Quick Facts
- Type
- Operational Notice
- Definition
- An official notice alerting pilots and flight operations personnel to hazards...
- Used By
- Pilots, Dispatchers, ATC
Definition#
NOTAM stands for Notice to Air Missions (formerly "Notice to Airmen"). It is a written notice filed with an aviation authority to alert aircraft pilots and other flight operations personnel of any hazards en route or at a specific location.
Purpose#
NOTAMs communicate time-critical aeronautical information that may affect a pilot's decision to make a flight. Common NOTAM topics include:
- Runway closures or construction
- Temporary flight restrictions (TFRs)
- Navigation aid outages (VOR, ILS, GPS)
- Airspace changes or restrictions
- Lighting outages at airports
- Volcanic ash advisories
- Aerial events (airshows, parachute operations)
Types of NOTAMs#
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| NOTAM D | Distant — wide distribution, significant content |
| NOTAM L | Local — limited distribution, local interest |
| FDC NOTAM | Flight Data Center — regulatory in nature (e.g., TFRs, amended procedures) |
Format#
NOTAMs follow the ICAO Q-code format and contain fields for location, effective dates, affected area, and a plain-text description. The newer ICAO NOTAM format aims to make information more structured and machine-readable.
Always check NOTAMs as part of your pre-flight briefing. Missing a critical NOTAM — such as a TFR or runway closure — can lead to dangerous situations or regulatory violations.