Using AFPEx to submit an ASP
Airfield Status Page (ASP) covers the meteorological conditions, status of the Airfield runway, status of Airfield equipment and status of Airfield safety equipment. ASP’s are produced every hour unless there is a change to the Airfield Status when an additional ASP is produced.
AFPEx provides certain users with the facility to raise ASP messages.
To raise an ASP
From the AFPEx Message menu select Airfield Status Page (ASP)
Note: If this option is greyed out, you do not have sufficient permissions to access this functionality. Please submit an enquiry if you believe you should have access.
The ASP form will be displayed, which should be filled in as follows;
This is your home Airfield Location Indicator, unless you are sending an ASP for another Airfield this should not be changed.
When a new ASP page is opened these will be automatically populated, with the current time and date.
This marks the daily progression of ASPs, every hour a new ASP is generated with a new Info Code; A-Z excluding I, O, Q and Z. A new ASP is also raised when there is a change in the Airfield status.
Used to show the current runway in use. Colour State: the two drop downs are used to show the current runway colour state.
There are two options to enter the correct information; where there is no vector the Surface Wind drop down should be used, this includes CALM and L+V (Light and variable) or entering Direct, Speed and Gust. If CALM or L+V are not selected then Direction and Speed are mandatory.
Current airfield visibility. Using the drop down you are able to select KM (Kilometres) or M (Metres).
Add description of current weather, for example; Fog Patches, Haze, Mist or Nil. Up to 21 alphanumeric characters may be used.
There are two options to enter the correct information; where it is CAVOK, SKY OBSCURED or SKY CLEAR the first drop down should be used, if they are utilised then the remaining fields in Reported Cloud will be greyed out and can not be used. For other cloud information use the two columns of drop downs. The first column is used for the FEW, SCT, BKN and OVC and the second column is for CB’s or TCU if any are present. The height of the cloud is entered into the Height field.
The barometric altimeter setting, in hPa, that will cause an altimeter to read zero when at the reference datum of a particular airfield (in general, a runway threshold). In ISA temperature conditions the altimeter will read height above the datum in the vicinity of the airfield.
The barometric altimeter setting, in hPa, that will cause the altimeter to read airfield elevation when on the airfield. In ISA temperature conditions the altimeter will read altitude above mean sea level in the vicinity of the airfield
Used to show the current Air Temperature, a “+” or “-“ symbol should be added depending on temperature.
Used to show the current Dew point, a “+” or “-“ symbol should be added in front of the figures, depending upon the temperature.
The current state of all Runway Aids is shown here. Each drop down includes 5 options; S (serviceable), U (unserviceable), M (maintenance), R (restricted) and O (aid not fitted). To show that all Aids are Fully Serviceable, then all the Aid States must be “S” or “0”.
The current state of the Barrier is shown here. The drop down includes 5 options; S (serviceable), U (unserviceable), M (maintenance), R (restricted) and O (aid not fitted).
The current state of the Approach Cable is shown here. The drop down includes 5 options; Up (cable up), Down (cable down), Drig (de-rigged), U (unserviceable) O (aid not fitted).
The current state of the Overrun Cable is shown here. The drop down includes 5 options; Up (cable up), Down (cable down), Drig (de-rigged), U (unserviceable) O (aid not fitted).
Any remarks pertinent to the Airfield Status should be entered here.
The current Airfield Crash Category is shown here. The drop down includes 16 options; ranging from 1to 7, 1A to 6a and H1A to H3A.
Once the form has been filled in, typing Ctrl-E will verify that the information entered is valid. If any red crosses remain, the details of the invalid data should be shown at the top of the screen. Hovering the mouse over a red cross against a specific field should pop up information on how to fill in that field.
Click the Send button at the top left to submit the ASP.
Example of Completed ASP:
Message format once the ASP has been sent:
FF EGZZASPS
281106 EGXWZGZX
(ASP-EGGGB101330 DEC
20
CALM
BLU
15KM
RAIN SHOWER
FEW 1200
BKN 1600
101329.61
101229.88
+7+7
FS000000000000DRIGDRIG
NIL
0 )
To print an ASP
If an ASP is printed in the same way as a Flight Plan message, it can be very hard to decode. As can be seen from the above example;
To print an ASP, take a screen shot, following the instructions below:
You will now have a print off, of the full ASP with Field Titles.