Flight Information Centre
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flight Information Centres (FICs) are Canadian clearing houses for flight-related information, operated by NAV CANADA.
NAV CANADA's Flight Information Centres (FIC) and Flight Service Stations (FSS) are located to provide maximum coverage and assistance to aircraft flying in all areas of Canada. Flight service specialists staff these stations, providing essential aviation-related information to support mainly general aviation, commercial and private. Pilots can contact FICs to obtain any pre-flight information required 24 hours a day. The FSS will provide callers with an interpretation of the latest weather reports, forecasts, satellite pictures and weather radar, copies of the latest Notice To Airmen (NOTAMs), and file, open, or close a flight plan. Only a few FICs provide for face to face briefings but all can be contacted via radio using the Remote Communications Outlet (126.7 and local dedicated frequencies) or via a toll free number.
[edit] History
In Canada, 7 FICs have replaced some of the old, much larger network of Flight Service Stations. 54 Flight Service Stations remain in operation, mainly at mandatory frequency airports. The FIC concept was conceived from a program begun in the 1990s by Transport Canada, and continued by NAV CANADA after the company's inception in 1996. The original plan had a 20 year span and would have included 22 Hubs (FICs). Nav Canada decided to accelerate the process and further centralize the project into the 7 FIC's that exist today.
