NOTAM

A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) is a notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the safety of the flight.[1] NOTAMs are unclassified notices or advisories distributed by means of telecommunication that contain information concerning the establishment, conditions or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which is essential to personnel and systems concerned with flight operations.[2] NOTAMs are created and transmitted by government agencies and airport operators under guidelines specified by Annex 15: Aeronautical Information Services of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (CICA). The term NOTAM came into common use rather than the more formal Notice to Airmen following the ratification of the CICA, which came into effect on 4 April 1947. Notices to Airmen were normally published in a regular publication by each country's air authorities (e.g., in Flight Magazine in the UK).[3] A number of developments and amendments to the CICA have resulted in the more automated system available today.

A NOTAM is filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots of any hazards en route or at a specific location. The authority in turn provides a means of disseminating relevant NOTAMs to pilots.

Usage

NOTAMs are issued (and reported) for a number of reasons, such as:

Aviation authorities typically exchange NOTAMs over AFTN circuits.

Software is available to allow pilots to identify NOTAMs near their intended route or at the intended destination.

In the U.S. Air Force information technology enterprise, C4 NOTAMs (Command, Control, Communications, and Computer Notices to Airmen) are notices of new or updated Air Force Network Operating Instructions (AFNOIs). Often, these notices serve to direct Air Force computer administrators to install security updates or change the configuration of computer systems.[4]

Format

The following describes ICAO NOTAMs. NOTAMs are published using all upper case letters which are claimed by some to make NOTAMs difficult to read. Note that some countries such as the United States may diverge from the following ICAO standards.

Example

This is a typical NOTAM for London Heathrow airport:

A1234/06 NOTAMR A1212/06
Q)EGTT/QMXLC/IV/NBO/A/000/999/5129N00028W005
A)EGLL
B)0609050500
C)0704300500
E)DUE WIP TWY B SOUTH CLSD BTN 'F' AND 'R'. TWY 'R' CLSD BTN 'A' AND 'B' AND DIVERTED VIA NEW GREEN CL AND BLUE EDGE LGT. CTN ADZ

This decodes into the following:

SERIES and NUMBER : A1234 issued in 2006
NATURE OF THE NOTAM : Replacing NOTAM 1212 issued in 2006
FIR: EGTT (LONDON FIR)
SUBJECT: Taxiway (MX)
CONDITION: Closed (LC)
TRAFFIC: NOTAM issued for IFR (I) flights and VFR flights (V)
PURPOSE: NOTAM selected for immediate attention of flight crew members (N)
PURPOSE: NOTAM selected for PIB entry (B)
PURPOSE: NOTAM concerning flight operations (O)
SCOPE: Aerodrome
LIMITS: FL 000 to FL 999 (000/999)
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION : 51°29' N 000° 28' W
OPERATIONAL RADIUS OF THE NOTAM : 5 NM
AERODROME : London Heathrow (EGLL)
FROM: 05:00 UTC 5 September 2006
UNTIL:05:00 UTC 30 April 2007
CATEGORY: Aerodromes, Air Routes, and Ground Aids
DESCRIPTION: Due to work in progress, taxiway "B South" is closed between "F" and "R". Taxiway "R" is closed between "A" and "B" and is diverted via a new green centre line and blue edge lighting. Caution advised.

U.S. domestic NOTAMs

In United States, NOTAMs are classified by the FAA into five categories:[5]

NOTAM (D) or distant NOTAMs
A NOTAM (D) information is disseminated for all navigational facilities that are part of the National Airspace System (NAS), all public use airports, seaplane bases, and heliports listed in the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD) (e.g., such information as whether or not an airport or a certain facility is usable). NOTAM (D) information includes, among other topics, such data as taxiway closures, personnel and equipment near or crossing runways, and airport lighting aids that do not affect instrument approach criteria, such as VASI.
Flight Data Center (FDC) NOTAMs
The National Flight Data Center will issue these NOTAMs when it becomes necessary to disseminate information that is regulatory in nature, and they contain such things as amendments to published IAPs and other current aeronautical charts. They are also used to advertise temporary flight restrictions caused by such things as natural disasters or large-scale public events that may generate congestion of air traffic over a site.
Pointer NOTAMs
NOTAMs issued by a flight service station to highlight or point out another NOTAM, such as an FDC or NOTAM (D) NOTAM. This type of NOTAM will assist users in cross-referencing important information that may not be found under an airport or NAVAID identifier.
Special activity airspace (SAA) NOTAMs
SAA NOTAMs are issued when SAA (the term "SAA" includes SUA, as well as instrument and visual military training routes, aerial refueling tracks and anchors[6]) will be active outside the published schedule times and when required by the published schedule.
Military NOTAMs
NOTAMs pertaining to U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine, and Navy navigational aids/airports that are part of the NAS.

References

  1. ↑ Chambers, Dan (February 10, 2010). "Flight School 101: What is a NOTAM?". College of Aeronautical Science & Technology. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  2. ↑ AIR FORCE INSTRUCTION INTERSERVICE PUBLICATION 11-208 http://www.e-publishing.af.mil
  3. ↑ "Notices To Airmen", a 1921 NOTAM in Flight magazine
  4. ↑ HQ AFCA/GCLO. "Air Force Instruction 33-115, Volume 3: Air Force Network Operating Instructions" Air Force Departmental Publishing Office, 15 April 2004. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  5. ↑ AIM, 5–1–3 "Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) System" (August 22, 2013 revision)
  6. ↑ FAA Order JO 7930.2N, Notices to Airmen (NOTAM), effective 2013-10-01, accessed 2014-02-26
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