config.fir

revision: May 2017

This file contains the configuration for the FIR and sets the public release date.

The config.fir file is located in the fir/ directory.

Note: As the revision date is read before the revision number, unless multiple revisions are required on the same day the revision number should always be 1

The origin point is the coordinate of the centerpoint of all the maps. Internally all latitude and longitude coordinates are transferred to a cartesian X/Y format in nautical mile. If you use X/Y values instead of lat/lon in a map definition, this is the origin point for these X/Y coordinates.

The <origin> element requires 1 <point> element.

This element describes the way tracks are correlated with a specific flight plan.

The classic method uses a discrete Mode A code (a.s.a. Squawk Code) to link a track to a flight plan.
Non discrete codes are Mode A codes ending with two zeroes (1000 7000 2000 1200 …) and cannot be used to correlate a flight plan.

Modern systems use the Aircraft Identification (BDS20) received from the onboard Mode S transponder. Currently only certain ANSP's ¹⁾ (Air Navigation Service Providers) use Mode S correlation enabling them to assign the non-discrete Mode A code 1000 to certain tracks which are fully Mode S transponder equipped. This also requires full Mode S radar coverage.

Magnetic Variation to use for the FIR.

Note that Magnetic variation East declinations are represented by positive numbers (rotated clockwise); West declinations are represented by negative numbers. If you do not want magnetic variation to show in your maps (so magnetic north points straight up), you may use the “north” tag to indicate whether you wish true north or magnetic-north to show as straight-upwards at the centre of your FIR/preset. If the string “auto” is provided, instead of a number, the FIR will automatically calculate the magnetic variation for each possible latitude/longitide in your FIR. Note that FIR-wide settings for magnetic-variation may be over-ridden for each ATC or preset within the FIR; the above settings are used anywhere where the setting is not over-ridden. To convert from a true bearing to a magnetic bearing you deduct the magnetic-variation. If it is a west declination you are deducting a negative number which is the same as adding. For an east declination you are deducting the variation. To put it another way “West is Best. East is Least”.

Default preset to load if not specified in atc.xml

Allows FIR-wide choice between magnetic-north upwards or true-north upwards; map projections from polar lat/lon coordinates to flat screen coordinates mean that this will only be correct at the middle of the FIR or preset.

If autorotate is set “true”, north upwards will apply at the centre of each preset. If autorotate is “false”, presets will NOT be automatically rotated; instead, the map will stay in the default orientation for the whole FIR, which will typically be with true-north pointing upwards at the centre of the FIR. This setting will make little difference for FIRs at equatorial/tropical latitudes, but for FIRs with higher northerly or southerly latitudes the map projection means that north changes direction on-screen either east or west of the middle of the FIR/preset.

The default setting is for magnetic-north to be upwards, and autorotation set true if not specified otherwise.

Default preset to load if not specified in atc.xml

Default SDD theme to load if not specified in atc.xml

Default SDD label to load if not specified in atc.xml

Set if RVSM is used in this FIR.

Set the default range used for observer or staff connections

Example of a config.fir file:

config.xml

<fir id="EBBU" name="Brussels FIR" country="BE" date="20150402" revision="01">
	<!-- system center point - will be used as X=0 Y=0 in Cartesian system -->
	<origin>
		<point lat="N05053491100" lon="E00429086400"/>
	</origin>
	<!-- track correlation method to use -->
	<trackcorrelation method="S" />
        <!-- RVSM airspace -->
	<rvsm enabled="true" />
	<!-- default preset -->
	<preset default="default" />
	<!-- Magnetic Variation -->
	<magvar value="3.2" />
	<!-- default theme -->
	<theme default="canac2" />
	<!-- default label -->
	<label default="canac2" />
	<!-- default range (OBS) -->
	<range default="250" />
</fir>

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