NOTAM

NOTAM means Notice to Air Missions. It is a time-sensitive notice that communicates a change, condition, or hazard affecting an aviation facility, service, procedure, or airspace. NOTAM information can include runway closures, navigation aid outages, lighting changes, temporary restrictions, and other operational details.

What it governs

A NOTAM identifies the affected location or facility, describes the condition, and gives effective or validity information. Some notices are issued for a specific period, while others remain active until cancelled or replaced. The format uses contractions and coded groups, so pilots should use an official briefing source that provides the applicable interpretation.

NOTAMs supplement charts and publications. They do not replace the normal chart, procedure, or airport information. A pilot planning an IFR flight checks notices for the departure, route, destination, alternate, navigation facilities, and instrument procedures. A VFR pilot checks notices relevant to airports, airspace, obstacles, and the planned route.

Example

A notice may state that a runway is closed from 1200Z to 2200Z. During that window, a pilot cannot plan to use that runway without checking the precise notice and any applicable authorization or replacement information. A nearby airport's weather does not cancel the closure.

Why it matters

NOTAMs can change the practical meaning of a chart or published procedure. They are time-sensitive, and a notice that was valid yesterday may be cancelled or replaced today. Review them close to departure and account for the period in which the flight will operate.

Use official FAA briefing and flight planning sources. The FAA Aeronautical Information Manual describes notices and their use. This glossary does not provide current operational notice data.

Related terms and tools

• Visual flight rules
• Instrument flight rules
• FAA Aeronautical Information Manual