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 FIC's provide for face to face briefings but all can be contacted via radio (126.7 and local dedicated frequencies) or the toll free numbers.
[edit] History
In Canada, 7 FICs and 2 northern hubs have replaced most of the old, much larger network of Flight Service Stations, and only a few FSS 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 Hub's (FIC's). Nav Canada decided to accelerate the process and further centralize the FIC's to what exists today. Currently the 2 northern Hub's are yet to be designated officially FICs but provide the same services. However, after 18 January 2006 the Yellowknife FSS will no longer provide a full service and all calls will be routed to North Bay.[1]
