Airport Mapping Data Base (AMDB) Subcommittee

Last Update: May 9, 2012

Chairman: Brian Gilbert, Boeing
APIM: Update and maintain existing Airport Mapping Document, ARINC 816 (pdf, 23K)

Goal: To improve the pilot’s situational awareness of the airport facility and ease the taxi phase of operation.

Scope: The project will define a single open encoding format for airport data bases to be directly loaded in airborne systems, thus enhancing taxi operations. This single standard format, when designed and implemented, will enable a quick, economic and efficient use of airport data bases inside every aircraft. In addition, the data base processing chain will be free from any proprietary techniques.

Benefit: The purpose for standardizing embedded airport data base information is to avoid specific implementations by data base providers or system suppliers.

An open format for airport data bases would allow competition between several data base vendors. The airlines will be able to choose between offers made by these vendors, without impact on the airborne system.

A standardized format will allow the airlines to load the data themselves in the airborne system, without the need for data conversion tools or any additional transformation of the data delivered by the data base vendors. This will result in direct and efficient transfer of data, as well as increased availability of the data. A standardized format is expected to ease data approval with regulatory authorities.

Current Drafts:

Circulation Prior to Adoption Action
Draft 3 of Supplement 2 to ARINC Specification 816: Embedded Interchange Format for Airport Mapping Database (pdf, 262K)
To Obtain Complete Document
Adoption Notification (pdf, 791K)

Working Papers:

Next Meeting Announcement:

Last Meeting Report:

Airport Mapping Data Base (AMDB) Subcommittee
February 28-March 1, 2012; in Toulouse, France

Associated Technical Application Bulletins: