notams

A NOTAM, short for Notice to Airmen, is a notice containing time-sensitive information essential for flight operations. NOTAMs alert pilots, flight planners, air traffic services, and other aviation personnel about conditions or changes that may affect the safety or efficiency of a flight. They cover operational aspects such as aerodrome facilities, navigation aids, air traffic procedures, and airspace restrictions.

NOTAMs are categorized into several types. NOTAM D disseminates information that may affect users departing from, arriving at, or overflying any international or national aerodrome, and may be distributed beyond a single location. NOTAM L contains information of local significance to the aerodrome that does not affect other locations. NOTAM FDC covers changes to charts, procedures, airspace restrictions, or other regulatory information that has the potential to impact flight operations. In addition to these, other category NOTAMs may address temporary hazards or operational outages.

NOTAMs are issued by authorized authorities such as civil aviation administrations, air navigation service providers, or aerodrome operators. They are distributed through the international NOTAM system and national AIS networks, and are accessible to users via NOTAM dashboards, flight planning tools, and aeronautical information publications. A NOTAM remains in effect until it is canceled or expires and is often amended as conditions change.

Pilots and operators rely on NOTAMs during pre-flight planning and en route to mitigate risks. NOTAMs complement other sources of aviation information, such as weather and aeronautical charts, but do not substitute for official publications.