Guidance

History of the No 1 AIDU

Updated 18 September 2025

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1953 to 1959

  • Formation of No 1 AIDU at RAF Ruislip after the Air Ministry decides that the RAF would be better supported by its own specialist aeronautical information Unit rather than the topographic-oriented Army Unit at Bushey Park.
  • No 2 AIDU formed at RAF Changi, Singapore.
  • Multi-coloured products created by No 1 AIDU.
  • Becomes apparent that a separate trade group was required due to de-mobilisation.
  • New trade established called Draughtsman AI (D’man AI).

1960 to 1969

  • D’man AI trade renamed The Air Cartography Trade after end of National Service.
  • Long-standing serviceman Derrick Fowler made Chief Tech and ran recruitment and training, while printing of most products transferred from Bushey Park to Military Survey at Feltham.
  • First En Route Charts (ERCs) produced on enamelled zinc and first Euro Air Traffic Control (ATC) chart produced. Stripping film technique developed and became the ‘big’ breakthrough in manual chart production.
  • First use of computers and the beginning of automated cartography in the RAF. - Flight Information Publications (FLIPs) established as standard products inc. ERCs, Terminal Approach Procedures (TAPs) and Area Charts. Women’s Royal Air Force (WRAF) typists employed to type up other documents.

1970 to 1982

  • Unit established into static state inc. Editorial Flight, Production and Dispatch Flight, the School of Air Cartography. The trade consisted of 29 personnel made up of mainly Photogs with a Low Flying Cell est. at Rheindalhen producing charts for NATO. Post est. at RAF Bruggen.
  • Helicopter Landing Charts and Minor Aerodromes Book introduced.
  • Introduction of Phototypesetting System - a huge technological breakthrough creating documents and maps, still used today.
  • First AutoCarto equipment used for ERCs as the Auto Carto section created at Eastcote. Trade increases to 49 personnel.
  • New postings established in Germany. Mission Planning Cells (MPCs) at Bruggen and Laarbruch est. then at RAF Marham and Honington. Total of 69 Air Cartographers. (1982)

1982 to 1995

  • Warrant Officer (WO) Derrick Fowler retires from RAF.
  • New Laserscan digitising equipment installed at Eastcote to produce smaller digital graphics inc. A5 Terminal Approach Procedures. Two-year data capture took place on Lites2.
  • All ERC-relevant coastlines fully digitised. New section created called Allied Publication ATC (APATC-1).
  • WRAF Typists replaced with Air Cartos amending documents.
  • Lites2 topography and Digital TAPs include colour, with plates produced by Production Flight.
  • TAPs became the first real product the Unit had produced in multi-colour, setting new standards for the Unit.
  • Minor Aeros digitised.
  • Four personnel are sent to St Louis, USA, to learn Smartster - later become Digital Aeronautical Flight Information System (DAFIS). First colour Helicopter Landing Sites (HLS) produced via AutoCarto.
  • GRAPHIS set up at AIDU to become the basis for a graphical image to be produced by DAFIS.
  • All products excluding large charts produced on computers. Data produced for Tristar Flight Management System (FMS) using DAFIS.
  • Low Flying Chart (LFC) Rheindahlen closed and relocated to AIDU. Plans for new building North Side drawn up and under construction.
  • Data supplied to Tucano and E3.
  • No 1 AIDU relocate to North Side. Digital Geographic Preparation and Processing Systems (DIGPAPs) created at Feltham with 2 employees.
  • Digital production allows interrogation with AIDU AI, enabling a graphic to be drawn.

1996 to 1997

  • Tristar, VC-10, C-130J FMS data CDs issued.
  • Fowler Building officially opened. Wg Cdr Barber new Officer Commanding (OC).
  • 55 ERCs captured digitally.
  • AIDU prints ERCs for first time.
  • Full FLIP production at AIDU from start to finish.
  • Last of the MPCs closed.
  • Unit split into 3 flights - A, B and C. APATC1, AIB, Database and Minor Graphics. Production and Despatch and Compilation, DIGPAPS, Large Charts.

1998 to 2004

  • Obtained IIP Accreditation (1999).
  • Unit products adhere to the Aeronautical Information Regulation and Control (AIRAC) cycle, ISO 9,000 Quality MS and launches website.
  • DIGPAPS requirement growing - Jag, GR4, C130J, Harrier and Electronic Terminal Approach Procedures (ETAPs) produced for Jaguar.
  • Print & Finishing uses computer-controlled printers.
  • Largest production undertaken by AIDU of 40,000 prints of Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF book), followed by full colour printing.
  • Produced DEFENCE RECOGNITION JOURNAL (DRJ), Air Power Review (APR) and Aviate for first time.
  • Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) Display System (NDS) went live to enable aircrew filtered search NOTAM.
  • AIDU 50th Anniversary.
  • No 1 AIDU workforce consists of 145 people.
  • DIGPAPS supply data to the Nimrod FMS - end-to-end digital production.

2006 to 2010

  • GOTHIC APS installed and Digital Aeronautical Flight Information File (DAFIF) data imported - 30,000 errors detected in the data sent out.
  • Third ROLAND 700 printing press purchased. (Big Vern)
  • DIGPAPS implement Advanced Mission Planning Aid (AMPA) system using new hardware & software.
  • Terminal products and HLS books produced on ADOBE Illustrator. CAP DEV section est.
  • Digital Vertical Obstruction File (DVOF) fully automated using GOTHIC technology.
  • DIGPAPS relocate to purpose built Annex.
  • National Air Traffic Services (NATS) awarded contract to convert RAF APATC procedures to Procedures for Air Navigation Services-Aircraft Operations (PANSOPS) criteria.
  • Procedure Design Section becomes Digital Instrument Approach Procedures (DIAPS).
  • School of Air Cartography (SOAC) relocated to Royal School of Military Survey (RSMS).
  • AIDU receive accreditation for digital FMS processes against European Directive 76 (ED76).
  • Unit personnel involved in Afghanistan Detainee Handling.
  • Military Flight Information Publication (MILFLIP) website established to deliver all standard products digitally via internet.
  • DIGPAPS take delivery of replacement map prep system for C130J.

2011 to 2015

  • SOAC returns to No 1 AIDU.
  • No 1 AIDU helped enforce a no-fly zone over Libya for Operation Ellamy.
  • Capability and Development Team wins the Chief Scientific Advisor Certificate of Commendation.
  • First En Route chart is produced from the database, known as Series 7. Nimrod dataset phased out.
  • First posting to - National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) in America.
  • Joint Mission Planner ceased.
  • VC10 dataset phased out.
  • Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) begins being used for production of Special Air Charts (SpAC) charts at No 1 AIDU.
  • NGA posting begins in No 1 AIDU, after 1 year of planning.
  • No 1 AIDU charts are used to aid the humanitarian crisis in Nepal following the earthquake. ISO9001:2015 implemented.
  • C130J and Tornado merged into a system called COMPASS.

2016 to 2021

  • The last document to be physically produced at No 1 AIDU is made as Print is outsourced.
  • Posting at RAF Wyton, working on the Time Dominant Analysis Team (TDAT) cell.
  • Merlin dataset phased out.
  • Co-Production of En Route charts using NGA data.
  • AIDU begins supporting Exercise Joint Warrior.
  • Two postings open up at RAF Brize Norton working on the A400M.
  • Puma FMS processing handed over to 33 Squadron at RAF Benson.
  • En Route supplements are automated.
  • Digital mapping section ceased TARDIS mapping with decommission of the Tornado.
  • FMS section restructured and responsibilities are split into - Data Management Systems (DMS) and DIGPAPs.
  • Creation of mosaicked Geo-Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) theatres utilised by Poseidon at RAF Lossiemouth.
  • Contract awarded to QinetiQ for the delivery of Picasso - AI Capability, a complete integrated solution for the production of AI.
  • Mil Surveillance Minimum Altitude Chart (SMAC) introduced to replace RADAR VECTOR CHARTs RVCs.
  • Top Sky posting begins to replace RDS1600 system.
  • Air Cartography changes from Trade Group 14 to Trade Group 7.
  • Military Aeronautical Information Systems (MAIS) relocated to Defence Airspace And Air Traffic Management (DAATM), Gatwick for UK - Military Aeronautical Information Publication (MilAIP) production.

2022 to 2023

  • No 1 AIDU produce a quarterly ‘DID YOU KNOW?’ bulletin to improve knowledge breadth of our products.
  • Retirement of C130J and the Digital mapping RDGMU system.
  • MAIS partially return to No 1 AIDU.
  • AMPA Rationalisation utilises ARC STANDARD RASTER PRODUCT (ASRP)+ to form theatre transfer from core products to AI Systems.
  • No 1 AIDU personnel continue to support overseas operations.
  • MBTiles product created at No 1 AIDU with the aid of NGA tool.
  • NGA’s Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) becomes available to MilFLIP customers.
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