When you open ForeFlight to plan a flight, select an approach in your avionics or look up an airport frequency, you’re relying on accurate aviation data. But where does that information come from? And how does a change published by an aviation authority eventually make its way into ForeFlight or the Jeppesen navigation data in your avionics? Let's take a closer look at the process behind the aviation data pilots rely on every day.
Where does aviation data come from?
The process begins when official information is published by aviation authorities, like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other authorized sources around the world. In total, 246 data source providers from 195 different countries are used.
The data these providers send out can cover a wide range of things pilots need, including airports and runways, navigation aids, frequencies, routes, instrument approaches, and other aeronautical details. Aviation authorities publish this information through official sources, including Aeronautical Information Publications (AIPs), amendments, supplements, and other aeronautical notices.
For example, let’s say an airport localizer frequency changes to 110.50 MHz, and the updated information is published by the aviation authority. Here’s what happens next.
Step 1: Acquire the information
Jeppesen ForeFlight monitors official publications from aviation authorities around the world, collecting new and updated information during each update cycle. Every 28 days, the team processes approximately 47,000 pieces of data in 24 different languages. That’s more than half a million pieces of data each year.
The information doesn’t always arrive in a consistent format. It varies in language and structure, ranging from a single frequency change to documents containing hundreds of updates. Our team takes this information and convert it into structured data that can be validated and incorporated into its aviation database.
Step 2: Review and check
Before aviation data reaches your avionics, it must be reviewed to ensure it is trustworthy and accurate. If something is missing, unclear, or inconsistent, specialists can refer to the original source for clarification.
The review starts with the source documentation. Is it complete? Are all expected pages present? Is the information readable and usable? Next, the changes are reviewed. Do they make sense? Are they consistent with previously published information?
With more than 2,500 source anomalies found each year, these checks play an important role in maintaining the accuracy and reliability of aviation data.
Step 3: Maintain the database
Once the source information passes its initial checks, the changes can be incorporated into a master database. The new information is compared with what was previously published to make sure every change has been captured.
Specialists also assess whether a change could affect related records. In our localizer example, a frequency change might require updates to other records associated with the airport or an instrument procedure. Related navigation data, such as location coordinates or bearing information, may also need to be reviewed if those details have changed.
The data then undergoes further validation and quality control checks. For example, if the published localizer frequency appeared as 101.50 MHz instead of 110.50 MHz, it would raise an immediate red flag. The discrepancy could indicate a typo, so it would be investigated and, when necessary, verified with the original source.
Jeppesen ForeFlight uses more than 10,000 business rules to help identify inconsistencies, catch errors, and ensure the accuracy of the database.
Step 4: Get it into the cockpit
Once the new information has passed through rigorous production and quality control, it still isn’t quite ready for your aircraft. Aviation databases contain more than 2 million records, and the finished data needs to be formatted for different avionics systems and applications. Once the data is up to industry standards, it’s processed for the particular avionics equipment or software that will use it, such as the ForeFlight app or your aircraft avionics.
Once the updated database is available and installed, the new localizer frequency is ready for use in the compatible avionics system.
Why does aviation data change every 28 days?
Aviation information is constantly changing. Frequencies are updated, procedures are amended, and runways open or close. The international Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control (AIRAC) system establishes a standardized 28-day schedule for implementing certain aeronautical information changes.
The regular cycle gives aviation authorities, data providers, avionics manufacturers, and pilots a common timeline for implementing changes. With a 28-day cycle, there are typically 13 update cycles each year.
Behind every frequency, waypoint, or procedure change is a chain of official publications, specialist expertise, automated checks, human verification, and carefully controlled updates. For pilots, the result is something we often take for granted: accurate, up-to-date aviation data, ready to help us plan and fly safely.
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