Exchange File Format
Table of Contents
2.1.2 General Data Record Type
2.1.2.1 Various Contents (000-299)
2.1.2.2 Reference System Definition Codes (300)
2.1.2.4 Distance and Elevation (500)
2.1.2.5 Length and Width (600)
2.1.2.7 Value (Distance, Width, etc.) (800)
2.1.2.8 Orthometric and Ellipsoidal Elevation (900)
2.2.1 Airport Specific Records
2.2.1.1 Airport Identification (A000)
2.2.1.3 Airport Jurisdiction (A020)
2.2.1.4 Airport Magnetic Declination (A030)
2.2.1.7 Airport Elevation (A060)
2.2.1.8 Airport Reference System (A310)
2.2.1.9 Airport Location Point (A710)
2.2.1.10 Air Traffic Control Tower (A910)
2.2.2.1 Runway Identification (R000)
2.2.2.5 Runway End Position (R40*)
2.2.2.6 Displaced Threshold - by position (R41*)
2.2.2.7 Displaced Threshold - by distance (R51*)
2.2.2.8 Stopway - by position (R72*)
2.2.2.9 Stopway - by length (R62*)
2.2.2.10 Blastpad - by position (R73*)
2.2.2.11 Blastpad - by distance (R63*)
2.2.2.12 Distance To Boundary - by position (R74*)
2.2.2.13 Distance To Boundary - by distance (R84*)
2.2.2.14 TDZE - output only (R92*)
2.2.2.15 Profile Point Status (R090)
2.2.2.16 Profile Point - by position (R490)
2.2.2.17 Profile Point - by distance (R590)
2.2.3 Feature Specific Records
2.2.3.1 Feature Identification (F000)
2.2.3.2 Feature Status Record (F010)
2.2.3.3 Feature Position (F410)
2.2.4.1 Chart Reference System (C310)
2.2.4.2 NGVD29 to NAVD88 Conversion Factor (C010)
3. Quick Reference Record Charts
A000 - Airport Identification Record
A030 - Airport Magnetic Declination
A310 - Airport Reference System
A910 - Air Traffic Control Tower
R41* - Displaced Threshold - by position
R51* - Displaced Threshold - by distance
R74* - Distance to Boundary - by position
R84* - Distance to Boundary - by distance
R490 - Profile Point - by position
R590 - Profile Point - by distance
C310 - Airport Reference System
C010 - NGVD29 to NAVD88 Conversion Factor
Attribute Code 2 (Control/Plotting Symbology)
Attribute Code 3 (Navigational Aids)
Attribute Code 4 (Not currently used)
Primary Condition Codes (refer to the ‘405' for specifics)
Secondary Condition Codes (refer to the ‘405' for specifics)
The Exchange File Format is a users guide for preparing and submitting data for storage in the National Geodetic Survey Obstruction Chart Database (OCDB). It provides in detail the format and structure of every field allowable by the OCDB. Also included are dependencies, field widths, record order requirements and field choice lists.
For questions regarding the Exchange File Format please contact:
Michael Keltz
phone: (301) 713-1428 ext. 171
email: keltz@c0n06.ngs.noaa.gov
For errors or questions regarding this document please contact:
Frank Mowry
phone: (301) 713-3260 ext. 157
email: fmowry@ngs.noaa.gov
The following sections describe all the possible records found in an Exchange File. These sections are broken down by record and then by field. Each field is further broken down by: description, position, range, format, and example. All records have the same basic structure. All records contain at most 112 characters. They consist of a variable number of fields. Each field has a corresponding existence code. The existence flags and their positions are defined in Appendix A. The field format contains a special symbol defined below.
A Alphabetic capital or lowercase characters only (A-Z)
9 Numeric and sign only (0-9, +, -, .)
X Alphanumeric, sign and decimal point
Note: All numeric values are in feet unless otherwise specified.
Each record begins with a four character identification code. This code is broken down into two parts, the single alpha character General Data Category and the three digit numeric General Data Record Type.
The first character in column 1 is the general data category. All records for a given data category must be provided before the next category begins. There are four valid data category codes:
A Airport Data
R Runway Data
F Feature Data
C Chart Information
Explanations of these categories will be given in further detail under the appropriate section for each category.
2.1.2 General Data Record Type
Characters 2-4 represent an integer value representing the data record for each category. If the first digit is a 3 through 9, the record is a standard series record. Otherwise it is a special format record. The following list contains the integer value range and the corresponding contents of the record:
000-299 Various Contents
300 Reference System Definition Codes
400 3D Positions With Date And Source
500 Distance And Elevation With Date And Source
600 Length And Width With Date And Source
700 2D Positions Without Date And Source
800 Value (Distance, Width, etc.) With Date And Source
900 Orthometric and Ellipsoidal Elevation With Date And Source
These data records are broken down into specific fields in sections 2.1.2.1 through 2.1.2.8.
2.1.2.1 Various Contents (000-299)
2.1.2.2 Reference System Definition Codes (300)
Field 1: Reference System Code
Description: Reference system in which the positions are expressed
Position: Columns 5-9
Range: None, value is always 0 (zero)
Format: 99999
Example: 0
Field 2: Zone Code
Description: Zone for the reference system
Position: Columns 10-14
Range: None, value is always 0 (zero)
Format: 99999
Example: 0
Field 3: Horizontal Unit Code
Description: Units in which positions are expressed.
Position: Columns 15-19
Range: Currently only:
5 DMS (degrees, minutes, seconds)
Note: Additional codes will be added in the future only if modifications to the OC Database allow for
positions in units other than DMS.
Format: 99999
Example: 5
Field 4: Horizontal Datum Code
Description: Year of datum in which positions are expressed
Position: Columns 20-24
Range: Year of Datum, 27 or 83
Format: 99999
Example: 27
Field 5: Vertical Unit Code
Description: Units in which elevations and distances are expressed
Position: Columns 25-29
Range: Currently only:
1 feet
Note: Additional unit codes will be added at some point in the future only if modifications to the OC Database allow for elevations and distances in units other than feet
Format: 99999
Example: 1
Field 6: Vertical Datum Code
Description: Year of datum in which elevations are expressed
Position: Columns 30-34
Range: Year of Datum, 29 or 88
Format: 99999
Example: 29
Field 1: Longitude
Description: Longitude where sign represents hemisphere
Position: Columns 5-19
Range: -1800000 to +1800000, values west represented as negative
Format: DDDMMSS.SSSS where
-180 < DDD < + 180
0 <= MM <= 59
0 <= SS <= 59
Example: -1235832.1281
Field 2: Latitude
Description: Latitude where sign represents hemisphere
Position: Columns 20-34
Range: -900000 to +900000, values south represented as negative
Format: DDMMSS.SSSS where
-90 < DD < +90
0 <= MM <= 59
0 <= SS <= 59
Example: 245328.7315
Field 3: Elevation, Orthometric
Description: Refer to the FAA NO. 405
Position: Columns 35-49
Range: None
Format: 99999999999.999
Example: 469.845
Field 4: Elevation, Ellipsoidal
Description: Refer to the FAA NO. 405
Position: Columns 50-64
Range: None
Format: 99999999999.999
Example: 382.289
Field 5: Determined Date
Description: Survey Date that data in this record was determined
Position: Columns 66-76
Range: None
Format: dd-mmm-yyyy where
dd - 2 character integer day
mmm - First 3 alpha characters of the month
yyyy - 4 character integer year
Example: 18-DEC-1996
Field 6: Verified Date
Description: Most recent Survey Date that data in this record was verified
Position: Columns 78-88
Range: None
Format: dd-mmm-yyyy where
dd - 2 character integer day
mmm - First 3 alpha characters of the month
yyyy - 4 character integer year
Example: 18-DEC-1996
Field 7: Source Code, Position
Description: Specifies the source of position
Position: Column 90
Range: F - field
O - office
D - digitizer
A - analytical plotter
Format: A
Example: F
Field 8: Source Code, Elevation
Description: Specifies the source of elevation
Position: Column 92
Range: F - field
O - office
D - digitizer
A - analytical plotter
Format: A
Example: F
2.1.2.4 Distance and Elevation (500)
Field 1: Distance
Description: Distance (real) from an endpoint
Position: Columns 5-19
Range: None
Format: 99999999999.999
Example: 72149.968
Field 2: Elevation, Orthometric
Description: Refer to the FAA NO. 405
Position: Columns 35-49
Range: None
Format: 99999999999.999
Example: 12138.325
Field 3: Elevation, Ellipsoidal
Description: Refer to the FAA NO. 405
Position: Columns 50-64
Range: None
Format: 9999999999.9999
Example: 14325.424
Field 4: Determined Date
Description: Survey Date that data in this record was determined
Position: Columns 66-76
Range: None
Format: dd-mmm-yyyy where
dd - 2 character integer day
mmm - First 3 alpha characters of the month
yyyy - 4 character integer year
Example: 18-DEC-1996
Field 5: Verified Date
Description: Most recent Survey Date that data in this record was verified
Position: Columns 78-88
Range: None
Format: dd-mmm-yyyy where
dd - 2 character integer day
mmm - First 3 alpha characters of the month
yyyy - 4 character integer year
Example: 18-DEC-1996
Field 6: Source Code, Distance
Description: Specifies the source of distance
Position: Column 90
Range: F - field
O - office
D - digitizer
A - analytical plotter
Format: A
Example: D
Field 7: Source Code, Elevation
Description: Specifies the source of elevation
Position: Column 92
Range: F - field
O - office
D - digitizer
A - analytical plotter
Format: A
Example: F
2.1.2.5 Length and Width (600)
Field 1: Distance
Description: Distance (real) from runway endpoint
Position: Columns 5-19
Range: None
Format: 99999999999.999
Example: 1244.945
Field 2: Width
Description: Width (real) of runway
Position: Columns 20-34
Range: None
Format: 99999999999.999
Example: 324.376
Field 3: Determined Date
Description: Survey Date that data in this record was determined
Position: Columns 66-76
Range: None
Format: dd-mmm-yyyy where
dd - 2 character integer day
mmm - First 3 alpha characters of the month
yyyy - 4 character integer year
Example: 18-DEC-1996
Field 4: Verified Date
Description: Most recent Survey Date that data in this record was verified
Position: Columns 78-88
Range: None
Format: dd-mmm-yyyy where
dd - 2 character integer day
mmm - First 3 alpha characters of the month
yyyy - 4 character integer year
Example: 18-DEC-1996
Field 5: Source Code, Distance
Description: Specifies the source of distance
Position: Column 90
Range: F - field
O - office
D - digitizer
A - analytical plotter
Format: A
Example: F
Field 6: Source Code, Elevation
Description: Specifies the source of Elevation
Position: Column 92
Range: F - field
O - office
D - digitizer
A - analytical plotter
Format: A
Example: F
Field 1: Longitude
Description: Longitude where sign represents hemisphere
Position: Columns 5-19
Range: -1800000 to +1800000, values west represented as negative
Format: DDDMMSS.SSSS where
-180 < DDD < +180
0 <= MM <= 59
0 <= SS <= 59
Example: -1751119.1281
Field 2: Latitude
Description: Latitude where sign represents hemisphere
Position: Columns 20-34
Range: -900000 to +900000 values south represented as negative
Format: DDMMSS.SSSS where
-90 < DD < +90
0 <= MM <= 59
0 <= SS <= 59
Example: 245328.7315
2.1.2.7 Value (Distance, Width, etc.) (800)
Field 1: Value (Distance, etc.)
Description: Distance, width or other miscellaneous real value
Position: Columns 5-19
Range: None
Format: 9999999999.9999
Example: 1231.4433
Field 2: Verified Date
Description: Most recent Survey Date that data in this record was verified
Position: Columns 78-88
Range: None
Format: dd-mmm-yyyy where
dd - 2 character integer day
mmm - First 3 alpha characters of the month
yyyy - 4 character integer year
Example: 18-DEC-1996
Field 3: Source Code, Value
Description: Specifies the source of value
Position: Column 90
Range: F - field
O - office
D - digitizer
A - analytical plotter
Format: A
Example: F
2.1.2.8 Orthometric and Ellipsoidal Elevation (900)
Field 1: Elevation, Orthometric
Description: Refer to the FAA NO. 405
Position: Columns 35-49
Range: None
Format: 99999999999.999
Example: 13245.786
Field 2: Elevation, Ellipsoidal
Description: Refer to the FAA NO. 405
Position: Columns 50-64
Range: None
Format: 99999999999.999
Example: 14456.556
Field 3: Verified Date
Description: Most recent Survey Date that data in this record was verified
Position: Columns 78-88
Range: None
Format: dd-mmm-yyyy where
dd - 2 character integer day
mmm - First 3 alpha characters of the month
yyyy - 4 character integer year
Example: 18-DEC-1996
Field 4: Source Code, Elevation
Description: Specifies the source of Elevation
Position: Column 92
Range: F - field
O - office
D - digitizer
A - analytical plotter
Format: A
Example: D
These records are specific to the three general data categories: Airport, Runway, and Feature. The first character represents which general category the record falls under. A - Airport, R - Runway, and F - Feature. Like the General Data Record Type, characters 2-4 represent an integer value representing the data record for each category. If the second character is a 3 through 9, the record is a standard series record.
2.2.1 Airport Specific Records
The following records contain information about the airport.
2.2.1.1 Airport Identification (A000)
Note: This is the only record which is absolutely required for the exchange file.
Field 1: OC Number
Description: National Geodetic Survey tracking number
Position: Columns 5-10
Range: 1 to 99999
Format: 999999
Example: 4367
Dependancy: This record or the Airport ID is required
Field 2: OC Edition
Description: Most current
Position: Columns 11-16
Range: 1 to 99999
Format: 999999
Example: 6
Field 3: Airport ID
Description: Airport Identifier (refer to FAA ORDER 7350.**, AS AMENDED)
Position: Columns 18-21
Range: None
Format: AAAA
Example: TWS
Dependancy: This record or the OC Number is required
Field 4: Site ID
Description: FAA Identification number
Position: Columns 23-32
Range: None
Format: XXXXXXXXXX
Example: 045O8.A
Field 5: Previous Airport ID
Description: The previous Airport Identifier (if applicable)
Position: Columns 34-37
Range: None
Format: AAAA
Example: CNW
Field 1: Name
Description: Name of Airport on Survey Date
Position: Columns 6-75
Range: None
Format: (70)A
Example: Baltimore Washington International Airport
Field 2: Verified Date
Description: Most recent Survey Date that data in this record was verified
Position: Columns 78-88
Range: None
Format: dd-mmm-yyyy where
dd - 2 character integer day
mmm - First 3 alpha characters of the month
yyyy - 4 character integer year
Example: 18-DEC-1996
2.2.1.3 Airport Jurisdiction (A020)
Field 1: City
Description: Associated City
Position: Columns 6-45
Range: None