in the NOTAM system.
Europe (EASA / EU)
Regulation (EU) 2017/373, Annex VI (Part-AIS) requires AICs as part of the aeronautical information products issued by European AIS providers. National differences in colour coding remain permitted.
Germany (national)
The DFS publishes German AICs in two main series:
- AIC IFR — notices relevant to IFR operations.
- AIC VFR — notices relevant to VFR operations.
The colour convention follows the international pattern: AIC A = white (operational topics), AIC B = yellow (administrative and financial topics). AICs are available via the DFS AIS portal.
Exam essentials
- An AIC contains information that qualifies neither for the AIP nor for a NOTAM but concerns flight safety, air navigation or administrative matters.
- Typical AIC content includes advance notice of major changes, safety advisories, explanations of new regulations, technical advice and statistics.
- AIC series A (white) carries information of long-term significance; series B (yellow) carries administrative and financial topics.
- AICs are issued irregularly as required and numbered within the calendar year.
- An AIC never replaces a NOTAM — urgent, short-notice operational information is always issued as a NOTAM.
- In Germany the DFS publishes separate AIC IFR and AIC VFR series.