NOTAM- Notice to Airmen

If there is an accident nearby or a gun shot, you notice that immediately. The tell tell signs would be a croud for an accident and sound for a gun shot. This can also be applied for a person in a bike. No problem there, he could notice something is happening and could react to it. However, if we scale this situtation to such extent that you cannot see things any more. At an altitute of 33k feets, you will never know what is happening on the ground. Maybe there is a Zombie apoclips, a Volcanic erruption, a bombing. 

To inform the Pilots (Airmen) about the real time Hazards that are not always forecasted or foreseen a system of communication was developed called NOTAM- Notice to Airmen. And the natural hazards generally fall under SNOWTAM.

A NOTAM warns pilot of potential hazards along a flight route or at a location that could affect the safety of the flight. 

NOTAM is called the Alphabet Vomit, because at first glance it looks chaotic. However complex it may be, they are really important information for the safety of the flight. 

To Understand NOTAM they should be studied in 3 different scopes.

A. Series of NOTAM

B. Types of NOTAM

C. Items in NOTAM

A. Series of NOTAM:

This includes the application of the NOTAM. Not all NOTAM are important to every Airmen there is. So the 5 Series are:

A- the lifespan of NOTAM is more than 2 hours and is applicable for international flights.

B- the lifespan of NOTAM is less than 2 hours but more than 30 minutes and is applicable for international flights.

C- Similar to A but for Domestic flights.

D- Defense Control Airfield

G- Longterm  like procedural changes.

B. Types of NOTAM

NOTAM N- new

NOTAM R- replace/ revised

NOTAM C- cancel

NOTAM S- Hazard/SNOWTAM

C. Items in NOTAM

Q- description of information contained in NOTAM like 

FIR(Flight Information Region: VNSM for Nepal), 

Q-code, where QFAXX means. FA= Aerodome, subject is related to aerodome. and XX means status not listed. with the different meaning of the abbreviation given in a list. 

Then comes the traffic. 

This qualifier relates the NOTAM to a type of traffic and thus allows retrieval according to the user requirements: 

I = IFR Traffic 

V = VFR Traffic 

IV = IFR and VFR Traffic 

K = NOTAM is a checklist

‘PURPOSE’ meanings: 

N = NOTAM selected for the immediate attention of flight crew members. Due to their importance, these NOTAM require the immediate attention of flight crew members. Flight crew members may request specific delivery of such NOTAM or their inclusion in specific Pre-flight Information Bulletins. A specific Pre-flight Information Bulletin contains only NOTAM related to subjects of extreme importance (qualified NBO). 

B = NOTAM of operational significance selected for PIB entry. The NOTAM will appear in a Pre-flight Information Bulletin containing all NOTAM relevant to a general Pre-flight Information Bulletin query. NOTAM qualified B, BO, or NBO will appear in the Pre-flight Information Bulletin. 

O = NOTAM concerning flight operations. The NOTAM will appear in a PIB containing all relevant NOTAM. NOTAM with qualifiers BO or NBO will appear in the PIB. 

M = Miscellaneous NOTAM, not the subject of a briefing but available on request. The NOTAM is for a ‘miscellaneous’ purpose and will not appear in a Pre-flight Information Bulletin, unless specifically requested. 

K- checklist

SCOPE

A = Aerodrome Relates the NOTAM to the scope of ‘Aerodromes’. Entry of an aerodrome (e.g. EGLL) in Item A) is compulsory. 

E = Enroute

Relates the NOTAM to the scope of ‘Enroute information’. Entry of one or more FIR in Item A) is compulsory. 

W = Warning Relates the NOTAM to the scope of ‘Navigation Warnings’ (’Airspace Restrictions’ (QR…) and ‘Warnings’ (QW…)). A Navigation Warning affects airspace and is normally ENR information in AIP. Entry of one or more FIR in Item A) is compulsory.

AE = Aerodrome/Enroute Relates the NOTAM to both scopes ‘A’ and ‘E’. Scope ‘AE’ is used whenever a NOTAM (e.g. certain Navigation Aids, CTR) affects both aerodrome and Enroute operations. For selection of scope, see 2.3.9.6. Item A) shall contain the location indicator of the Aerodrome (e.g. EHAM)

AW = Aerodrome/Warning Relates the NOTAM to both scopes ‘A’ and ‘W’. Although scope ‘AW’ is not explicitly listed in the ICAO NSC tables, it shall be used whenever a single NOTAM is used for both aerodrome and Enroute traffic affected by a Navigation Warning taking place on or in the near vicinity of an aerodrome.

K = Checklist Relates the NOTAM to a checklist, which will not appear in a Pre-flight Information Bulletin.

 ‘LOWER/UPPER

A- Applicable airport (ICAO code: VNKT for nepal)

B- active time.

C-  expiry time.

D- Time of activation and expiration repleated from B & C.

E- Explanation

F- Airfield restrictions like SFC

G- Airfield restrictions like Altitude

These NOTAM can be found in the National Aviation Authority of the respective country.