The documentary portal of the Aeronautical Information Service concentrates several tens of thousands of technical pages, from AIPs to SUP AIPs, including ICAO charts and NOTAMs. Without a clear mapping of these resources, a pilot or drone operator wastes considerable time locating the correct document, especially when validity depends on a specific AIRAC cycle.
AZBA Charts and RTBA Visualization: The Operational Layer Missing from Traditional Guides
Most tutorials on the SIA portal are limited to explaining how to find an approach chart or download a VAC. We observe that the AZBA charts, which allow for a graphical visualization of the planned activity in very low altitude network zones, remain largely underutilized.
The benefit is direct: before a VFR flight in an area crossed by the RTBA, these charts indicate the forecast activation slots. They complement textual NOTAMs with immediate spatial representation. A well-structured site map should allow access to these AZBA charts in a maximum of two clicks from the homepage, without going through a free search.
To find this section and all other documentary topics without fumbling, the SIA Architecture site map offers a synoptic view that groups each family of documents by theme and type of publication.
Drone Catalog in EUROCAE ED-269 Format: Navigating Recent Documentation
The DGAC has published a first catalog of geographical zones for drones in EUROCAE ED-269 format. This reference standardizes the description of restrictions applicable to unmanned aircraft. The problem: this catalog is not located in the same place as traditional aeronautical charts.
An operator in the open category must cross-reference several sources. The Geoportal has become the reference tool for visualizing drone restrictions in the open category and in model aircraft. The SIA portal, on the other hand, hosts the underlying regulatory documentation, including decrees and SUP AIPs related to UAS geographical zones.
Linking SIA Portal and Geoportal Without Duplicates
We recommend considering the SIA site map as a regulatory index, not as a real-time mapping tool. For the spatial visualization of drone restrictions, the Geoportal remains more suitable. The SIA portal provides the legal text and exact coordinates of the zones.
- SIA Portal: AIP texts, SUP AIP, prefectural decrees, ED-269 catalog in structured format
- Geoportal: interactive map of open category restrictions, altitude-overlapping layers
- NOTAM: temporary activations, last-minute changes not yet integrated into AIP publications
Understanding this distribution avoids searching for cartographic information on the SIA portal that is not there, or conversely missing a regulatory text by relying solely on the Geoportal.
AIRAC Cycle and Document Validity: What the Site Map Doesn’t Say
Each document on the SIA portal is linked to an AIRAC effective date. The 2026 ICAO charts are not just cosmetic updates: they incorporate airspace changes, new regulated zones, and trajectory adjustments published during previous cycles.
The site map displays the documentary structure, but it does not always clearly indicate which cycle is in effect. The 2026 paper editions have been updated according to AIRAC cycle 2604. Online, the page of each document mentions the effective date, but you must open the document to verify it.
Check Validity Before Each Briefing
A reflex we consider non-negotiable: always compare the AIRAC date of the consulted document with the current cycle. An expired VAC chart by just one cycle may contain obsolete transition altitudes or frequencies. The site map facilitates access, but the responsibility for verification remains entirely with the user.
SIA Portal Architecture: Sections and Classification Logic
The portal organizes its publications into large families that the site map presents in a tree structure. Knowing this logic speeds up the search.
- AIP (Aeronautical Information Publication): permanent documentation, divided into GEN, ENR, and AD sections
- SUP AIP and AIC: temporary modifications and aeronautical information circulars
- Aeronautical charts: ICAO at 1/500,000, VAC charts, SIV charts, AZBA charts
- Flight preparation: NOTAM, flight plan, aeronautical weather via cross-linked links
- SIA Shop: paper editions, laminated charts, subscriptions for updates
The national regulation section groups the decrees and DGAC texts that are not included in the AIP but condition the operation. This is often where texts related to drones and specific airspaces can be found.
Keyword Search or Tree Navigation
The portal offers both modes. The keyword search works well for an ICAO airport code or a SUP AIP number. However, for thematic exploration (all VAC charts of a region, all NOTAMs of a FIR), tree navigation via the site map remains more reliable than the internal search engine.
This distinction is especially important when preparing a flight crossing multiple zones: navigating the ENR branch of the AIP from the site map ensures that no active regulated zone is overlooked that the search engine might not have retrieved due to a lack of exact keyword.
A well-utilized site map transforms a mass of regulatory documentation into a structured working tool. The key remains to couple this navigation with a systematic verification of the AIRAC cycle and to complement it with the Geoportal for the drone cartographic dimension.
