Euro AIP: European Aeronautical Information Library & Explorer

Euro AIP is a comprehensive Python library and web application for exploring, processing, and analyzing European airport and AIP (Aeronautical Information Publication) data.

Version: 2.0 - Modern API with queryable collections, transactions, and Pythonic operations

1. euro_aip Python Library

Overview

The euro_aip library provides:

• Modern Query API: Fluent, chainable collections for powerful data queries
• Builder API: Transaction-safe model building with bulk operations
• Data Models: Rich Python classes for airports, runways, procedures, and AIP entries
• Parsers: Tools to extract and standardize AIP data from various European sources
• Data Sources: Integrations for WorldAirports, Autorouter, and more
• Utilities: Geographic calculations, field standardization, fuzzy matching, and more

Key Features (v2.0)

• 🔍 Queryable Collections - LINQ-style queries with method chaining
• 📖 Dict-Style Access - Natural lookups: airports['EGLL']
• 🔧 Set Operations - Combine queries with |, &, - operators
• 💾 Transactions - Atomic updates with automatic rollback
• ⚡ Bulk Operations - High-performance batch processing
• 🏗️ Builder Pattern - Fluent API for constructing airports
• 🛂 Border Formalities - Schengen / EU-customs membership + crossing-requirements helper
• 🔄 Full Backward Compatibility - Legacy API still supported

What Can You Use It For?

• Programmatic access to a unified, standardized database of European airports and procedures
• Complex queries with intuitive, chainable syntax
• Safe model updates with transaction support
• High-performance data loading with bulk operations
• Custom data analysis: Build your own scripts to analyze, filter, or export aviation data
• Integration: Use as a backend for your own aviation tools or research

Quick Examples

Query API - Finding Airports

from euro_aip.models import EuroAipModel
from euro_aip.storage import DatabaseStorage

# Load the model
storage = DatabaseStorage('airports.db')
model = storage.load_model()

# Dict-style lookup (fastest for known ICAO)
heathrow = model.airports['EGLL']
print(f"{heathrow.name} - {heathrow.elevation_ft}ft")

# Filter by country
french_airports = model.airports.by_country("FR").all()

# Complex filtering with method chaining
suitable = model.airports \
    .by_country("FR") \
    .with_hard_runway() \
    .with_min_runway_length(3000) \
    .with_fuel(avgas=True, jet_a=True) \
    .all()

# Set operations for OR logic
western_europe = (
    model.airports.by_country("FR") |
    model.airports.by_country("DE") |
    model.airports.by_country("BE")
)

# Check existence
if 'LFPG' in model.airports:
    cdg = model.airports['LFPG']

Builder API - Modifying Data

# Bulk operations (high performance)
airports_to_add = [...]  # List of Airport objects
result = model.bulk_add_airports(
    airports_to_add,
    merge="update_existing",
    update_derived=True
)
print(f"Added {result['added']}, updated {result['updated']}")

# Transaction API (atomic updates)
with model.transaction() as txn:
    txn.add_airport(airport)
    txn.bulk_add_procedures(procedures)
    # Automatic rollback on error

# Builder pattern (fluent API)
airport = model.airport_builder("EGLL") \
    .with_basic_info(
        name="London Heathrow",
        latitude_deg=51.4706,
        longitude_deg=-0.4619
    ) \
    .with_runways(runways) \
    .commit()

Border Formalities - Crossing Requirements

from euro_aip.borders import crossing_requirements, is_schengen

# What border formalities apply for a France -> Switzerland flight?
req = crossing_requirements("FR", "CH")
print(req.immigration_required)  # False (both Schengen)
print(req.customs_required)      # True  (CH is outside the EU customs union)

# A country in neither bloc (e.g. GB after Brexit) reads as a full border
req = crossing_requirements("FR", "GB")
print(req.immigration_required, req.customs_required)  # True True

# Derived airport convenience properties (from iso_country)
model.airports['LSGG'].is_schengen           # True
model.airports['LSGG'].is_eu_customs_union   # False

Documentation

Full documentation available in designs/:

• Quick Start Guide - Get started in 5 minutes
• Query API Documentation - Complete query reference
• Builder API Guide - Building and modifying data
• Border Formalities - Schengen / EU-customs membership & crossing requirements
• Migration Guide - Upgrading from legacy API

2. Example Scripts

The example/ directory contains ready-to-use scripts for common tasks:

• aipexport.py: Export AIP data to various formats (JSON, CSV, etc.)
• bordercrossingexport.py: Export and analyze border crossing airport data
• foreflight.py: Example for exporting data compatible with ForeFlight
• test_*.py: Example and test scripts for validating data and demonstrating usage

Each script includes usage instructions in the file or via --help.

3. Euro AIP Web App

A modern web application for interactive exploration of European airports and AIP data.

Live Demo: The web app is available at https://maps.flyfun.aero

Database Download: The underlying database generated by this library is available for download at https://flyfun.aero/data/airports.db

Features

• Interactive Map: Explore airports visually with Leaflet.js
• Advanced Filtering: Filter by country (full names, UK/EU priority), runway, AIP fields, and more
• AIP Filter Presets: Quick filters for AVGAS, Jet A, Customs, etc., plus custom field filtering
• Route-Based Search: Find airports near a user-defined route
• Border Crossing Points: Specialized data and filters
• Statistics and Charts: Visual analytics with Chart.js
• Modern UI: Responsive layout (Bootstrap 5), Font Awesome icons, scrollable panels, always-visible legend

Quick Start

1. Clone the repository
2. Install dependencies: pip install -r requirements.txt
3. Run the server: cd web/server && python main.py
4. Open http://localhost:8000 in your browser

API Endpoints

• GET /api/airports/ - List airports with filtering (country, max_airports, AIP field, etc.)
• GET /api/airports/{icao} - Get detailed airport information
• GET /api/airports/route-search - Find airports near a route
• GET /api/procedures/ - List procedures with filtering
• GET /api/statistics/ - Get various statistics
• GET /api/filters/countries - Get country list with full names and display order

Route Search API Example

GET /api/airports/route-search?airports=LFPO,LFOB,LFST&distance_nm=50

4. Data Sources

• WorldAirports: Comprehensive airport database from OurAirports
• Autorouter: European AIP data and procedures
• France and UK AIP: Direct parsing of official published AIP data from France and the UK
• Border Crossing Data: Specialized border crossing point information
• Custom Parsers: For different European aviation authorities

5. Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Add tests if applicable
5. Submit a pull request

6. License

MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.

7. Acknowledgments

• OurAirports: For the comprehensive airport database
• Autorouter: For European AIP data
• OpenStreetMap: For map tiles
• Leaflet.js: For the interactive map functionality
• Bootstrap 5: For responsive layout and UI components
• Font Awesome: For iconography
• Chart.js: For statistical charting