Story ID: 
Final Decision on FLIP Expected In Fall
By: Gordon Gilbert
Caption: The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) officially closed its public comment period regarding the proposal to remove from public sale and distrib
Word Count: 165
The National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) officially closed its public comment period regarding the proposal to remove from public sale and distribution its Flight Information Publications (FLIP), Digital Aeronautical Flight Information File (DAFIF) and related aeronautical safety-of-navigation digital and hardcopy publications. The review drew more than 600 responses and the agency is now assessing and evaluating the public input before making a final determination. NGA has also begun discussions with a number of interest groups identified during the public comment period. The evaluation period should be completed by mid-September, with a final decision expected in the October/November timeframe. NGA's mission is to provide timely, relevant and accurate geospatial intelligence in support of national security. Geospatial intelligence is the exploitation and analysis of imagery and geospatial information to describe, assess and visually depict physical features and geographically reference activity on earth. The agency is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and has major facilities in the Washington, D.C., northern Virginia and St. Louis areas, with support teams worldwide.