NACO Aeronautical Services

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| Updated: 10:14 am ET January 07, 2010

NACO is comprised of employees with wide-ranging skills who are involved in the compilation, reproduction, and distribution of aeronautical navigation products and digital databases for the U.S., its territories and possessions. This small, highly skilled, and dedicated work force meets the challenges of satisfying the important requirements of civil and military aviation, and the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) controller requirements.

NACO continuously collects topographic and aeronautical data from a large number of sources and uses this source data to compile and maintain the charts and products provided to the aviation community. The most commonly referred to sources of topographic data include: United States Geological Survey topographic maps, state and local government maps, private sector atlases and maps, railroad atlases, and marked-up charts from power-line companies.

The most commonly referred to sources for aeronautical information include: FAA published data from the National Flight Data Center (i.e. airport, NAVAID, obstruction, control tower, airspace, airway, and other critical aeronautical data), obstacle and communications data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and data collected through the NACO Flight Edit Program. In addition, NACO originates its own critical source data in support of its products, and assigns Government accuracy codes to the data for use by the military and the aviation public.

All source material is evaluated, and a determination is made as to whether to apply the data to the various products. NACO products are maintained in many different formats; automated, manual, and part-automated/manual. For manually compiled products, changes are compiled in analog form and sent to a drafting contractor for updates to film positives. The film positives are then used by the printing contractor to make plates for the printing process. Automated chart compilation is accomplished on micro-station computers using NACO aeronautical databases. Products undergo multiple levels of quality control by senior NACO employees through all compilation, reproduction and distribution phases of the products before they are released for sale/use to the public and other Federal agencies.

The Visual Flight Rule (VFR) charts, because of their complexity, are printed in NACO's printing facility and released to a contractor for distribution. Most other products are printed and distributed by private contractors.

NACO also prints and distributes all National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) nautical charts and related products, as well as National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) public sale aeronautical and nautical charts; and maps compiled by the National Weather Service. Product distribution is achieved through a network of more than 4000 FAA Authorized Chart Sales Agents throughout the world, plus 40,000 subscribers, and thousands of one-time sales.

Aeronautical Chart Division

Each year, FAA's Aeronautical Charting Office plans and directs the construction and maintenance of approximately 15,000 different aeronautical charts and publications to support recreational, military and commercial aviation in the United States and its territories. Products include Visual Flight Rules (VFR) charts, Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) charts, Terminal Procedures Publications (TPP), supplementary and special-use aeronautical publications and digital aeronautical data. Coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Defense and other agencies is required. Many charts are revised and published every 28 days. Each year, thousands of changes in information affecting the safety of navigable airspace are made with the sole purpose of maintaining certified and safe airspace.

Enroute Navigation Branch

Plans and directs the construction and maintenance of enroute navigation and associated charts used in Instrument Flight conditions, including: Enroute Low and Enroute High Altitude charts; IFR/VFR Low Altitude Planning Chart; Radar Flight Support maps; Low Controller and High Controller charts; Air Traffic Control System.

Aeronautical Information Branch

Analyzes and verifies aeronautical information used in the construction and maintenance of aeronautical charts, digital databases and publications. Maintains files on aeronautical navigation information to include Minimum Safe Altitude Warning (MSAW) System sites, obstacles, navigational aids, airports, airways, airway fixes, special use and class airspace, control area and ARTCC boundaries, and Canadian and DOD aeronautical data. Provides accurate aeronautical information to NACO charting branches, other FAA organizations, NGA, and the general aviation community.

Instrument Approach Procedure Chart Branch

Plans and directs the construction and maintenance of: Instrument Approach Procedure charts; Standard Instrument Departure charts; Standard Terminal Arrival Route charts; Profile Descent charts; Charted Visual Flight Procedures; Airport Taxi charts; and Airport Diagrams. Coordinates with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure accurately charted data are provided to pilots for landings and takeoffs under Instrument Flight conditions.

Visual Chart Branch

Plans and directs the construction and maintenance of charts used in Visual Flight Rule conditions:

Reproduction Division

The Reproduction Division provides prepress services, printing, and finishing for FAA's Aeronautical and NOAA's Nautical charts and maps. The production elements of the division include production management, negative engraving, quality assurance, manual and digital imaging photography, litho-process platemaking, pressroom, and finishing operations. (Many aeronautical charts have a 28 day revision cycle and are printed on a extremely tight schedule to ensure they contain the latest changes). Equipment used by the Division includes: two 5-color 60 inch sheetfed presses and one two color 60 inch sheetfed press, a Carlson color proofing system with a Kreonite and Colex processor; 3 Escher Grad large format image setters; 2 large format Luscher Scanners and a Luscher Computer to Plate system.

Distribution Division

The Distribution Division is responsible for the sale and distribution of FAA's aeronautical and NOAA's nautical charts and related publications to Government agencies, the public, and approximately 3,000 Authorized FAA Chart Sales Agents. The Division is also responsible for the public sale and distribution of aeronautical and nautical products produced by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). The Division's responsibilities include selecting and monitoring Authorized FAA Chart Sales Agents; determining print quantity requirements for charts and related publications; initiating print orders; and performing bookkeeping, accounting, and maintenance of customer mailing lists. The critical missions of the Division include the timely distribution of date-sensitive charts and publications and the maintenance and production of current information about inventory and revenue. The Division contracts for warehousing, order filling, and shipping.

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