5 August 2008
The CAA has improved its G-INFO facility – the database of UK civil aircraft registrations.
The site (at <a href=’http://www.caa.co.uk/ginfo’ target=’_blank’>www.caa.co.uk/ginfo</a>) will now allow users to view the registration history of aircraft, and more features are promised in the future.
However, the main change will be effectively invisible to web users. The system is now hosted on a new platform (rather confusingly called the Aircraft Information System (AIS) – confusing because that’s not the only AIS in aviation!) which, as well as registration details also holds airworthiness information.
The upgrade to this platform have been driven by forthcoming European airworthiness changes, when G-INFO will be used to “bring Airworthiness Review Certificates (ARC) into force”.
“Organisations meeting the new standards,” says the CAA, “will be given their own log-on so they can execute this transaction with the CAA via the website. The system will then provide them with a ready-to-print and ready-to-sign ARC document. This will speed up the time it takes for operators to complete their aircrafts’ annual airworthiness renewals.”
“Upgrading G-INFO is a major step forward in the management of aircraft data,” said Howard Dyer, Head of Airworthiness Business Systems at the CAA. “More information is now available on individual aircraft than ever before, and anyone who needs access to aircraft information now has a greatly enhanced tool available to do just that.”
