FAA Digital Obstacle File (DOF)

Introduction

The Digital Obstacle File describes all known obstacles of interest to aviation users in the United States, with limited coverage of the Pacific, the Caribbean, Canada, and Mexico. The obstacles are assigned unique numerical identifiers; accuracy codes, and listed in order by state.

Data Source Characteristics

  • Data files:

    • CHG.DAT

    • DOF.DAT

  • Format: ASCCI text file

  • Size: about 75 MB (DOF.DAT) and less than 1 MB (CHG.DAT)

  • Update frequency: After 56 days (e.g.: November 24, 2024).

  • URL: Digital Obstacle File (DOF)

Data Target Characteristics

  • Database management system: PostgreSQL

  • Database name: io_xpa_db

  • Database table: io_dof

Data Processing

  • Repository: io-xpa-core

  • Script: run_io_xpa_core_aws

  • Task: l_d_o (Load FAA Digital Obstacle File (DOF) data)

Processing Steps:

Perform the l_d_o task with script run_io_xpa_core_aws:

  • Update database table io_dof from data file DOF.DAT.

  • Update database table io_dof from data file CHG.DAT.

  • if any new, modified or deleted data have been found:

    • Create a S3 bucket JSON file with all data: io_dof_full_<yyyy-mm-ddThh:mi:ss.mseZ>.json.gz

For detailed processing steps, refer to the external repository: io-xpa-core

Configuration Parameters:

faa_dof_file_chg = "CHG.DAT"
faa_dof_file_dof = "DOF.DAT"
faa_dof_s3_aws_region = "us-east-2"
faa_dof_s3_bucket = "data/temp_test"
faa_dof_s3_file = "io_dof"
faa_dof_subscription_date = "November 24, 2024"
faa_dof_subscription_days = 56
faa_dof_timeout = 10
faa_dof_transaction_size = 50000
faa_dof_url = "https://aeronav.faa.gov/Obst_Data/DOF_yymmdd.zip"
faa_dof_work_dir = "data/temp/dof"

Contact Information

  • Aeronautical Inquiries: here