NOTAM

Last updated

A NOTAM (Notice to Airmen, [1] [2] Notice to Air Men, [3] Notice to Airman [4] or Notice to Air Missions [5] ) 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 flight. [6] NOTAMs are notices or advisories that contain information concerning the establishment, conditions or change in any aeronautical facility, service, procedure or hazard, the timely knowledge of which may be essential to personnel and systems concerned with flight operations. [7]

Contents

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

History

The acronym NOTAM came into common use following the ratification of the CICA, which came into effect on 4 April 1947,[ citation needed ] although early recorded use of the "Notice to Airmen" heading can be found in Flight International magazine in the UK. [8] Notices to airmen were normally published in a regular publication by each country's air authorities, as in the UK.

Several developments and amendments to the CICA have resulted in the more automated system available today. At some point in the past, the NOTAM system became web-aware. [9]

In July 2017, Air Canada Flight 759 nearly crashed into four other airliners as it attempted to land on a San Francisco taxiway misidentified as a runway: the adjacent runway was closed, but the information was buried in the NOTAM. In September 2018, as a consequence of the findings of its investigation, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) stated NOTAMs were unintelligible and ignored. The NTSB recommended more effective presentation of relevant information. NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt described NOTAMs as "a bunch of garbage that nobody pays any attention to". This led to an initiative of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to reform the NOTAM system. [10]

In early 2014, Russia occupied Crimea and as part of the takeover Russia issued a newly-invented code, URFV to cover the Crimean airspace. The Ukrainian air controller has been subjugated to issue NOTAMs under the UKFV code, basically a verbatim repeater. [11] [12] As a result all the UKFV NOTAMs advising about this area affix this note: [11] 

DUE ACTIVITY PUBLISHED BY RUSSIAN FEDERATION. THE PUBLICATION BY RUSSIAN FEDERATION OF INFORMATION  RELATED TO AIRSPACE UNDER RESPONSIBILITY OF UKRAINE  DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THE ICAO  AIR NAVIGATION PLAN - EUROPEAN REGION (DOC 7754)  AND THE ICAO ANNEXES 11 AND 15.

In the run-up to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian authorities closed large parts of the Black Sea, the Kerch Strait, and almost the entire Sea of Azov "for missile and artillery live fire exercises." A spokesman for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry protested the Russian NOTAMs over this unprecedentedly large exercise area, which essentially obstructed international shipping and had economic consequences for Ukrainian ports such as Mariupol. [13]

Usage

NOTAMs are issued (and reported) for several reasons, such as:

Aviation authorities typically exchange NOTAMs over Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) circuits.

Software allows pilots to identify NOTAMs near their intended route or at the intended destination. Some complain that the volume and increasing triviality of NOTAMs has reduced their usefulness. [14]

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. [15]

Flight planning applications for electronic flight bag can help decipher and better organize NOTAMs. [16]

Format

The following describes ICAO NOTAMs. NOTAMs are published using all upper case letters. 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 (06)
Nature of the NOTAM: Replacing (R) NOTAM A1212 issued in 2006 (06)
FIR: London FIR (EGTT)
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), for PIB (Pre-flight Information Bulletin) entry (B), concerning flight operations (O)
Scope: Aerodrome (A)
Limits: FL 000 to FL 999 (000/999)
Geographical location: 51°29' N 000° 28' W (5129N00028W)
Operation radius of the NOTAM: 5 NM (005)
Aerodrome: London Heathrow (EGLL)
From: 05:00 UTC 5 September 2006 (0609050500)
Until: 05:00 UTC 30 April 2007 (0704300500)
Category: Aerodromes, air routes, and ground aids
Description: Due to work in progress (DUE WIP), taxiway "B South" is closed between "F" and "R" (TWY B SOUTH CLSD BTN 'F' AND 'R'). Taxiway "R" is closed between "A" and "B" (TWY 'R' CLSD BTN 'A' AND 'B') and is diverted via a new green centre line and blue edge lighting (AND DIVERTED VIA NEW GREEN CL AND BLUE EDGE LGT). Caution advised (CTN ADZ).

U.S. domestic NOTAMs

In the United States, NOTAMs are classified by the FAA into five categories: [17]

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 [18] ) 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.

Format

From left to right, U.S. NOTAMs contain the following elements:

KeywordMeaning
RWYRunway
TWYTaxiway
RAMPTerminal ramp
APRON Airport apron
ADAerodrome/Airport
OBSTObstruction
NAVAnything relating to navigational equipment, e.g. VOR or NDB being out of service.
COMAny other communications, e.g. ATIS.
SVCWhen tower, fuel, customs service hours are available.
AIRSPACEThe airspace surrounding the affect location.
UOther aeronautical information, but unverified.
OOther aeronautical information.

These NOTAMS are likely to use FAA-specific abbreviations.

Examples

!ORT 6K8 (U) RWY ABANDONED VEHICLE

Tok Junction Airport has an unverified vehicle that is abandoned on its runway.

!LAX LAX NAV VOR OTS

Los Angeles International's VOR is out of service.

!OSH OSH AIRSPACE AIRSHOW ACFT 5000/BLW 5 NMR AIRPORT AVOIDANCE ADZD WEF 0707152000-0707152200

There is an airshow being held at Oshkosh airport with aircraft flying 5,000 feet and below within a 5 nautical mile radius. Avoidance is advised from 2000 UTC on July 15, 2007, until 2200 on July 15, 2007.

Incidents

On 11 January 2023, the US NOTAM system failed, which grounded all domestic flights until 9:00 AM EST (UTC-5) the same day. [19] [20]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air traffic control</span> Service to direct pilots of aircraft

Air traffic control (ATC) is a service provided by ground-based air traffic controllers (people) who direct aircraft on the ground and through a given section of controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airspace. The primary purpose of ATC worldwide is to prevent collisions, organise and expedite the flow of traffic in the air, and provide information and other support for pilots.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Runway</span> Area of surface used by aircraft to takeoff from and land on

According to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and takeoff of aircraft". Runways may be a human-made surface or a natural surface. Runways, taxiways and ramps, are sometimes referred to as "tarmac", though very few runways are built using tarmac. Takeoff and landing areas defined on the surface of water for seaplanes are generally referred to as waterways. Runway lengths are now commonly given in meters worldwide, except in North America where feet are commonly used.

Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Articles related to aviation include:

Airspace is the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory, including its territorial waters or, more generally, any specific three-dimensional portion of the atmosphere. It is not the same as outer space which is the expanse or space outside the Earth and aerospace which is the general term for Earth's atmosphere and the outer space within the planet's vicinity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">METAR</span> Format for weather reports commonly used in aviation

METAR is a format for reporting weather information. A METAR weather report is predominantly used by aircraft pilots, and by meteorologists, who use aggregated METAR information to assist in weather forecasting. Today, according to the advancement of technology in civil aviation, the METAR is sent as IWXXM model.

Automatic terminal information service, or ATIS, is a continuous broadcast of recorded aeronautical information in busier terminal areas. ATIS broadcasts contain essential information, such as current weather information, active runways, available approaches, and any other information required by the pilots, such as important NOTAMs. Pilots usually listen to an available ATIS broadcast before contacting the local control unit, which reduces the controllers' workload and relieves frequency congestion. ATIS was developed and adopted by the FAA in the mid-1960s and internationally beginning in 1974. Before the adoption of ATIS, this information was routinely disseminated to each aircraft separately, increasing controller workload during periods of high traffic density.

The world's navigable airspace is divided into three-dimensional segments, each of which is assigned to a specific class. Most nations adhere to the classification specified by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and described below, though they might use only some of the classes defined below, and significantly alter the exact rules and requirements. Similarly, individual nations may also designate special use airspace (SUA) with further rules for reasons of national security or safety.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Flight service station</span>

A flight service station (FSS) is an air traffic facility that provides information and services to aircraft pilots before, during, and after flights, but unlike air traffic control (ATC), is not responsible for giving instructions or clearances or providing separation. They do, however, relay clearances from ATC for departure or approaches. The people who communicate with pilots from an FSS are referred to as flight service specialists.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Portland–Troutdale Airport</span> Airport in Troutdale, Oregon

Troutdale Airport, also known as Troutdale-Portland Airport, is a corporate, general aviation and flight-training airport serving the city of Troutdale, in Multnomah County, Oregon, United States. It is one of three airports in the Portland metropolitan area owned and operated by the Port of Portland. Troutdale Airport was established in 1920 as a private airfield, then purchased by the Port of Portland in 1942. It serves as a reliever airport for nearby Portland International Airport (PDX).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canada Flight Supplement</span> Canadian airport directory

The Canada Flight Supplement (CFS) is a joint civil/military publication and is a supplement of the Aeronautical Information Publication. It is the nation's official airport directory. It contains information on all registered Canadian and certain Atlantic aerodromes and certified airports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paphos International Airport</span> Airport in Timi and Acheleia, Cyprus

Paphos International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located 6.5 kilometres south-east of the city of Paphos on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. It is the country's second largest airport, after Larnaca International Airport. Paphos Airport is commonly used by tourists on vacation in western Cyprus, providing access to popular resorts such as Coral Bay, Limassol, and Paphos itself.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airports Authority of India</span> Statutory body under Ministry of civil aviation, Govt. of India

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is a statutory body under the ownership of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India. It is responsible for creating, upgrading, maintaining, and managing civil aviation infrastructure in India. It provides Communication Navigation Surveillance/Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) services over the Indian airspace and adjoining oceanic areas. AAI currently manages a total of 137 airports, including 34 international airports, 10 Customs Airports, 81 domestic airports, and 23 Civil enclaves at Defence airfields. AAI also has ground installations at all airports and 25 other locations to ensure the safety of aircraft operations. AAI covers all major air routes over the Indian landmass via 29 Radar installations at 11 locations along with 700 VOR/DVOR installations co-located with Distance Measuring Equipment (DME). 52 runways are provided with Instrument landing system (ILS) installations with Night Landing Facilities at most of these airports and an Automatic Message Switching System at 15 Airports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airport apron</span> Area at an airport used by aircraft for parking, loading, fueling, and maintenance

The airport apron, apron, flight line, or ramp is the area of an airport where aircraft are parked, unloaded or loaded, refueled, boarded, or maintained. Although the use of the apron is covered by regulations, such as lighting on vehicles, it is typically more accessible to users than the runway or taxiway. However, the apron is not usually open to the general public, and a permit may be required to gain access. An apron's designated areas for aircraft parking are called aircraft stands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perth Airport (Scotland)</span> Airport in Scone, Scotland

Perth Airport is a general-aviation airport located at New Scone, 3 nautical miles northeast of Perth, Scotland. The airport is used by private and business aircraft, and for pilot training. There are no commercial scheduled flights from the airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacramento Executive Airport</span> Airport in Sacramento, California

Sacramento Executive Airport is a public airport three miles (5 km) south of downtown Sacramento, in Sacramento County, California, United States. The airport covers 540 acres (219 ha) and has two lit runways and a helipad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Approach plate</span> Publication of an aircraft landing procedure

Approach plates are the printed or digital charts of instrument approach procedures that pilots use to fly instrument approaches during instrument flight rules (IFR) operations. Each country maintains its own instrument approach procedures according to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast</span> Aircraft surveillance technology

Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) is an aviation surveillance technology and form of Electronic Conspicuity in which an aircraft determines its position via satellite navigation or other sensors and periodically broadcasts its position and other related data, enabling it to be tracked. The information can be received by air traffic control ground-based or satellite-based receivers as a replacement for secondary surveillance radar (SSR). Unlike SSR, ADS-B does not require an interrogation signal from the ground or from other aircraft to activate its transmissions. ADS-B can also receive point-to-point by other nearby equipped "ADS-B In" equipped aircraft to provide traffic situational awareness and support self-separation. ADS-B is "automatic" in that it requires no pilot or external input to trigger its transmissions. It is "dependent" in that it depends on data from the aircraft's navigation system to provide the transmitted data.

AirNav.com is a privately owned website for pilots and aviation enthusiasts. The site publishes aeronautical and airport information released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) such as runway distances, airfield traffic patterns, airport frequencies, airport operations, facilities and services, chart location, navigational coordinates and locations, radio aids, ownership information and other pertinent information that all pilots need when traveling into or out of an airport or around the United States National Airspace System (NAS). The same information is published in the Airport/Facility Directory (A/FD), updated every 56 days.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Canada Flight 759</span> 2017 aviation incident

On July 7, 2017, an Airbus A320-211 operating as Air Canada Flight 759 was nearly involved in an accident at San Francisco International Airport in San Mateo County, California, United States. The flight, which originated at Toronto Pearson International Airport, had been cleared by air traffic control to land on runway 28R and was on final approach to land on that runway; however, instead of lining up with the runway, the aircraft had lined up with the parallel taxiway, on which four fully loaded and fueled passenger airplanes were stopped awaiting takeoff clearance. The flight crew initiated a go-around prior to landing, after which it landed on 28R without further incident. The aircraft on the taxiway departed for their intended destinations without further incident. The subsequent investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) determined that the Air Canada airplane descended to 59 feet (18 m) above the ground before it began its climb, and that it missed colliding with one of the aircraft on the taxiway by 14 feet (4.3 m).

This is a glossary of acronyms, initialisms and terms used for gliding and soaring. This is a specialized subset of broader aviation, aerospace, and aeronautical terminology. Additional definitions can be found in the FAA Glider Flying Handbook.

References

  1. ↑ Wragg, David W. (1973). A Dictionary of Aviation (first ed.). Osprey. p. 203. ISBN   9780850451634.
  2. ↑ "Notices to Airmen". www.icao.int. Retrieved 2021-12-01.
  3. ↑ "FAA Order 7930.2S, Change 2, "Notices to Air Men (NOTAM)" (PDF). www.faa.gov.
  4. ↑ "What is a NOTAM? Notice to Airman (NOTAMs)". Federal Aviation Administration . Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  5. ↑ "What is a NOTAM? Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs)". Federal Aviation Administration . Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  6. ↑ Chambers, Dan (February 10, 2010). "Flight School 101: What is a NOTAM?". College of Aeronautical Science & Technology. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Air Force Instruction Interservice Publication 11-208" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "Notices To Airmen", a 1921 NOTAM in Flight magazine
  9. ↑ "Global repository of actual NOTAMS". International Civil Aviation Organization. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  10. ↑ Freed, Jamie (28 April 2021). "'Bunch of garbage': Campaign to ease pilot overload from antiquated safety warnings". Reuters. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Russia Restricts Flights Over Crimea And Black Sea". OPSGROUP. 21 April 2021.
  12. ↑ "Russia issues warning, restricts flight zone over Black Sea". TASS. 20 April 2021.
  13. ↑ "[ANALYSIS] What is Russia's actual intent in promulgating NOTAMS in the Black Sea?". Turkish Minute. 11 February 2022.
  14. ↑
  15. ↑ "Air Force Instruction 33-115, Volume 3: Air Force Network Operating Instructions" (PDF). Air Force Departmental Publishing Office. 15 April 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 11 May 2010.
  16. ↑ Stuart “Kipp” Lau (October 26, 2018). "AINsight: Notams Are Wall of Text and Bunch of Garbage". AIN online.
  17. ↑ AIM, 5–1–3 "Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) System" (August 22, 2013 revision)
  18. ↑ "FAA Order JO 7930.2N, Notices to Airmen (NOTAM)". 2013-10-01. Retrieved 2014-02-26.
  19. ↑ "FAA NOTAMS Statement". Federal Aviation Administration. 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  20. ↑ Freed, Jamie; Singh, Rajesh Kumar; Shepardson, David (2023-01-11). "U.S. flights beginning to resume after FAA system outage". Reuters. Retrieved 2023-01-11.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.